Tips for Helping Your Baby Sleep
The area of infant sleep is somewhat controversial. Some advocate letting babies “cry it out,” while others believe in meeting baby’s needs around the clock. Still, others support co-sleeping, while the crib camp points to the advantages of a baby having his or her own room. All I know is that all three of my girls were totally different with their sleep patterns when they were babies. Maddie, my oldest, had colic for 2 years. It seemed like there was nothing I could do to get her to sleep more than 2 hours at a time. That was a rough two years. Mikaela, my middle daughter, on the other hand, was an old pro at sleeping. She hardly ever woke up. When she was a toddler, she would grab her blanket and put herself to sleep if she was tired. And Gracie, the youngest, could sleep through just about any commotion and still does. Because they had such different sleep patterns, I have come up with some tips to help those mommas out there who need them. None of these tips is intended to tell you which way is the best, but instead to assist you in putting your baby to sleep. Here are some tips for helping your baby sleep.
Swaddling
For young babies, especially newborns, the lights, open space, and cold (relative to the womb) temperatures can be overwhelming. Swaddling, or wrapping your baby tightly in blankets, can go a long way to helping them feel secure enough to sleep. I know that even now, Mikaela loves to be under a ton of blankets when she sleeps.
White Noise
Fans or white noise devices can be beneficial for promoting a baby’s sleep. Some parents use an air purifier or even a radio set on static. Pretty much anything that makes a steady hum and does not pose any risk to baby’s safety will work. Heck, I still sleep with a fan. When I go away, I have an app on my phone that I use to help me get to sleep.
Sleep Training
Sleep training should start when your baby is around 4-6 months of age. You should learn the clues of your sleepy baby. Because as I stated above, every baby is different. Just look at my three daughters. I know sometimes it is impossible not to let them fall asleep in a stroller or a car seat, but try not to. If that is the only thing that will get them to go to sleep, go for it.
Set a bedtime for your baby and stick to it as much as you can. I know sometimes a schedule isn’t always possible to keep, especially during the holidays.
When you notice your baby getting drowsy, put them to bed. And be consistent with what you do. Consistency is the key to everything. And if you still need help with sleep training, you can contact Huckleberry for a personalized sleep plan.
Closeness
If babies do not get a lot of cuddling, interaction, touch, and a certain amount of peace and quiet, they may look to have those needs met at night. Try to satisfy your baby’s needs for closeness and touch during the day, and you may find that he or she rest more peacefully at night.
I hope some of these tips were helpful. But if you are still having trouble putting your baby to sleep or getting them to stay asleep, I highly recommend seeing your child’s pediatrician. They can rule out any medical problems that may be affecting the way your child falls asleep.
