A Tired Baby Makes a Sleepy Baby
When are you the most tired and sleep soundly? After you have had a full day. When you are active and busy, you fall asleep quickly and sleep better. The same can be said for your baby. When they are active, they get tired and sleep. Don't expect your baby to have a nap a couple of hours before bed and expect them to sleep all through the night. Give them activity and get them tired.
- Take them for a walk after dinner
- Play games with them
- Allow them to play with their favorite toys
Flexibility is Important
Reading books about raising children can be very beneficial but don't assume that what they say is the absolute end all truth. You need to be flexible. Not all children are the same. Just as not all adults have the same sleep patterns, children vary a lot. Learn your child's sleep patterns and see how much you can influence and how much is just them. Don't be too rigid. Find their biological clock and work with it. It can be trying.
- Monitor when your child is most active
- Experiment with ways to accommodate their natural sleep patterns
- Try different ways to get your child to sleep in order to see how much of it you can change through routines and other tips discussed here
Let Baby Fall Asleep on His Own
There are so many ways for a baby to go to sleep. Holding them or rocking them is not always the best for a full night's sleep. You might want to try letting them go to sleep on their own. Lay them in their crib and let them drift off naturally without you there. That allows them to break that tight grip on your night and gives them a chance to become more independent.
- Give them a reason to sleep on their own with soft lights, sounds, or smells
- Don't let them know you are near
- Don't let them cry themselves sick
- Sooth them and let them know it is alright
- Never make bedtime something to dread
Bedtime Routine
Children love routines. They have to have them. Give them a bedtime routine. They will be more receptive to sleep and staying asleep.
- Begin bedtime activities around the same time every night.
- Nightly baths
- Read a story before bed
- Establish a calm and soothing routine that will create memories in the years to come.
Allow a Little Crying
When you lay your child down, don't fret because they are fretting. A little crying won't hurt. They are in a growing phase of not having to have you around every single minute of the day. In learning their independence, they might cry a little before they fall asleep. Let them. But don't let them scream like banshees. That doesn't do them any good either.
- Listen for your child
- Soft crying can be fine
- Intense crying is not good
- Screaming should be avoided
- Don't give your child a reason to cry
- Make bedtime a relaxing time that they look forward to.
Solid Foods Can Help
What your child eats can affect their sleep patterns. You'll notice a big change once your baby is read to get on more solid foods. Just a little cereal in their milk can make them sleep better at night. I began introducing cereal in the evening feeding and they slept much better. Don't you get sleepy after a heavy meal? It doesn't take much to make a baby sleep. Just a little solid food helps a lot.
- Introduce cereal in the milk
- Add baby food at the evening meals before the other meals of the day
- Give baby a snack an hour or two before bed
Peaceful Sounds and Smells
I found success with my children by playing peaceful sounds. The sound of the ocean or of birds can be soothing. Even the soft music of classical music can work. A baby is always soothed with pleasant sounds. Remember that they slept for many months with the sound of mama's heartbeat. Sounds help them even after they are born.
A pleasant smell can help your child sleep. Ask anyone who is familiar with aromatherapy. Scents impact you. They help you relax and to sleep. Don't be too overpowering with the smells. You want it subtle to be effective.
- Play nature sounds
- Keep music and sounds soft and low
- Never use sounds that are upbeat
- Fragrances should be light and subtle
- Floral sounds are good to start with
Children have to learn to sleep on their own throughout the night. Help them by being flexible and willing to experiment with many different things. Using all of the tips above at once won't work. Using just one might not work. Try using a variety of these tips and see which ones work the best for you and your baby.
