How to Schedule A Routine Sleep For Your Baby?
Let us face it! Babies, even newborns, can be very distracting. They cry when you do not want them to, wander off when you cannot keep an eye on them, and demand attention when you are trying to get the housework done. Our list of baby sleep tips will help you get some sleep of your own so that you and your mind get relief from exhaustion and even be able to enjoy your baby!
Think of your baby’s sleep routine like a piece of the pie. The bigger the slice, means you have more control. Therefore, it is easier to have a consistent schedule when there is more room for you to decide when and how much to fill the various sections of their routine.
Do you think you are powerless in bringing your baby to sleep? While some parts of your child’s sleep routine fall outside of your control, there are plenty of things you can do to make think your baby is hungry since most newborns are not able to tell you when they are feeling hungry.
It is hard to be patient when you have a baby. But it is important to know the facts. Your baby may spend more than half his time sleeping. And he may not pay attention to time. That means his waking time may be from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. And that means your patience will be tested repeatedly as you adjust to life with a newborn.
This happens to most babies, so do not despair! Let your baby cry for a few minutes instead of rushing in. Being left alone for 10 minutes at bedtime is harder to accept for a baby than going to sleep over an hour earlier than usual -or even missing one nap. If you give him a few minutes to settle down and accept the situation, he will go to sleep.
Plan a Bedtime Routine for your baby
Set up a bedtime routine for baby and you. For infants from 7 to 36 months — as well as their parents a nightly ritual that includes bath time, pajamas, storytelling, and more helps kids sleep better. Babies who follow a bedtime routine go to sleep easier, sleep longer, and cry out less in the middle of the night.
There are many ways to create a bedtime routine. The general idea is to start small, only doing one or two regular bedtime activities at a time, and build up to the full routine over several weeks. Here are some bedtime activities:
- All children need to know what is expected of them at bedtime, especially when it comes to lights out. Follow a routine of lights out, story, song, and sleep every night. Programming a daily routine is important in helping babies learn the difference between day and night and an asleep routine helps babies get ready for bedtime and know when they are supposed to fall asleep.
- Babies love to be clean, and a warm bath before bedtime helps them relax. Soon your baby will associate seeing a bathtub or water with sleep time, which may help her fall asleep faster.
- Make sure the room is quiet enough to drown out all noise. Try turning off any lights and cover any noise-making electrical appliances (radio, clock radio, TV). Wrap cords around furniture and avoid playing music so loud that it prevents you from hearing your baby if they cry.
Put Your Baby to Bed while Sleepy
Put your baby to bed with confidence. Start the sleep cycle with gentle swaying and high-quality tips. When they are on the verge of falling asleep, sit by their cot and put them down (out of your arms or under the covers). They will usually cry for a few minutes, but then drift off in minutes. You will know the sleep has begun when you can feel them lower their heads slightly, without seeing their chest rise and fall.
Bedtime can be frustrating for everyone — you are exhausted, and your toddler is up past their bedtime. Do not worry, this routine will teach your baby to sleep on their own, and before you know it, you will be able to put your sleepy baby to bed.
Lower SIDS Risk- Follow Major Safety Steps
The number one cause of SIDS is apnea: the harmless snoring of babies and young children that stops breathing for short intervals. Even though it is normal, you can protect yourself and your baby by following these simple steps:
- It is important to remember that young babies should sleep close to their parents, but not in the same bed as you. A crib or bassinet should be used for routine sleep.
- The safest place for your baby to sleep during the first year is on his back on a firm mattress, in his crib. The crib should be free of loose bedding and other soft objects, except for one snugly fitting blanket.
- Do not place pillows, stuffed animals, or soft toys in the crib. Do not anchor mobiles with cords or ribbons to the crib. And do not rely on devices that claim they will reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- If you use a pacifier at nap time and bedtime, it should be discarded if it falls out of your baby’s mouth while he is sleeping because it could obstruct his airway.
- Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). You can help reduce the risk of SIDS by sharing a room with your baby, breastfeeding your baby, keeping the baby’s face uncovered, and not smoking during pregnancy or after birth.
- Make sure your baby gets all recommended vaccinations.
- Avoid overheating – keep the room at a comfortable temperature for an adult. For most rooms, this means setting the thermostat between 68ºF and 72ºF. Always place your baby on his or her back to sleep, for naps, and at bedtime — even if you put him or her down awake.
- By making tummy time a part of your baby’s daily routine and getting the proper care during pregnancy, you will be sure to have a healthy start for your little one.
- Do not smoke and drink while breastfeeding your baby.
Let Your Baby Cry It Out – What Should You Do Now?
The Cry It Out method is controversial, yet the increasingly popular solution to the challenges of getting a young baby to sleep through the night. If you are struggling with sleepless nights, the idea of letting your baby. The goal of the Ferber method is to train your baby to learn how to fall asleep and put themselves back to sleep if they wake up during the night. Here is a brief overview of how it has done:
- Put your baby to bed awake and in a drowsy state (not asleep), then leave the room. After some time, they are going to cry, and you do not have to check on them at all.
- Your baby will eventually fall asleep on their own even if they are crying if you follow these step-by-step instructions:
- Go into the room when your baby is quiet and try to console them.
- If there are still some quiet stretches, enter the room and sit in a chair next to the crib.
- When your baby starts to cry again, pick up the telephone, set it down quietly beside you, and go back into the room to console your child.
- If this does not work, lift your child out of the bed and sit him/her on your lap for 5 minutes.
- When these efforts have not succeeded in calming your infant, put them back into the crib with their favorite toy and leave the room while they fall asleep.
- You can begin to gradually lengthen the amount of time you wait before checking on him/her again. While you are waiting, try playing some music or singing a song to help your baby settle easier.
- If your baby wakes up crying the first night you leave him in his crib, wait 5 minutes to see if he settles himself before going back to him. If he continues to cry, wait 10 minutes before returning. If he still cries after 10 minutes, go to him. After that, continue increasing the time you wait by 5 or 10 minutes each night until you reach 20 minutes.
It may take up to 1-2 weeks before your baby’s sleep improves. We recommend that you stick with the sleep plan for at least 2 nights, but if you do not see some improvement by day 3 or 4.