A sleep dependency (aka "sleep prop") is something that a child needs in order to fall asleep. This could be a pacifier, music, being rocked or held, a bottle of formula, a special lovey, or a back rub......you get the idea.
In other words, your child cannot fall asleep on her own and needs something to help her fall asleep. This becomes problematic because everyone wakes up in the middle of the night in between sleep cycles. We just don't remember. However, when a child wakes up in between sleep cycles and doesn't have his sleep prop....guess what? You hear that pitter patter of little feet waking you from your slumber so you can assist with the sleep prop. And let's face it, parents are their child's #1 sleep prop! My children went through different phases of needing me to lay down with them so they could fall back to sleep. Yes, even though I knew better, I became my child's sleep prop! This was a big mistake; but with a little time and patience I eventually undid my title of "sleep prop".
Some sleep props are fine and can be a form of comfort to help your child fall asleep on his/her own. These include a favorite stuffed animal, cozy blanket, or a white noise machine. I especially love a white noise machine because it muffles sounds from other rooms in the home (great for apartments), and it provides a constant audible cue that it's still time to sleep.
Sleep props become a problem when:
-YOU need to provide it.
-It can't be easily accessed by your child..
-It isn't continuously available all night long.
Do you need help fading out a sleep prop? I'd love to help.
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