How To Get A Baby To Sleep So That You Can Too
You are not getting enough sleep because your baby is keeping you awake all night. You have bags under your eyes that are getting bigger by the day, and the lack of sleep is making you very irritable. You feel like screaming out loud “help my baby won’t sleep!” You knew that having a baby was not going to be all plain sailing, but this is ridiculous!
In this article we will explain how to get your baby to sleep so that you can get the rest that you need to cope with the rigors of being a parent. If your baby is not sleeping at night then they will be suffering as well. Did you know that newborn babies need up to 18 hours of sleep every day? A one year old will need up to 14 hours of sleep, so you owe it to your baby and yourself to learn the best way of getting baby to sleep through the night.
You Need To Establish A Sleeping Baby Routine
You want to get your baby used to sleeping at the same time every night, as this pattern will greatly help with putting your baby to sleep. As part of this sleeping routine you can include a number of activities such as their final feed of the day, a nice warm bath, changing into clean and comfy bed clothes and reading them a story.
You don’t have to do all of these activities each night, but establish your routine and then keep the same order so that baby will recognize that it is time for bed. Tell your infant that it is bedtime even if they are too young to understand the words. Your baby will take clues from what they see happening around them.
When you are feeding your baby before bedtime be careful not to overfeed them, as this can make them feel uncomfortable and this will have the opposite effect of helping baby sleep. Giving your baby a bath each night depends upon how they react to it. If your baby gets too excited by their warm bath then this will not help your infant sleep. If baby does not like being in the water then avoid a bath just before bed time.
It’s always a good idea to put a fresh diaper on your baby as part of the sleeping routine. Be sure to use thick and absorbent diapers, as you do not want baby to wake up in the middle of the night due to a leak. Sleeping through the night is important for baby and parents, so don’t make your infant too hot at night because babies sleep best when they are cool and not too warm.
Looking For Signs Of Baby Sleep Time
You will quickly learn the signs of when your baby is ready to go to sleep. There are obvious signs such as yawning and their eyes looking heavy. Your baby may rub their eyes and can also make fists to indicate that they are tired. When these signs occur put your baby into their bed and let them fall asleep on their own. When you do this don’t make eye contact as this can make them suddenly wake up.
How To Put Baby To Sleep At Night
Be sure to lay your baby on their back in preparation for sleep as this is the best position for them. Gently touch your baby on their head, arms and stomach so that they have the reassurance that you are taking care of them. This will make them feel safe and secure and will help establish good baby sleep patterns.
During the process of laying your baby down to sleep you may want to dim the lights so that baby gets used to the light being reduced at bed time. Once your baby has started to sleep then turn off all of the lights. Any unnatural light can interrupt your baby’s sleep, and total darkness will help them to produce melatonin which will regulate sleep patterns.
When Will My Baby Sleep Through The Night?
You can help them to do this from a very early age. One of the best ways to help baby sleep all night is to swaddle them. By using a blanket to carefully swaddle your baby you will prevent their limbs from suddenly jerking and waking them up. Also ensure that their crib only has the essentials in it. Take out toys and any other unnecessary items that can be a distraction.
When you are moving around there is no need to be extra quiet. When your baby was in the womb they became accustomed to everyday noises so just act normally. Avoid excessive noises though. Your baby won’t sleep through a full scale argument with your partner!
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