A baby sleep expert has revealed a smart way to get your baby to drift off to sleep again if they wake up during the night.
It’s something lots of parents - especially those who have just had their first child - struggle with, but this rule could be incredibly effective.
Paediatric sleep consultant Lily explained in a TikTok post how her job is helping families get their ‘dream sleep’.
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Known as @dreamcoach on TikTok, Lily explained to her followers how to use the ‘respond versus react’ method.
“Parents, when your baby wakes up and they haven’t slept for very long, I want you to do just one thing," she explained.
“I promise this one thing will make a huge difference in them settling back to sleep and learning to fall asleep independently.”
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The baby sleep expert added: "All I want you to do is watch the monitor and I want you to count to a hundred. Don't go in if they're fussing, just watch and respond versus react.
"It's normal for babies to wake up. They just need time to put themselves back to sleep.
"So giving them even just a hundred seconds...can make a huge difference and likely they will put themselves back to sleep."
The clip has attracted 52,000 likes and has been saved over 11,000 times since it was uploaded last week.
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"I'm gonna try this cause I'm exhausted,” one parent wrote in the comments. “My one-year-old wakes up once a night and a few times will be fussy but ya girl's tired!! Thanks for advice."
One mum commented: “We do fuss it out. We give her a few mins if she’s not actually crying. If she’s crying. We go in and soothe her.”
However, one parent complained: “My baby screeches like a banshee the minute she wakes up.”
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Another TikToker reflected: “I honestly wish I did this more when my baby [was] younger. I do it now but i really didn’t wait much when he was first born.”
Some parents were on the fence about the advice, with one person commenting: "You do you, but I’m not counting to anything if she wakes up crying. I will always go get her as soon as I can."
And there were also a few jokes in the comments section as one TikTok user joked: “Is the hundred second rule to put the baby back to sleep or me? If I count to a hundred I’m gonna fall back asleep.
Gregory Robinson