SLEEP BABY SLEEP! (11 STEPS TO TRAIN YOUR BABY TO SLEEP)
Transitioning into your new role as a parent has many challenges, foremost being; when will you find the time to sleep? People joke around when they find out you're expecting, saying how much your life is going to change. Some say, "you'll never sleep again". I can assure you, sleep isn't just a dream. You can and will learn to build healthy sleep habits for your infant that will help them to sleep on their own, and when they wake, to be able to put themselves back to sleep. Now, this isn't going to happen the first night you have them home, but generally, if there are no health or neurological issues, most babies are able to sleep an 8-12 hour stretch by 4-6 months of age. Keep in mind though, that as an infant grows and starts meeting developmental milestones, sleep will be disturbed. But you've already established good sleep habits, so you may have to adjust their schedule slightly. By using the same methods established early on, baby will adjust in a few days. It's easier to teach our baby to sleep if we do it from the very beginning, rather than having to undo bad sleep habits. It takes only 3 days to establish a bad habit, and 7 days to break it. So, let's learn what are good habits to practice from the very start!
What you'll need
What will you need to help your baby sleep? Not much. Let's keep it simple! I insist parents practice safe sleep from the very beginning. Your baby should sleep on a hard, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet or play yard with only a tight, fitted sheet. Please, no blankets, bumpers, pillows or toys in this space since they pose a potential suffocation hazard. I also suggest a sound machine, a fan to circulate air in the room and crib, thus reducing the risk of SIDS, blackout curtains and a swaddle. I recommend that your baby be put to sleep in this space for each nap and night time sleep.
So now that you've created a safe sleep environment, it's time to create a calm, relaxing bedtime routine for both you and baby. Having a predictable routine helps babies learn through actions, that it's time to go to sleep. No need for an elaborate routine. Keep it simple so that it can be easily repeated even when not at home. After about 6 weeks, your baby will begin to have a more predictable pattern of eating, sleeping and playing, and can start to absorb a routine. Don't be frightened by that! Babies thrive on routines! A bedtime routine helps calm your baby and prepares them for a good nights sleep. So what would a nighttime routine look like?
Bedtime Routine
Bedtime should be a calming experience for both parent and baby. I like to suggest that parents take turns carrying out the bedtime routine so that baby gets to know each parent. The routine should look something like this;
Start at the same time, every night.
It can consist of a warm bath
Change diaper
Putting on lotion
Playing some soothing lullabies
Draw the room darkening curtains
Put sound machine on
Feed
Burp
Snuggle quietly
Swaddle
Now you are ready to put your baby in its designated, safe sleep space, awake but drowsy for the night. Awake but drowsy sounds contradictory. Basically, don't make it a habit of letting your baby fall asleep in your arms. Awake but drowsy is a calm state but their eyes are not closed. This state is ideal in helping your baby learn to put themselves to sleep, and if they wake up in the middle of the night, they learn to soothe themselves back to sleep.
Don't hang out in the room while your baby is trying to fall a sleep. Leave and watch from the monitor if you have to. But being in the room will only serve to distract or wake your baby. If your baby stirs, resist the urge to run in right away. We all stir in our sleep as we transition between sleep cycles. The same for babies!
Having a baby is life changing. But it doesn't have to be in a negative way! When babies sleep well at night, they wake up happy, and when mom and dad have a good nights sleep, well, we know they are ecstatic! So, be calm, consistent yet flexible to slight changes in sleep, ready to support your baby and empower them to be able to put themselves to sleep. Remember, a good day starts with a good nights sleep!