You'll never regret having a baby, as they
bring with them the unbounded joy and love that all parents know. Being a new
parent involves some serious adjusting, however, and one thing you'll have to
get used to is interrupted sleep, and sometimes little or no sleep at all.
Getting your baby to sleep soundly at night is one of the major challenges that
parents face, but here are three ways that you can turn the tables in your favor while giving your child the sleep he
needs to develop and grow.
Get Your Baby Into A Night Time Routine
It's a fact of life that for the first few
months of a baby's life, his sleep patterns will be erratic and his needs when
awake great, so parents of a newborn have to learn to take snatches of sleep
when they can. From around three months, however, parents can start to get
their baby into a night-time routine, and the sooner this is established the
better for all concerned. Bathing your baby first and then putting them into
their night clothing can help to relax them, and they'll soon come to associate
this, subconsciously, with bedtime. Always carry out this routine at the exact
same time. For the first six months, a baby should sleep in the same
room as you, so be careful not to wake them when coming to bed.
Comforting Baby Hammocks
Cots are traditionally used as a bed for
babies, and if you use one try to make it as warm and welcoming as possible.
One alternative that can prove highly effective at encouraging a young child to
sleep is a baby hammock. These are specifically designed for the first three
months of a baby's life and help them to get used to sleeping on their own.
They're designed with safety as their first priority and create a snug
atmosphere that will make the child think of the comfort of the womb. They also
allow the baby to rock themselves gently, which can aid them in getting a good
and uninterrupted sleep. There are many models on the market, so check out an
online baby hammock guide to find the right one for your
child.
Give Your Baby A Night Time Comforter
Babies develop rapidly during their first year,
mentally and emotionally, as well as physically. They first become aware of
being separated from their parents at around six to eight months old, which can
cause distress at bedtime and difficulty in sleeping. At this age, a stuffed
toy or security blanket can be a great comfort to a child, especially if it's
been kept near to his mother's body for a while beforehand. It's important,
however, not to give such objects to any child under six months old to sleep
with, for safety reasons.
Helping your baby get a great night's sleep
can be one of the most important gifts you give him, so try to get it into a
successful bedtime routine as soon as possible once they reach the age of three
months, with a baby hammock being a good idea before that time. When your baby
sleeps well, you'll sleep well too, so even if it seems difficult at first,
keep trying and remember that a restful sleep will eventually be your reward.
16 travelers' comments:
I firmly believe in getting a baby into a nighttime routine. It may take a while, but it's well worth the effort. These are all great tips!
First of all your babies are cuties. These are some great tips to help little ones get to sleep but that FIRST tip about establishing a routine is so important. Start a routine early on and stick with it.
I was definitely into doing a nighttime routine. I needed to rest and have some time on my own so that I could be a better mother each day. This way I get a little bit of a break and he learned how to self soothe himself.
These are all great tips, I never used a hammock but my first born would only fall asleep in a swing which we took everywhere. My second child still has erratic sleeping patterns even at 13!
No kidding about having a good night time routine. I think it's really going to help a baby fall asleep faster. You have some great tips here!
I'd love to share this post with friends who are having a tough time putting their babies to sleep. Nothing beats a good routine!
Great tips! We always had a routine, and that seemed to help a lot. My daughter took longer to get to bed though. She was stubborn, and still is.
Now these sound like some amazing tips, I bet it can be really hard when your baby won't sleep.
I love the hammock idea! Wish I had thought of that when my kids were babies!
I used to struggle with this when my kids were little and then my mother taught how much having a routine for your baby helps. These tips could help a lot of parents!
Yessss a bedtime routine is so important for kiddos. I have seen the baby hammocks and love the idea of that.
When I was a baby I loved being rocked. The hammock is such a great idea!
I don't have kids but I have heard that getting them into a routine early is key. Great post!
Great tips! I always had a routine. I find that without one, trying to get a baby to sleep at night is almost laughable.
These are all such great ideas! My younger daughter has a sleep disorder so unfortunately these don't work in our house. :(
We were really lucky with our girls. We never really had an issue getting them to sleep. It's all about routine.
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