Sleep Strategies for Babies – Sensory Tricks to Help Your Baby Fall Asleep Fast!
Getting your baby to sleep can be difficult because newborns don’t know how to distinguish night from day. Fortunately, after a few weeks, you can begin teaching her the difference between the two and start establishing a sleep schedule. It will be even better when you establish some good habits that will help her to fall asleep as fast as possible; Here are a few habits:
1. Using light strategically
You can use lights to push your baby’s biological buttons. When it is very bright, then the biological button initiated is ‘go’. On the other hand, when it is darker, the brain is triggered to produce more melatonin which is a sleep hormone. To make your baby sleep faster, make the room darker by installing dimmers in her room or lowering the lights in the evening.
2. Lay your baby on the crib when she is drowsy not asleep
If you are breastfeeding, this can be a little bit difficult but it helps you and your baby to get some rest much more easily. When your baby drifts off to sleep on her own, she is more likely to soothe herself to sleep. Put your baby on the crib when she is just about to nod off.
3. Don’t be quick to go to your baby
If you hear your baby crying through the baby monitor, don’t just jump up and quickly go to her. This will only be teaching your baby how to wake up more often. Wait for a few minutes before you go so that your baby can settle down on her own. If she does then well and good. If she doesn’t then you can go to her before the crying escalates.
4. Don’t look your baby directly in the eyes
Babies get stimulated quite easily. Once she meets your gaze, she gets engaged by believing that it is playtime. When your baby is sleepy and you make eye contact with her, you will notice that she immediately snaps out of her sleepy state. If you are interacting more with your baby then you are only keeping her awake for longer. So keep your engagements very minimal for her to sleep faster. No eye contact or talking excitedly.
5. Don’t change the diaper every time your baby wakes up
Your baby doesn’t always need a diaper change every time he wakes up. When he does wake up, just sniff to see whether he has soiled the diaper and only change it when there’s poop.
6. A ‘dream feed’ for your baby
For baby’s who have trouble sleeping, waking them up for a late night feed usually around 10pm to midnight helps them to sleep for longer stretches. When you are feeding her, keep the lights dim to avoid stimulating him.
7. Don’t hasten the process of sleep training
Your baby is not ready to be sleep trained until she is at least 4 months old. At that age, she will be more receptive to sleeping techniques and able to sleep for longer stretches.
Be patient with your baby because it is not all times that she will respond to your techniques. Give her time to learn.
Related:
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12 THINGS I REGRET NOT DOING TO MY BABY IN HIS FIRST YEAR
