From MomShack.com
Top Ten Tips To Get Your Baby Sleeping Better
By Tammy Hussin
Feb 4, 2007, 10:31
Having a new baby is an incredibly exciting time, but it can also be
filled with a great deal of anxiety. One major source of that anxiety
is if you have a baby who isn’t sleeping well. Sleep deprivation will
quickly wear you down, and your baby will be exhausted and irritable as
well. When this pattern goes on for months, a once happy little family
can rapidly turn into a tired and cranky crowd.
Much of this angst can be eliminated by helping your baby learn to
sleep independently. A baby who sleeps who sleeps independently is
usually a baby who sleeps through the night and takes nice, long naps
on a consistent basis. Enabling your baby to learn how to sleep better
should be a simple and gentle process, and most often your baby even
have to shed a tear. This article will provide you with some important
tips from the baby sleep book, Sleep Baby Sleep, and will help get you
started on your way to having a better sleeping baby and a well-rested
house.
#1 Establish a Consistent Nighttime Routine
One important aspect to getting your baby to sleep through the
night is to have a consistent bedtime ritual. A solid evening routine
will help your child understand that it is time for sleep when the
routine is complete. A typical schedule might include a bath, some
quiet time, a final feeding, and then a good-night kiss. Though your
particular routine may vary, it is important make sure you have some
kind of consistency at bedtime.
#2 Help your Baby Learn how to Fall Asleep Independently
Each time your baby is ready to sleep, no matter what time of day
or night it is, you have a brand new opportunity to help your baby
learn how to fall asleep without your help. If you try your hardest to
seize each of these opportunities, your baby will be sleeping through
the night sooner than you can believe. Keep in mind though that this is
a process, and not an overnight miracle. Be consistent in your efforts
and you will quickly teach your baby how to fall asleep without your
help.
#3 Put your Baby to Sleep Awake
If you get only one idea from this article, it's that you need to try
to put your baby to sleep while he is still awake. In other words, try
to avoid having your baby fall asleep before you put him down. Be sure
that your routine includes putting your baby in the crib or bassinet
before she is asleep. If you put your baby to bed awake, she will more
readily learn how to fall asleep without your help and your baby will
sleep much better.
#4 Establish a Daytime Nap Routine
Sometimes figuring out a good daytime routine can be even more
challenging than the one at bedtime. Out of sheer exhaustion and the
desire to get a few minutes to yourself, you might be inclined to do
absolutely anything to get your baby down for a nap. The problem with
this is that your baby will begin to need that particular method in
order to nap (for example, driving around, rocking, nursing, etc). You
won’t be happy if your baby can only take a nap in the car, or nap only
if you lie down beside her, or only if you rock her to sleep. Instead,
try to get your baby napping by falling asleep alone, and you’re likely
to wind up with a great little sleeper on your hands.
#5 The Family Bed – should you or shouldn't you?
A family bed is not a bad thing, and many families the world over
would have it no other way. If it's something you want and have planned
for, then by all means do it! On the other hand, if you have wound up
with a family bed only because your baby cannot fall asleep any other
way, then it might time to rethink your situation. A family bed could
last for years, and if unwanted, often results in frustration and
resentment and chronic sleep deprivation.
#6 Waking up Throughout the Night
Most, if not all, babies wake up several times throughout the
night. Even a baby who is already sleeping through the night wakes up
numerous times during the night. The key is that if your baby knows
know how to fall back to sleep on his own, he won’t need you to put him
back to sleep. So, don't rush in as soon as your baby wakes up in the
middle of the night. Instead, give it some time and you might be
pleasantly surprised to find that your baby falls back to sleep on his
own.
#7 Getting Baby on a Schedule
Most people thrive on some sort of a schedule, and babies are no
different. Your child is likely to function much better if he becomes
familiar with the same events that happen throughout the day. If you
get your baby on a schedule with a regular agenda, she will quickly
figure out when it is time for sleep and will fall asleep much easier.
Keep in mind though that everyone needs a little flexibility built into
their life, so make sure that you are not too inflexible with your
baby’s daily routine.
#8 Avoid using Aids to Help your Baby Sleep
Many exhausted parents resort to external aids to get their babies
sleeping (for example, constantly using a pacifier, driving your baby
around, and rocking or nursing your baby to sleep). Though your baby
might initially fall asleep sleep quicker with these external aids, you
are ultimately making your job much more difficult. The problem is that
it helps you avoid teaching your baby how to fall asleep alone.
Instead, take the time to get your baby falling asleep without any
help, and he will fall asleep faster and sleep better.
#9 Be Consistent
The more regular you are in how you put your baby to sleep, the quicker
and easier it will be for your child to learn how to sleep
independently. No matter how tired you are, or how much you might be
dreading the night ahead, a consistent effort will pay off quickly. Be
patient with yourself, as it is not always easy to keep with your plan
when you are intensely sleep deprived. Just be as consistent as
possible, and you will see results.
#10 Take Time for Yourself
It's so easy to forget about yourself when you have a new baby. But
playing the parent role 24/7, and having no time of your own could
cause you to grow resentful and feel deprived. Instead, make a
conscious effort to ensure that you get some time for yourself. You’ll
feel rejuvenated, happier, and you’ll have more energy to devote to
your family. You can and will be an amazing parent even though you get
a little bit of downtime, and there’s no better time to do it than when
your baby is sleeping soundly. Enabling your baby to sleep
independently is truly a priceless gift that you’ll give to everyone
under your roof. Your baby will be much happier if he is better rested,
and so will you!
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