Parents wait all day for that blissful break from diapers, dishes and other demands. Sometimes baby’s bedtime can’t come soon enough.
The last thing you want is a child who’s not ready to unwind when you are.
While you can’t force a child to fall asleep at your command, there are things that soften the bed, so to speak.
Why rocking + lullabies really can work“Making children feel sleepy requires decreasing their level of cortisol, the hormone that keeps them revved up and ready to go,” says pediatrician Maureen Ahmann, DO. “To decrease cortisol, calm their senses.”
Rocking your baby and singing a lullaby may be the best-known calming techniques, but any type of sensory soothing can work, says Dr. Ahmann. Try:
“The key is removing stimulation and signaling the body that it’s time to rest,” says Dr. Ahmann.
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What about a ride in the car?Some parents claim that a ride in the car is a sure-fire way to induce sleep. In desperate times it may be tempting to buckle baby in the car seat and drive around the block. Just don’t do it for long, says Dr. Ahmann.
Sleeping in the car, while sometimes unavoidable, is not a good habit. Your baby is safest sleeping on a firm, flat surface, not propped up in a seat.
Every year hundreds of U.S. infants die due to unsafe sleep environments. Make sure your baby sleeps safely all the time. It’s non-negotiable, says Dr. Ahmann.
For babies, safe sleep means lying flat on the back with no blankets heavier than a hospital receiving blanket.
There should be no stuffed animals in the crib. Do not use crib bumpers, pillows or any type of cushions for propping up your baby — not even items marketed to help babies sleep better.
Tactics to make your baby drowsy only do so much. The best way to get children to sleep when they’re supposed to is to establish a wake-sleep schedule and stick to it, says Dr. Ahmann.
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“Nothing works better than keeping kids on a schedule,” she says. “It’s not always possible with so many demands on today’s parents — and life can throw curveballs — but keep nap and night sleep times consistent the best you can.”
Babies respond to consistency and structure, says Dr. Ahmann. The less you disrupt their schedule, the more likely they’ll fall asleep on time.
“If your baby regularly has a tough time falling asleep at night, you may need to adjust their nap schedule,” she says. “Gradually move morning and afternoon naps earlier.
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There are numerous ways to get your baby to settle down for slumber. But here are three things you shouldn’t try:
Remember that safe sleep is a must. “Too frequently, exhausted parents fall asleep holding their baby and wake up hours later to find the baby in a dangerous position,” says Dr. Ahmann. “If you’re tired, put your baby back in the crib. A baby will not die from crying in their crib.”Following a consistent schedule and using calming techniques should be all you need to ensure a sufficient sleepyhead. Getting baby to sleep on time is one step toward getting yourself to sleep on time too.
Illustration: Olivia Mew
1. Invest in blackout curtains or make your own. You might not need them during the newborn stage, but they'll be so worth it later on.
Illustration: Olivia Mew
2. Some parents swear by infant massage strokes and even gently swiping a tissue over baby’s face to help calm them down and make them sleep— hey, whatever works!
Illustration: Olivia Mew
3.
Muffle that maddening door click by looping a thick rubber band between both door knobs to form an X shape over the latch. Stealthy!
Illustration: Olivia Mew
4. Move baby to a crib without waking them: —Watch their eyes. If your baby’s eyes are darting under their lids, they’re in deep sleep. Wait until their muscles are relaxed and they’re breathing deeply. Then administer the floppy-arm test: Lift up an arm and drop it. If baby doesn’t stir, you’re good to go. —As you ever-so-gently lay them in their crib, keep one hand on their back and the other on their tummy. That continued pressure will ease the transition. If they startle, try patting their belly before you slink away. —Try to maintain whatever position they’re in as you pick them up and put them down. Lay your baby flat (not head first) into the crib. Use a step-stool if you need the extra lift.
Alanna McGinn, Good Night Sleep Site: 5.
Watch for newborns’ wakeful periods. They’re usually only 30 to 60 minutes in the first four months of life; put them to sleep as soon as they seem tired.
6. Change your baby's diaper before the nighttime feed to minimize arousing them. And unless your baby has pooped or soaked through their diaper, you probably don’t want to change them at all in the middle of the night, to keep them in that sleepy state—especially if they’re only waking to feed.
7. When you get up for a nighttime feed, don’t turn on the bright lights. Buy an LED push night light that operates on batteries (so you can put it wherever you need it) and turns on with a quick touch. This also helps reduce the “wake-up” signals going to the parent and baby’s brains so it’s easier to fall back to sleep after feeding.
8. Put a hot water bottle in the bassinet or crib, which will warm it up and can sometimes make the transfer from your arms to bed a little easier. (Don’t forget to remove the hot water bottle before the baby is in!)
Alexis Dubief, Precious Little Sleep: 9.
Babies are born without a well-developed circadian rhythm— they’re awake in the middle of the night, and you can’t fix that, at least for the first few months. Plan for this by sleeping in shifts with your partner or support person.
10. If your baby is sleeping in your room (as per the Canadian Paediatric Society recommendation), you’ll want to be able to get yourself into bed without waking them up. Use a white noise machine, and do all your bedtime prep out of the bedroom, “so you’re just ninja-ing in.”
11. If they fall asleep in your arms during the day, don’t worry about putting them in a crib or bassinet. Put them down somewhere safe, which may even be the floor. (Not applicable if you have dogs or toddlers at home with you!) And if you’re feeling very tired, be careful you don’t fall asleep with baby on you.
12. Enjoy this period of portable naps. Sit at the coffee shop with your baby sleeping at your feet. “Enjoy your mobility while you can, because there will be three years after that when you can’t.
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Sleepbaby sleepParenting hackParent hacksNewborn sleep
Author, editor and medical expert - Muraeva Yulia Yurievna.
Views: 207 562
Last update date: 06/23/2022 G.
average reading time: 12 minutes
Content:
Rhythm of children's sleep
How to properly laid it out properly sleep baby
How to help your baby sleep
How to teach a child to sleep in his own crib?
Bedtime rituals
What are the bedtime rituals?
Sleep is an important part of life, so it must be regular and of high quality 1 . But often the first year of a child's life becomes a real test for parents. Even such a seemingly simple action as putting a newborn to sleep sometimes turns into a task of increased complexity.
The difficulty is that in infants, sleep is still being formed, and circadian rhythms differ from those to which parents are accustomed 2 .
Before birth, the alternation of sleep phases in the fetus is subject to circadian (daily) rhythms and fluctuations in the hormonal background of the expectant mother. After giving birth, it takes time for the child to mature its own regulatory system 2 .
A term newborn sleeps an average of 16-17 hours 2 , and the total duration of sleep is not affected by dark and daylight hours 3 .
Babies up to 2 months have 2 sleep phases 2.3 :
Together these 2 phases form a cycle. Each cycle begins with active sleep followed by restful sleep. The duration of such a cycle is approximately 45-60 minutes 3 .
But the sleep-wake cycle lasts longer. For breastfed babies, it is approximately 1-3 hours, and for artificial babies, it is 2-5 hours 3 .
Gradually lengthening periods of wakefulness, and most of the sleep occurs at night 2 :
Sleep regularity and sleep disturbances can be assessed after 6 months, when the child develops circadian rhythms 3 .
Although the night sleep becomes longer, each cycle is still accompanied by micro-awakenings (wakings) 2.3 , after which the baby can fall asleep quickly enough. This is a short-term activation of the central nervous system, which must be distinguished from a full awakening 2 . It is good if at this moment the mother is nearby and helps the child fall asleep again.
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The American Pediatrics Association has developed guidelines for safe sleep for babies. Below are some of them (the full list of recommendations can be found at the link) 4 :
He should be warm, but not hot, so it is not recommended to wrap him with a blanket. And in order for the baby to breathe freely, in no case cover him with a blanket with his head. nine0063 Babies up to 12 months of age still need to feed at night, so sleeping in the same room with the mother may be necessary to optimize breastfeeding and closer contact 4 . Co-sleeping in the same room with parents does not mean that the child will sleep with them in the same bed, because it does not meet the safety requirements 4 .
Before putting your newborn to bed, also remember that:
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As the baby develops, fears, anxiety, anxiety may appear when he refuses to sleep separately from his parents and resists falling asleep 2 . The maturation of biological rhythms is facilitated by the environment of the child, the behavior of parents, compliance with the regimen and rules of sleep hygiene 3 .
To ensure quality rest and proper development, parents need to follow the recommendations. Specialists advise following these rules 4 :
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There are various methods to help a child fall asleep on his own, without the help of parents.
They are often used as a non-drug treatment for insomnia (sleep disorder) in young children aged 1 to 3 years 4 . Examples of such techniques are described below. Choosing the right one for your baby should be discussed with a baby sleep specialist. nine0003
One way to overcome sleep disorders is through behavioral therapy. It helps to change wrong associations and sleep patterns in a child 4.7 . In behavioral therapy, the abandonment method is used. With him, parents immediately leave the child in the crib and leave the nursery. However, they do not return when they hear his cries or call, giving him the opportunity to fall asleep on his own 4 . But psychologists do not recommend using this approach if the baby is not yet 6 months old and is breastfeeding 4 , as this may adversely affect the baby's condition.
In addition, the abandonment method is not suitable for all parents. For those who want to be near or calm a crying baby 4 experts recommend other methods - "check and hold" or "gradual repayment" 4.
7 .
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When getting ready for bed, the parent spends some time with the child, then puts him to bed and leaves the room or goes to bed if she is in the nursery. At the same time, they do not approach the baby for 15-20 minutes and do not react to his crying or screaming. This period is called "hold" 7
When the 20 minutes have elapsed, the parent goes to the child, straightens his bed and returns to himself. This part is called checking 7 .
It is very important not to take him out of the crib and feed him when he wakes up. The exception is children who require night feedings for age or medical reasons. In all other cases, the parent simply comes to the crib for a short time to check, and then leaves again for a 15-20 minute “hold” 7 .
Gradually - over several nights - increase the "hold" interval to 30 minutes 7 .
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This technique is designed to “repay” the child's protests and manipulations 7 .
There are 2 options for "gradual repayment" - with and without the presence of a parent 4 .
The classic option is to leave the baby alone in the bedroom for a certain amount of time, gradually accustoming him to fall asleep on his own. Unlike the “check and hold” method, the child can be calmed down. But you need to return to his bed not at the first call, but after a certain time. After the child calms down, you need to leave again, increasing the intervals when he tries to fall asleep without you 7 . This option is suitable for babies over 6 months old 4 .
Until the age of six months, use the “gradual repayment” method in the presence of a parent. It is carried out in stages 4 :
nine0063 If the child wakes up, repeat the same steps that you perform at this stage of the procedure. The stages can be stretched over several days so that the baby has time to get used to each 4 .
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Forming a bedding ritual is considered to be an effective method 4 . It can complement the "repayment" technique, but sometimes it works quite well on its own. Suitable for all ages, but the earlier it is started, the less likely babies are to develop sleep problems - they fall asleep faster and sleep longer 4 .
The ritual begins at the moment of the child's drowsiness. Before you put the baby to sleep, you need to perform a number of actions. They should be predictable, regular, relaxing and positive. The total duration of the ritual is 20-45 minutes 4 . If it was not possible to meet the set time, most likely, you need to shift the ritual to another time and wait for drowsiness. It can manifest itself as loss of interest in surrounding toys and people, reddening of the eyelids, rubbing of the eyes, yawning 4 .
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Experts recommend preparing for sleep, which consists of consecutive, daily repeated actions, the so-called routines 5 . They help to speed up falling asleep, increase the quality and duration of sleep, reduce the number of night awakenings 5 .
The most typical nightly rituals 6 :
Sleep experts recommend a three-step ritual that includes bathing, massage and quiet time in the crib 8 .
As a rule, a few days are enough to form an association between the evening routine and falling asleep 4 .
As you can see, pediatricians and psychologists have developed various methods for healthy children's sleep and fast falling asleep. But you need to use them, taking into account the age of the child, his habits and characteristics of the nervous system. The task of parents is to organize the baby’s daily routine and prepare him for sleep, calming and creating positive associations with the process of falling asleep. With the correct implementation of the recommendations of a specialist, the child will gradually learn to fall asleep independently and faster, will sleep longer and sounder. nine0003
Traveling with your baby
Baby's Skin Care Guide
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The information in this article is for guidance only and does not replace professional medical advice.
For diagnosis and treatment, contact a qualified specialist.
References:
32, no. 5, 2009. pp. 599-607. Back to content
As they say, nothing decorates the house like children neatly placed in the corners. And nothing makes tired parents so happy as when they sleep peacefully in their beds in these very corners ... or in the middle of the room, or in the hallway, or even on the floor! Yes, yes, there are such “good” wishes. One of the most common problems for new parents is their child's sleep problem. nine0003
As they say, nothing decorates the house like children neatly placed in the corners.
And nothing makes tired parents so happy as when they sleep peacefully in their beds in these very corners ... or in the middle of the room, or in the hallway, or even on the floor! Yes, yes, there are such “good” wishes. One of the most common problems for new parents is their child's sleep problem.
And precisely because they themselves really need it, and such thoughts arise, and from impotence and fatigue, mistakes are made, which lead to the fact that the child is capricious all night, does not want to fall asleep in the evening and wakes up early. No, no, you should not immediately change the color of the wallpaper in the nursery, the baby's pajamas, or learn new words for a lullaby. nine0003
Of course, these moments are also very important - a sleeping place chosen according to all the rules, a suitable mattress and pillow, the right microclimate. But this is not always the problem, although inspect these points first.
And if everything is in order with the nursery, then the problem, sorry, is with you.
Or rather, in your actions. After all, the child is still too young to point out for himself where you are wrong and what you are doing wrong. Yes, even if he could, it is unlikely that he would tell you that:
1. You are putting him to bed too late
Of course, he won’t say, because the evening is the most interesting time of the day, when dad comes back from work, guests come, new sounds of the TV come, and sometimes you even manage to watch it out of the corner of your eye. Older children do not want to break away from watching their favorite animated series, leave the playground or interrupt reading an interesting book. Unfortunately, adults in childhood also did not appreciate the time that was allotted to them for sleep. And today, parents often delay putting the child to bed, motivating this (rather for themselves) that, they say, this way the child will fall asleep faster and will sleep more soundly if he gets tired more. But the motor of the child's body is very difficult to stop, and excessive excitement in the evening is fraught with restless sleep, whims and a long fall asleep.
It is important to adhere to the ritual of going to bed. Don't wait until your baby starts yawning and rubbing his eyes to start putting him down. Remember that even an extra 15-20 minutes of sleep matters both for him and for you. nine0003
2. You are used to rocking him
Yes, rocking in the arms of a child, especially in infancy, is part of his communication with the outside world. This allows him to feel safe to calm down. Such smooth movements remind the baby of the period when he was still in the womb. That is why children often fall asleep in cars, rocking chairs, etc. The use of such methods is suitable for calming the child, but not as a method of laying down. Firstly, it does not teach the child to fall asleep on his own, and secondly, what will you do when he grows up? And thirdly, this is a help for the formation of uncertainty in the child, in his helplessness and lack of independence. nine0003
3. You entertain him too much before bed
Of course, it is understandable that you miss your baby very much if you are at work.
Or just strive to do everything for him - to equip his crib with the best for babies - a bright mobile over the crib, a colorful bed, musical toys. Many people really like to make fun and play all sorts of nursery rhymes, again with the aim of tiring the baby before going to bed - so that they have bright and colorful dreams. For older children, bans on computer games and cartoons are often lifted. It has long been proven - both by scientists and by the personal experience of everyone - that the more active the day passes, the harder it is to fall asleep in the evening, right? Now imagine what it's like for a child, especially a tiny one. nine0003
It is best to place the baby in a quiet, dark room. Babies are not at all afraid of the dark, but for older children, a night light with soft light will help to overcome night fears.
4. You are ignoring or have not worked out the ritual
Oddly enough, adults themselves always observe rituals - morning, evening, work, etc.
They do it already on the machine and often do not notice. And most importantly, these rituals lead to a successful result, proving their effectiveness. And where do they come from? Of course, from childhood - brush your teeth, put on pajamas, listen to a fairy tale and sleep. Classic and win-win scheme. Therefore, do not neglect it from the very infancy of your child. Believe that he will remember everything and make your life much easier. nine0003
5. You are inconsistent
What is important for a child? It is important for him that everything always remains in its place - then the child feels calm and confident. And if something suddenly “drops out” of the overall picture, and if it also gives the baby great pleasure, then he will use it and manipulate. The point is that if you deviate from the established order of sleep - place, time of sleep, then be prepared for whims. The child will not understand why sometimes you put him in his own bed and sometimes you let him sleep in yours.
