How To Properly Put Your Baby To Sleep
If your baby is having difficulty falling asleep there are things you can try to help overcome this issue for the little one. Whether you are a new parent or you are on your third child already, parenting can be very difficult, especially when it comes to sleep. Unfortunately, no one rule fixes all but there are some tips and tricks you can experiment with.
Here are 5 things you need to do to properly put your baby to sleep.
1. Stick To A Routine
One of the main ways a baby understands that it is time to fall asleep is through the cues in their environment. Make sure you are creating a consistent routine so that your baby begins to recognize when it is bedtime. As part of their routine, you can turn down the lights and keep the noise to a minimum at about 30 minutes before bedtime. Reducing noise can help your baby relax and avoid stimulation. Additionally, lighting is very important because your baby will have an internal clock and bright lighting will confuse this and make your baby think it is daytime. So turn the lights down low and expose your baby to reduced lighting at night and brighter lighting in the morning. This will reinforce your baby’s natural body clock.
2. Try To Schedule Regular Naps
A common myth is that if babies are tired from the day then they will sleep better at night. This is far from the truth and a well-rested baby will sleep far better than an overtired one. This is because when babies are overtired this stimulates the increase of their stress hormones which works them up more and even if they do fall asleep, chances are it won’t be for long because the stress hormones will be pumping through their bodies. To avoid your baby from becoming overtired, try sticking to regular naps throughout the day. The optimal time for a nap will depend on the baby’s age. For example, when your baby is 2 months old, the baby will be napping a lot and will generally be awake for around 90 minutes at a time. This will change as they get older so make sure you stay up to date with what is best for your baby.
3. Use Soothers To Help
Soothers are a great way to help your baby fall asleep as they provide comfort. The sounds of soothers tend to replicate sounds your baby heard in the womb and this helps to relax them. Some bassinets have soothers built in them and https://upsidedad.com have reviewed some of the top bassinets that have this feature. While this is a useful tool, it is important that you do not become too reliant on soothers as this can cause problems for your child later on the line if they are then not able to fall asleep without a soother.
4. Incorporate Soothing Rituals
Once you start to get into the swing of a regular routine you can begin to introduce soothing rituals such as bedtime stories and a warm bath. The more consistent you are with this routine the better because your baby will begin to associate these soothing rituals with falling asleep.
5. Don’t Always Rush To Your Baby
This last point can be very difficult at times but is so important to your baby’s development that you do not always rush to them when they start to stir and squeak. If you do continue to rush to your baby, over time this will create a habit that can then be very hard to break. When your baby does start to stir or whimper, pause and give them a minute to see if they work it out themselves and stop. If they continue then go in and gently pat them or shush them before you pick them up, as that should be the last resort. The reason you want to keep this for last is that you do not want your baby to only be able to fall asleep in your arms. It can be hard to listen to your baby cry but if you are sure they are not hungry then it is okay to wait a minute before soothing them.
Putting your child to sleep can be difficult, but with a regular routine and conscious efforts to break bad habits, your baby will pick up a healthy sleeping schedule in no time. The trick is to remain persistent and consistent, it will not always be easy but so long as you are putting the effort in this is what counts.
