It’s an absolute parenting necessity to help your baby (and yourself) get the best sleep possible. A baby (or parent) who doesn’t get enough sleep can easily become fussy and irritable. Here are some tips to help your baby fall asleep and stay asleep longer.
Keep your baby active during the day. When awake, create a playful and active environment for your baby. Stimulate them with normal household light and noise. Talk, sing and play with them to make sure they stay active.
Control and limit sleep during the day. It is important to establish a regular time for naps during the day. However, sleeping for long periods of time during the day can create a mess when it’s bedtime and your little one isn’t tired.
Try to use a pacifier. Some people use them and others don’t like them, but pacifiers are a proven remedy for helping some babies settle down and sleep. In fact, studies have shown that using a pacifier can reduce the risk of SIDS. Of course, if you choose to use a pacifier, you run the risk of waking up during the night when your baby loses the pacifier and can’t find it.
Establish a bedtime routine. It is very important to create a solid bedtime routine. This will help your baby know what to expect before bedtime. A standard nightly routine might be a bath, reading a book, and then a goodnight kiss. It is more important that it is consistent rather than what it includes.
Put your baby in his crib while he is awake. This may be the most important thing in this article. If you hold, rock, or swaddle your baby to sleep and then place him in his crib or bassinet while he sleeps, you’re asking for trouble. When you do this and your baby wakes up, she gets really scared and confused because it’s not the same environment that she remembers before falling asleep. This is asking her to wake up and cry during the night. The trick is to hold your baby until he is very tired but not sleeping and then put him in her crib.
Create a pleasant sleeping environment. Keep your babies’ sleeping area quiet and dark. Some babies will wake up at the slightest noise or movement. If your baby is like this, you can reduce the noise by oiling the crib springs and turning off the phone ringer. Try to keep the temperature and humidity at a constant level. 68 – 72 degrees and 40% – 50% humidity seems to work fine for my daughter. If your baby seems to wake up often with a stuffy nose, try using a humidifier to keep the air more comfortable. You should also keep allergens, including dust and pet dander, out of your baby’s bedroom or crib.
Try using “White Noise”. Sometimes using a constant buzz or noise will help your baby fall asleep and stay asleep. Personally, we use a small case fan set on low. It creates a humming sound that seems to help relax our daughter and eliminate other household noises. Instead of a fan, you could try a recording of a parent’s voice singing a lullaby or just a tape of rain or the ocean. I have heard of this work for several parents.
Don’t let yourself be frustrated. Putting your baby to sleep does not measure how good a parent you are. Every baby is different and you should be patient and try to understand what your baby’s specific needs are. Remember that you can always ask your child’s pediatrician for recommendations.