JAKARTA - Sleep training or methods of training children to sleep independently is now increasingly popular among parents. However, this practice cannot be done carelessly because each child has different needs and conditions, so the approach must be adjusted to the child's age and readiness.
The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) reminds parents not to follow the sleep training trend without understanding the basic principles. The Chairman of the Central Board of IDAI, Dr. Piprim Basarah Yanuarso, emphasized the importance of a wise approach and not just following the trend.
"The first thing to understand is not to FOMO. There is no way of sleeping that applies uniformly to all children, each is different," said Piprim.
He responded to the case of a four-month-old baby who died after crying for a long time while undergoing sleep training. According to him, this method should not be applied rigidly, especially to children under the age of three.
Piprim emphasized that parents must ensure that the child's condition is healthy before implementing sleep training, and pay attention to whether the method used is in accordance with the child's needs.
"This is actually for the transition period to train the child's sleep pattern independently, not necessarily carried. But it needs to be seen if the child is in a healthy condition or not," he explained.
If the child cries for too long or shows signs of stress, parents are advised to immediately stop the method and evaluate the approach used.
In addition, supervision remains very important. Piprim recommends the use of surveillance cameras to ensure that children's conditions are still monitored when they are in a separate room.
"So don't let your mother play with her phone, social media, and the child is not monitored at all," he said.
A similar opinion was expressed by Dr. Tuti Rahayu from IDAI DKI Jakarta Branch. He emphasized that the child's cry should not be ignored, because it is a form of communication for the needs felt.
"If the child is crying, there must be something. Whether he pees, defecates, is hot or uncomfortable," said Tuti.
He also reminded that letting a child cry for too long can make them exhausted and potentially affect their health.
In addition to the method factor, parents also need to pay attention to the physical readiness of the child and a safe sleeping environment. In babies four months old, physical ability is still limited, so it requires extra attention.
Sleeping environments such as mattresses that are too soft, pillows that risk closing the airway, to the many dolls in bed can increase the risk of respiratory disorders in infants.
The case that went viral on social media regarding a baby who died after being left alone during sleep training is a reminder that this method must be done with proper supervision and understanding.
In the end, sleep training is not just about training children to sleep on their own, but also ensuring the safety, comfort, and readiness of children in every process.
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