One of the most rewarding things as a new parent is listening to the sweet sounds of silence; that is, your baby sleeping peacefully! Each baby is unique in her sleep habits, and it can be difficult for parents to manage.
To help you achieve better baby sleep, consider these 15 tips to improve your baby’s naps.
1. Consistency is key
A bedtime routine can help a child wind down before bed, and it can also help him or her mentally and physically prepare for the end of the day. Pre-bedtime activities can include a bottle, a bedtime story, and pajamas.
When these things appear, children will know what is expected of them and playtime is over. Try to keep the room a little quieter when you start this routine.
2. Make bedtime enjoyable.
Sleep should never be seen as a bad thing in the eyes of a child. Make bedtime a soothing and relaxing experience for them by adding a soothing night light, some natural music sounds, and their favorite blanket or stuffed animal. The night should be a comforting experience for them.
As an extension of that, bedtime shouldn’t always be punishing for kids. This makes sleep, by association, something children will want to avoid. If they’re in trouble, a timeout might be more helpful.
3. Swaddle your baby
Especially in their early years, children will continue to prefer a warm and protective space similar to that provided by the womb. Pajamas and swaddles are great for keeping your baby warm and swaddled in a comfortable position.
Swaddles can also prevent babies from being woken by sudden movements and jolts, and can even prevent nervous babies from bumping or scratching themselves.
4. Give children time to fall asleep
The key to getting a good night’s sleep is to put your baby to bed while he is still awake. In this way, they associate their bed with what makes them feel comfortable and sleepy.
While it’s rewarding to have your child fall asleep in your arms, it can teach him bad sleep habits as he gets older. Having him fall asleep in his crib will help them become more independent in sleeping, and it will be much easier for you.
5. Give the kids a moment
It’s hard to listen to a baby cry and not attend to it, but this is exactly what you should do! If you hear your baby crying in her crib, stop and wait a few minutes. you don’t necessarily need to help them; they may already be in the habit of crying just because they don’t want to go to bed yet.
Instead, wait a bit. If the children need a change or have lost their sister, you can enter. However, he or she can go back to sleep after a few minutes, which is a huge win.
6. Don’t make eye contact.
If your child makes eye contact with you during bedtime, he might think it’s time to wake up. If you need to come into the room for any reason, try to calm him down without looking at him, and let him back in without too much interaction.
Reassure them, but don’t talk to them. Keep the room dark so that it is clear that this is not the time to be awake.
7. Turn down the fun
Kids can easily turn off their tired mode and get back to playing. As a parent, it’s essential to try to stay calm and collected when it’s time for bed.
The kids will try to tempt you into having a giggle fest, but now is not the time. Even if you feel guilty about not playing with them, this will make your mornings much more manageable!
8. Avoid or prepare for diaper changes
Even if you know there’s going to be a mess in the morning, it helps to skip the diaper changes. These movements can trick your baby into thinking it’s time to wake up and play.
If unavoidable, keep all the necessary items for changing in a place outside of the bedroom. This practice will help you avoid spending too much time in the room looking for items and you won’t have to turn on the light to find anything.
9. Create a relaxing environment
Soothing music can help drain other sounds in the house and help babies fall asleep faster. Choose a music player that has a few different sound options, so you can figure out what your child likes best.
It can be white noise, water sounds, or even a lullaby. Once they’ve found something they like, play that noise in their bedroom before bed.
10. Block out the light
A dark room is the best way to tell your baby it’s time to go to sleep. Also, if they wake up in the middle of the night, they’ll know from the darkness that it’s not time to get up yet.
Find some light-canceling shades that block the light. As they get older, you can slowly open these shades so they don’t get too used to total darkness.
This will help them stay asleep when in new environments that don’t have the same light-canceling shades.
11. Recognize a tired baby
If you see any sign that your baby is feeling tired, whether it’s a yawn or flushed cheeks, take action immediately. Timing is critical when it comes to a baby’s sleep, and if she misses her window, chances are she’s going to have a restless night.
These little signs show that the body is ready for sleep, and taking action right away will improve the chances of falling asleep easily. Waiting too long will make your baby overtired and wakefulness hormones will start to kick in.
At this point, it may be too late for your baby to fall asleep without a fight. You will quickly know the signs of your baby; just make sure both parents know the signs.
12. Turn down the heat
People of all ages tend to rest better when sleeping in cooler temperatures. The thermostat should be between 68 and 72 Fahrenheit for your child to experience their most comfortable sleep.
Not sure if they’re too cold? Many parents tend to feel their baby’s fingers or toes when taking their temperature. In most cases, these body parts will feel cold, but that doesn’t mean your baby is cold.
Instead, check your baby’s chest temperature. This part of the body is the area that will tell you if they are comfortable or not.
13. Have necessities ready
A full diaper can mean a big mess in your baby’s crib, but turning on the lights and trying to do a full sheet change is the end of the game for a good night’s sleep. Instead, be prepared with necessities always ready. To do this, you might consider placing extra sheets and diapers in a cabinet outside the bedroom.
You might also consider adding a waterproof pad between two sheets. If a mess does occur, you can peel off the sheet and pad and still have a dry layer waiting underneath. The preparation will make changing sheets a quick and easy process, and your baby will be back in bed in no time.
14.Tag Team
Couples that can get a solid 5 hours of sleep each night are critical to their overall health and parenting performance. To do this, the partners must work as a team each night, even though nursing work is a one-person show.
Couples can wait their turn, change or soothe the baby, or whatever else is needed. Depending on work schedules, you may have varied “night shifts” so everyone feels refreshed in the morning.
15. Bring the kids to the pacifier
Many babies wake up at night simply because they can’t find their pacifiers. You can fix this problem by teaching your child to learn where he can find a pacifier on his own!
Simply place pacifiers in each corner of the crib, then spend each night guiding your baby’s arm to reach the pacifiers in any corner. This practice will ensure that no matter how you twist and turn, you will be able to locate one edge of the crib.
After about a week, they should be able to reach around corners and find the pacifier on their own. This will alleviate the need for parents to go to the bedroom.
A better sleep for all
By following these tips, not only will baby sleep better at night, but their parents will too! Consider incorporating these tips so everyone goes to bed on time and wakes up happy and refreshed.
Not all tips will work for your child, but it’s all about patience and consistency. Work on an agreed routine and sleep schedule that works for everyone in the family.