Infant Sleep Training: How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night
Babies are an absolute gift for any expecting parent, an incredibly unique time in one’s life. That said, the welcoming of the first baby, particularly in a couple’s life, will often bring a slightly unwelcome gift, which is sleep disturbance for the parent and baby resulting from baby sleep issues. Many new (and existing) parents find it hard to understand how to get their baby to sleep, and as a result, they might look for the professional advice of a baby sleep consultant to help guide them through the situation.
Here are a few tips that might help them get their babies to sleep so that they can also have a peaceful sleep.
Make a sleep routine
Try bathing your baby at a particular time before putting them to bed. Bathing should be a very calming experience and by doing it always before sleep you are setting your babies’ expectations on what is to come. Music can also play a substantial role in getting a person to sleep – both babies and adults. Read some stories for your baby. Babies will often find reassurance in these activities, and it will help them find sleep more comfortably. By establishing a good bedtime routine, you will also benefit from positively impacting your baby’s overall wellbeing and health.
Develop a positive association with bed
When your baby starts feeling sleepy (showing sleepy signs), place him/her in the cot, so your baby discovers it as part of going to sleep. Don’t be disheartened if your baby resists; persistence will pay off. What you are trying to do is develop positive sleep associations and for your baby to feel calm and happy in their sleeping environment.
Baby might give you a tough time, and it might be wind
Sometimes babies don’t find a comfortable position to sleep, so they keep on crying. In that case, check on your baby that he is ok. Make sure to check your baby does not have wind by placing them across your shoulder and gently patting as this will encourage them to burp.
Create an environment that is fit for sleep
Ensure to keep everything calm on the buildup to sleep. You should also create a beautiful, peaceful ambiance for your baby at bedtime. Use dim lights that help the baby understand that it’s bedtime. In this ambiance, sing songs in whispering soft voice for your baby to slow everything down and make them know its time for sleep. Try avoiding to create extra noises in a room; otherwise, all your hard work might go in vain.
Every Baby is different
Babies vary in their sleep patterns. Some babies sleep at night, but some seem to resist it slowly! Some babies sleep well all night but wake early! The message is every baby is different, so you have to adjust according to your baby’s routine. Don’t be too hard on yourself as it takes time to establish a routine. Try to remain consistent and calm as that will have a substantial potential impact on your success.
Make sure your baby is not sick
Sometimes babies are suffering from fever or some other illness, which is why they can’t sleep. Try identifying the problem and then, if required, make sure to see a doctor. It’s essential to eliminate this early as possible, so be wary of early symptoms of common illness like congestion, cough, etc. Babies are also specially very prone to ear infections as they have less mature physiology, so it’s essential to bear this in mind. Finally, teething issues can also present as a sickness – some babies get very upset and might have mild fever due to teething. Always be on the lookout for a new tooth cutting through as this is a tell-tale sign your baby needs some extra comfort. Some children’s paracetamol is worth considering for teething issues.
Conclusion
When it comes to getting your baby to sleep through the night, there is no real quick fix. The key to success really comes from listening and responding to your baby and helping them feel calm. The more you can relax and reassure your baby the more likely they will be able to find sleep more easily.
