Bringing a new baby into the world is a beautiful experience, but it can also be filled with a multitude of anxieties. One major source of that anxiety is in trying to figure out how to get your baby sleeping through the night. This article will provide you with some important tips from the baby sleep book, Sleep Baby Sleep, and will get you started on your way to having a better sleeping baby and a well-rested house.
The biggest secret to getting your baby to sleep through the night is to teach your baby how to fall asleep without you. Instead of rocking or nursing your little one to sleep, try to get your baby to fall asleep without your help. The key to achieving this is by putting your baby down to sleep while your baby is still awake. Each time you put your baby down for a nap, it's a brand new ?opportunity? for you to teach your baby how to fall asleep independently. Sometimes your baby might be too fussy to try it, but given enough of these opportunities your baby will eventually be able to fall asleep without you. Once your baby can sleep independently, he will be sleeping through the night in no time and everyone in your house will rest better.
The earlier you begin this process, the quicker and easier your baby will be sleeping through the night. If you start when your baby is a few weeks old, the process is simple and gentle and your baby will barely have to shed a tear. No matter when you try to get your baby sleeping independently, it's hard word. But keep in mind that the longer you take to get started, the harder it will be. In fact, if you wait too long ? you almost assuredly will be forced to resort to some level of a cry-it-out method to get your baby sleeping alone.
If your baby is not sleeping well, that means nobody else in your house is sleeping well. Months of chronic sleep deprivation will wear you down and begin transform your personality. You might even find that you are sleeping apart from your spouse, and everyone in the house will wind up tired and cranky. If you can simply get your baby sleeping independently as soon as possible, your entire family will reap the benefits.
You should try to remember that it's important to consider your needs, as well as your new baby's. It's a challenge to maintain balance in this new life of yours, and difficult to keep everyone happy, including yourself! If you can get your baby sleeping independently, you'll then have the time to rejuvenate and to take care of you. Saving time for your partner is also important, and ever so easy to forget. When you have quiet opportunities for yourself and your partner, you will be able to maintain the harmony in your life and allow the love to flourish throughout your house.
* Develop a routine. Not every bedtime routine will work forever, but once something becomes established in your child's mind, he or she will come to expect it. A sample routine might include a warm bath, reading a book or listening to music, singing songs, being tucked in with a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, followed by a back rub.
* Be consistent. Establishing a daily routine allows your baby to establish his or her time clock. Babies thrive on a schedule where they anticipate what is coming next. Unexpected items tend to upset a colicky baby more so.
* Keep activities relaxing. Do not over stimulate your baby right before bed. Remove toys from the crib, except for a favored item. Removing toys every night at bedtime will help your baby realize it's time to sleep.
* Be brief. Small babies have limited needs at bedtime. Spend a few minutes soothing your baby then settle down for bed. More than 30 minutes is almost always too long.
* Turn the lights off. It's important for a baby to learn the difference between day and night, and that nighttime is for sleeping. This way, if your baby wakes up and it's dark in the room, he or she will learn that it's not time to get up yet. Leaving a bright light on is confusing for a baby and could result in frequent awakenings.
* Remove the bottle. Although it's true that sucking helps soothe a baby, swallowing milk or juice at nighttime will cause tooth decay and gum problems. Also, drinking while lying down can lead to fluid buildup in the ears which will make the colic worse. If your child is used to falling asleep with a bottle in mouth, he or she will have trouble settling down when awakened during the night and doesn't have one available. Try a pacifier instead.
* Be flexible. It's okay to bend bedtime rules if your child is sick or experiencing a stressful time with colic. Try not to change your bedtime routine completely. Instead, maintain relative consistency but add to the routine where needed, such as reading an extra bedtime story.
* Be wary of feeding your baby solid foods too early. Some parents believe babies wake up often because they're hungry again. Breast milk or formula is the best food for a baby's first six months. Solids don't really help your baby sleep at night, so don't introduce them before your baby is six months old unless your pediatrician recommends it.
* Maintain the bedtime routine even when frustrated. Keep your bedtime routine no matter how frustrated you may be with your colicky baby.
Try these tips to soothe your colicky baby at bedtime.
Both Tammy Hussin & Clive Chung are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tammy Hussin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Parental Care. This article was furnished by Tammy Hussin, J.D., author of Sleep Baby Sleep, a great little book to get your baby sleeping gently and easily. Ms. Hussin has been featured in television programs, magazines articles and periodicals throughout the world. Fo. Tammy Hussin's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.
Clive Chung has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Panic Attacks and Parental Care. Check out for more infomation about the best colic baby treatment. Also check out. Clive Chung's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.