4 Ways To Help Your Baby Sleep Better at Night
The exhaustion that comes with a new baby’s erratic sleep pattern can often overshadow the joy of their birth. Luckily, new parents can use various methods to help their baby adopt better sleeping habits. Delve into some of the best ways to help your baby sleep better at night.
Recognize Their Sleepy Cues
Although most babies can’t talk until they’re nearly a year old, they have many nonverbal ways to communicate their needs early on. Pay attention when your baby is rubbing their eyes or getting fussy; these are usually signs that they’re ready for bedtime or naptime.
Parenting Tip
On sleepless nights, cradle your little one in the nursery with dimmed lights to create a relaxed atmosphere.
Create a Routine
Establishing a bedtime routine helps your baby know what to expect in the evening. Your routine can include various activities such as a warm bath, massage, lullaby, or bedtime story. The key is to create a predictable pattern that your baby will associate with bedtime, which can soothe and relax them.
Being consistent with their sleep routine will also help your baby understand when it’s time for sleep and make it easier for them to relax. Try putting your little one to bed around the same time each night.
Parenting Tip
Singing or reading to your baby can be a great way to help them fall asleep. Test out different techniques to help your infant feel comfy and relaxed so that all of you get a peaceful night of rest.
Buy Cozy PJ’s
Falling asleep becomes a major challenge when you can’t get comfortable, but the right pj’s can make a world of difference. Shop for jammies with minimal accessories and made with natural materials, such as cotton. One of the top reasons cotton is ideal for infant clothes is that it’s gentle on their sensitive skin and it helps them regulate their body temperature.
Parenting Tip
The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that one way to keep babies safe at night is to avoid placing stuffed animals or blankets in cribs. Both items can pose suffocation hazards if your baby gets them on or over their face when sleeping.
Use a Pacifier
Another way to help your baby sleep better at night is to give them a binky. Pacifiers soothe babies and can be effective in helping them sleep better at night. This is because they encourage the sucking reflex, which helps your baby self-soothe and relax before bedtime.
Parenting Tip
Never attach a pacifier clip to a sleeping baby; it could become a choking hazard. You should always monitor your little one when using paci clips.
