Baby Sleep Tips
Helping Your Baby Sleep – Tips and Advice
As a new mother, or even as the mother of a second, third or fourth child, your quest for baby sleep tips begins from the moment you bring your baby into the world. You only want the best for your baby, and you will do anything in your power to ensure your baby remains healthy and happy. From the basics and beyond, Sleep.com offers the baby sleeping tips that help not only new mothers and fathers looking for practical advice, but also any parent in search of additional ways to encourage healthy sleeping habits. Use the following baby sleep tips to help both you and your baby sleep well.
Baby Sleeping Tips to Help You and Your Baby Sleep Well
Encourage healthy sleeping habits for your baby utilizing any or all of these baby sleep tips:
- Avoid eye contact. A speedy heart rate and rise in blood pressure, much like the effects of drinking a caffeinated beverage, can keep your baby awake. Avoid making eye contact with your baby during wee-hour feedings, as this can stimulate your baby as a double-latte would stimulate you.
- Regulate bedroom temperature. Sleep experts suggest that cooler temperatures are optimal for sleeping, and the same is true for your baby. Keep the nighttime bedroom temperature between 65 and 70°F.
- Give your baby a full stomach before bed. A full stomach will help your baby sleep for longer stretches. Decrease the time between feedings starting at around 5 p.m. For example, instead of feeding your baby every three hours, do so every two hours in the evening.
- Regulate and reinforce the circadian rhythm. Make sure your home remains brightly lit during the day and then dim the lights when the sun goes down in the evening. Your baby’s circadian rhythm, or internal clock, will respond positively to this regulation of natural lightness and darkness.
- Limit your own caffeine intake. Caffeine from coffee and soda can turn up in breast milk and leave your baby feeling revved up and wide-eyed after feedings. Note that just one large cup of coffee is enough to affect a breastfed newborn for up to 96 hours.
- Make some noise. Contrary to popular belief, many babies both love and need strong rhythmic noise to fall asleep. In fact, the sounds babies hear in the uterus are about twice as loud as a vacuum cleaner. Use a white-noise machine, radio or nature-sound CD, or let your baby sleep near the dishwasher, in order to mimic rhythmic noises in the uterus.
- Share nighttime feedings with your spouse. Get your baby used to drinking your pumped breast milk from a bottle. You and your spouse can then share the night shift and enjoy longer stretches of sleep.
- Give your baby a cozy sleep spot. Move a bassinet into your bedroom, as many babies tend to sleep better in them. A bassinet can make your baby feel safer and more enclosed, with the additional benefit of remaining closer to you.
If you are concerned that your baby may have a sleeping disorder consult with your doctor for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Disclaimer: Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These statements and products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease.
