Safe Self-soothing
Providing essential building blocks to optimal infant mental health.
Watch this 15 second video of this little girl using the super soft “lovie” (a part of the Bitta Sack she is wearing), to independently sooth and transition from one sleep cycle to the next without arousing all the way awake!
This healthy, just-turned 6 month old baby girl, was allowed opportunities to practice basic self-regulation and self-comfort, by a supportive caregiver. This experience helps provide the essential building blocks to optimal infant mental health, which produces positive outcomes in early childhood, as well as adulthood.
As you can see here, additional benefits of self-soothing and self-regulation are restorative, consolidated sleep at night, rather than fragmented sleep.
Fragmented sleep often occurs when a child has been unknowingly conditioned by a caregiver (over time) to believe that they (the child) must continue relying on the caregiver to do the work of connecting from one sleep cycle to the next, for him/her, indefinitely.
Setting a little one up for success, with my 4 Pillars of Sleep Hygiene, is essential when allowing them to explore and experience their abilities to self-soothe, such as sucking their hands and fingers. Or, you may integrate a transitional object, such as a “lovie”, for them to take sensory delight and comfort in.
The challenge with a transitional object, such as a “lovie”, is that we know that having loose blankets or any objects in the crib with our baby is not in line with best practices for Safe Sleep and SIDS prevention.
The only safe solution I have found is the Bitta Sack, by Bitta Kidda. The genius mom behind this essential product, designed one of the best quality sleep sacks on the market… with super soft “lovies” attached at two places on the front. That is what this just-turned 6 month-old baby girl is caressing and soothing back to sleep with in this adorable video.
If your baby is under 12 months, then please follow the safe sleep recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. No loose blankets, bumpers, or other objects in the crib with your baby!
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Written by Jenni June, Certified Child and Family Sleep Consultant, Lactation Counselor, and mom of 4 amazing young adults!