Do you have a baby who just wont sleep at night?
Have you any solutions to help encourage a baby to sleep soundly?
What baby sleep routines do you use?
I would love to hear your thoughts and methods!!
Here are some of mine:
- Allow a quiet wind-down period of about 20 minutes before bedtime.
- Make the bedtime ritual as calm and as relaxed as possible to reduce stress levels – a special night light mobile or dreamshow will help baby to relax and unwind.
- Help baby relax and unwind in a warm bath. When she gets out, the surrounding cooler air will lower her temperature, which will help trigger the sleep mechanism. * Put baby in special clothes such as a sleep suit or sleeping bag that are only used at night.
- Swaddle baby in a cotton swaddle blanket to remind her of the warmth and comfort of the womb. Wrap this firmly around her body and tuck in her arms and legs (baby’s hands can be placed near her face so that she can self-soothe by sucking her fingers).
- Use key words such as ‘Bedtime’ or ‘Night-night’ which are associated with sleep.
- Provide a comforter or special teddy or blanket (that smells like Mummy or Daddy) to help baby to fall asleep without being rocked or held. The smell of Lavender can also help due to its relaxing smell.
- Avoid putting baby down on a very full tummy, as this will increase core body temperature and keep her awake
- Wind baby fully before bedtime.
- Use soft-paced classical sleep inducing music to help calm your baby
- Put baby down while still awake so that she learns to fall asleep on her own.
- Put baby on her back on a firm surface or a sleep positioner to keep her spine as flat as possible and to allow her lungs to expand fully.
- Put baby on a lamb’s wool fleece (cover with a cotton blanket) to promote better sleeping patterns.
- Make sure that baby’s feet are near the end of the cot. This will prevent her from working her way under the covers where she could suffocate. A Sleep T Wrap will also prevent your baby from wriggling around at night time.
