Strategies to Put Your Baby to Sleep
Newborns have difficulty distinguishing between day and night, which explains their short bursts. However, when your baby is a few weeks old, he can start to teach himself the difference and you can gain a healthy sleeping habit when you're with him. Expert tips can help you do this:
“The lights biologically push the ‘move‘ button on your child,” experts say. The dark secretes melatonin in the brain, which is an important sleep hormone. Keep your baby's days bright and nights dark so he quickly understands when it's time to sleep.
• During the day, make sure the house gets plenty of light or take it outside. Place your baby in a well-lit room during daytime naps.
• To avoid waking up at night, consider installing a brightness adjuster over the lights in your baby's room; also consider installing brightness adjusters in other rooms where you spend a lot of time. Reduce the brightness of the lights in the evening or 2 hours before bedtime to set the mood.
• It's nice to use a night light in your room, but choose a dim light and don't install it near beds or curtains.
• If your child wakes up during the night, do not turn on the lights or move them to a bright room. The transition from darkness to light signals your brain that it's time to wake up. Instead, soothe her in the dark bedroom.
• If sunlight wakes your child too early or they have trouble sleeping in the afternoon, you may want to consider darkening the tones of the room.
Put your baby to bed when he is sleepy.
This is a long-term step, especially for breastfeeding mothers, but you can adjust the timing with it so that both you and your baby are relieved. Babies who spontaneously sleep tend to learn to comfort themselves, experts say.
Wait a little before you go to your baby.
If you jump at every noise heard from your baby's audio device, you're teaching your child to wake up more often. Wait a few minutes to give him time to sleep alone. If she doesn't, and it looks like she's awake, you might even be right to wait for her to start crying. However, going to her before a major crying attack means putting her to sleep without losing much time.
Either way, adjusting the sensitivity on your baby's sound device is a sensible option so you don't hesitate every time your baby makes a sound.
Try not to look your baby in the eye.
Many babies are easily stimulated. Just greeting your baby's gaze can catch his attention and show his playtime.
Parents who make eye contact with sleepy babies cause their babies to go out of sleep mode. The more interaction between you and your baby during the night, the more motivation they will have to get up.
So what should I do instead?
When you go to your baby at night, don't make eye contact, talk excitedly, or sing her favorite song. Keep your gaze on her belly and soothe her as she sleeps with a calm voice and a soft touch.
Relax the rules for diaper changes.
Resist the urge to change your baby's diaper every time she wakes up. Wear night diapers before going to bed at night. When he wakes up, check his diaper by sniffing it, and if he poops, change his diaper. Warming up wet wipes at night when you're changing diapers can be a sensible choice.
Give your baby a “dream meal.”
If your baby is having trouble sleeping, waking him up in the middle of the night to feed may help you sleep longer.
Don't worry about sleep habit decline.
If your baby starts to wake up again at night, don't panic. It's probably a temporary action. Milestones for infants and toddlers can often vary in situations such as travel, illness, and new siblings. Many parents think that babies become more active with sleep problems and their sleep patterns start from 4 months.
Sleep Myths You Should Know
Experienced parents, friends, and the community give you well-intentioned advice about their parenting. But how can you be sure that their advice is correct? Let's get help from Andrew Adesman's book “Baby Facts” and take a look at some baby myths.
Baby's Sleeping Position
Myth: There is no problem with your baby lying on his side.
Fact: To make sure your baby sleeps healthier and correctly, you should make his/her position supine or on his/her stomach and sometimes put supports next to him/her.
Experts explain: “Babies sometimes roll on their own when you're not with them, and they're more likely to roll when you put them on their side. For this reason, the safest sleeping position is to lie on your back. ‘’
Sleep Control
Myth: You should control when and how much your newborn sleeps.
Fact: Newborn babies can fall asleep when they're ready and have no trouble waking up when they're wet, upset, or hurt, and give you the necessary clues when they wake up.
Experts explain: “The key word here is‘ newborn'. Many parents are trying to draw a schedule, but since the babies are very young, they are not yet ready to follow your schedule and make a habit of it. ''
Swaddling
Myth: Swaddling is an outdated method of comforting a fussy baby.
Fact: Swaddling can be an effective and relaxing technique when done properly.
Experts explain: “Arson is a very useful technique for relieving. Some parents worry about their baby overheating, but it's not a problem if they're properly dressed. It is only important how you position it inside the swaddle, for which you can consult your doctor.
Your Baby's Lunch Sleep
Myth: Sleeping in a car seat, on the couch, or as a guest doesn't count as a nap.
Fact: If your child is sleeping quietly, it will be counted.
Experts explain: “If your child can really sleep comfortably, it doesn't matter much where he sleeps at noon.” So if your baby falls asleep somewhere else outside the cot, there's really no reason to transfer him. And don't force her to sleep again after thinking that this sleep is inadequate.
Cereals Given at Bedtime
Myth: Giving a bottle of rice or cereal before bed helps babies sleep through the night.
Fact: There is no evidence that this method has any effect on the baby's sleep.
Experts explain: “In fact, if you think the opposite, it can be unsafe to consume rice and grains too early. Because babies may not be able to digest their rice and cereals before 4 months. Parents are trying to rush the natural process and push milestones forward, but this practice is not really recommended for your babies. ”
Newborn Infants' Crib Sleep
How and where to put your newborn to sleep is a personal choice, but a hood or crib has some advantages for a newborn. Since your baby is tiny when he's just born, he may be safer in a smaller crib than a full-length crib. But because it's thought to involve some risks, you may not feel comfortable when your baby is in the crib with the extra pillow or extra quilt.
You can also decide which one is right for you by comparing the size of a crib or stroller. If you have limited space, pushchairs make it easier for your baby to sleep in the same room as you. Doctors recommend that babies sleep in the same room as their parents, even if they are not going to sleep in the same bed, because it is thought to reduce the dangers during sleep and increase the bond between mother and baby. In addition, the fact that the baby and the mother stay in the same room makes things easier for mothers who are breastfed at night.
Portability is another advantage of the stroller. Children are easily transported to another room so that your baby can fall asleep in a room of your choice and continue to sleep in another room at night.
If you use a cradle or hood, make sure that it is well supported from the bottom so that it does not collapse or contain danger. It should also be broad-based to eliminate the possibility of being knocked over if someone bumps into it. Keep in mind the weight and size limitations of the manufacturers; remember that when your baby is too big for smaller beds, there will be no room for the baby to move. If you cannot find the manufacturer's instructions, it is reasonable to ask the place where you bought the cradle if there is a carrying limit of 20 kilos.
The Link Between Sleep and Development
Getting enough sleep is important for a young child for many reasons, such as restoring energy, creating brain connections, and giving the mother and father a necessary break. But science shows that sleep also fuels physical growth.
Growth hormone in infants is released throughout the day. But for children, the most intense oscillation period is shortly after the onset of deep sleep. For this reason, your child's height may also be affected by lack of sleep. Some children don't naturally produce enough growth hormone, and lack of sleep makes the problem worse. It can affect immune system function and cause a condition known as growth hormone deficiency.
Children who do not get enough sleep also show changes in the levels of hormones circulating in their bodies. Hormones that regulate hunger and appetite can be affected, causing the child to prefer excessively calorie carbohydrates. Moreover, lack of sleep can affect the way the body metabolizes and digests these foods.
Lack of sleep at night can also affect motor skills and concentration throughout the day, resulting in more accidents and behavior problems and poor performance at school.
How much sleep do they need?
• Newborn: 16-20 hours a day
• 2 Months: 15-16 hours per day
• 4 Months: 9-12 hours and 2 short sleeps
• 6 Months: 11 hours and 2 short sleeps
• 9 Months: 11-12 hours and 2 short sleeps
• 1 Year: 10-11 hours and 2 short sleeps
Get a good night's sleep.
Signs that your child is not getting enough rest include day-to-day moodiness or lethargy, difficulty concentrating, crying out of the blue, and difficulty waking up in the morning.
In order for your child to get enough sleep:
• Establish a consistent bedtime.
• Establish a good bedtime routine that informs your child that it's time to return to his or her body. This may include giving a bath or snack, reading a story before going to bed, singing softly while talking to or calling out to her.
• Make sure your child's room is suitable for sleeping. It must be dark and quiet.
• Do not keep your television and computer in your child's room.
• Avoid encouraging activity before bedtime.
• Use the same calendar and routines for bedtime on weekends and holidays you follow throughout the week. Once upon a time, a variation does not cause long-term disruptions, but irregular bedtimes can cause poor sleep habits and sleep deprivation.
Your Baby's Sleep Basics
Newborns sleep a lot, usually 16 to 17 hours a day. But most babies don't sleep for long periods of time, day or night, during the first few weeks of life.
As a result, your baby's sleep disorder becomes difficult and tiring for you. As a new parent, you'll probably get up several times during the night to change her diaper, feed her, or relax her.
Why are newborns' sleep patterns unpredictable?
Infants have shorter sleep cycles than adults and spend more time in REM sleep, which is thought to be necessary for the unusual development that occurs in the brain.
All this unpredictability is a necessary phase for your baby and doesn't last long. Although it may seem like an eternity to you when you are sleep deprived, it will of course end and your baby will gain sleep habits.
How does your baby start to sleep longer?
During the 6-8 week period, most babies begin to sleep shorter during the day and longer during the night, but many continue to wake up during the night. They may also enter a period when the duration of REM sleep is shorter and deeper.
Experts say that most babies between the ages of 4-6 months can sleep between 8 and 12 hours during the night. Some babies sleep at night for up to 6 weeks, but most do not reach this milestone until they are 5 or 6 months old and continue to wake up in day or night sleep. You can help your baby get to this stage earlier. But to begin with, it is necessary to teach him good sleeping habits.
How to create sleep habits for babies?
Here are some tips to help your baby fall asleep:
Give your baby a chance to sleep often. For the first six to eight weeks, most babies can't stay asleep for more than two hours at a time. If you wait longer than this or put pressure on your baby to sleep more, he or she may become overly emotional and have trouble falling asleep.
Teach your baby the difference between day and night. Some babies are night owls, so they like to stay awake at night. You can even understand this from their behavior during pregnancy. At first, it is difficult to explain the concepts of night and day to your baby and to set sleep times, but when your baby is about 2 weeks old, you can start teaching him to distinguish night from day.
Interact with her when she's awake during the day and keep playing with her as much as you can. Keep the home and room bright and shiny. Be careful to minimize regular daytime noises such as phones, music, or dishwashers. Wake him up if he also tends to sleep during feeding.
Don't play with it when it wakes up at night. Keep the light and sound level low and don't spend too much time talking to him. After a while, your baby should start to understand that the night is for sleeping.
Look for signs that your baby is tired. For example, is he rubbing his eyes, pulling his ears, or is he more fussy than usual? If you notice these or any other signs of being sleepy, try to put it to sleep. You'll soon develop a sixth sense about your baby's daily rhythms and patterns, and you'll know instinctively when he's ready to nap.
Think about a bedtime routine for your baby. It's never too early to start following your routine before bed. These routines can include putting your baby to bed, lullaby or singing, or kissing them goodnight.
Allow your baby to fall asleep on his/her own when he/she is 6-8 weeks old and habits are starting to be formed. And don't push too hard to keep her awake when she's asleep, even if it's not at bedtime.
Doctors say that you should also avoid breastfeeding before sleep at an early age. Parents feel that what their baby does early on has no effect on later life or their habits. But babies learn and form habits at any age.
Why Does My Baby Suddenly Wake Up at Night?
Regardless of whether falling asleep before bedtime or waking up suddenly during the night becomes an issue, sudden sleep problems are common even for the best sleepers.
Starting from 6 months, separation anxiety can cause babies to wake up crying more than once during the night. Don't be surprised if your anxious baby does this and only wants to be with you or your partner.
Other common causes of nighttime awakening in better sleep patterns include illness or developmental spike. In these cases, in addition to controlling her fever or treating her throat, there are several ways to control the earache that is bothering your sick baby.
Firstly, make sure that your little baby gets enough sleep overall. It may not seem important, but the less babies sleep, the more trouble they have going to sleep before bed and falling asleep during the night. Therefore, make an effort to put your baby down for naps during the day and ensure they go to sleep at a reasonable hour in the evenings.
When your baby wakes up during the night, you need to be calming and soothing, but not boring. Let him/her know that everything is fine, but show him/her that it is time to go to sleep. Stay with him until he calms down, but minimise talking and dim the lights. It may take more than one night, or even a few weeks, but the closer you are to your baby's regular sleep pattern, the sooner the problem will be resolved.
Why Does Your Baby Suddenly Wake Up at Night?
Your baby's sleep patterns can be affected by many things such as diseases, holidays, changes in his life and development process. Infants between 6 and 10 months of age often begin to wake up at night. Researchers are not entirely sure why this happens, but many think it is physiological or developmental.
If your baby starts waking up too often at night, examine your baby's physical and psychological development to assess the situation. For example, if something has changed in your baby's environment or he/she may wake up at night because he/she is not satisfied with the temperature with the warming and cooling of the weather. Apart from that, he/she may be uncomfortable with the light in the room or the noise of the neighbors. If you notice that there is a problem, you should start looking for ways to solve it. You can try to reduce the light in the room where he/she sleeps and prefer a room where there is no street or neighboring noise.
Then consider whether sudden night wakings are due to illness, vacation, or a change in your baby's routine. If not, consider whether these awakenings coincide with a developmental milestone such as teething or weaning. Apart from these, if your baby has learned a new motor skill, he/she may want to try it day and night at every opportunity without realizing it. Some babies may want to wake up and practice what they have learned because their curiosity continues even at night. Recent research suggests that a few weeks of disrupted sleep may send the message that a new developmental milestone is approaching, such as learning to walk.
The best way to deal with sudden nighttime awakenings is not to try to make a change in your baby's routines. For example, do not suddenly change your baby's bedtime routine or sleep patterns. Nighttime awakenings may also decrease if you keep things organized and consistent for a while, such as eating times, what they watch before sleep, what they eat, or who they see. In addition, it will be beneficial to prepare an environment where he/she can sleep more comfortably before going to bed. This is a temporary situation for your baby and whatever the problem is, he/she will overcome it as soon as possible and end up tired of waking up at night.
How Can I Teach My Baby to Sleep on Her/His Own?
Keys that help the baby learn to put himself/herself to sleep should establishing a calm nighttime routine, setting a bedtime when he's awake, and giving him/her plenty of chances to understand how to go to sleep on his/her own.
You can start teaching your baby good sleep habits a few weeks after birth, before spending too much time learning bad sleep habits. However, even if your baby is no longer a newborn, trying the following tips can go a long way in helping them fall asleep on their own.
• Put her to bed at regular hours. Putting your baby to bed at the same time every night sets his/her internal clock so he/she is more likely to be sleepy at a predictable time. Make sure it is not too late, because tired babies are particularly difficult to calm down.
• Follow a continuous bedtime routine. Let her know it's bedtime with a nighttime ritual that includes three or four calm activities, such as bathing, reading a story, lullaby, or singing, rocking, or hugging.
• Put your baby to bed while he is asleep. Trying to put her to bed while she's asleep helps her fall asleep without you.
• Establish a routine to put them to sleep. If your baby goes to sleep while breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, he or she will not be able to learn to fall asleep on their own. Move your child's feeding time closer to bedtime and reduce the duration of feeding to encourage a decrease in eating before sleep. If your baby starts to doze off, stop feeding him/her and finish his/her bedtime routine before putting him/her on his cot.
• Take a look at some of the issues. What happens if you give your baby the chance to relax and she/he doesn't? Some babies take more time to learn this than others. Or maybe your baby doesn't have enough developmental skills yet.
Finally, take a step back and think about whether you can handle it and whether you should start. Are you trying to put him to sleep before putting him/her in his cot? Is it right to rush to comfort him at the first cry and deprive him of the chance to relieve himself? Do you think you'll only get her/him to sleep for one night when she's/he's not ready?
Self-relaxation takes time to learn, and some babies need a little longer than others. Be patient, stick to the calming bedtime routine, and remember that some days will be easier than others. In the meantime, read about structured sleep training methods to help your baby become self-sleeping. This could be the next step!
When Does Your Baby Start Sleeping Through the Night?
“Sleep through the night” usually means 8 to 12 hours of sleep without the need for bedtime feeding.
Almost all babies can sleep through the night during the first month, but this can be very different from child to child.
Some babies under 3 months of age may delay sleeping for six to eight hours. Many don't sleep that long, even up to 12 months.
You may have heard that older babies who eat solid foods are better sleepers, but that's not true. Your baby's ability to sleep through the night may depend on many things, such as height, weight, or age.
There is also no research to support the claim that adding rice and cereal to your baby's evening food will help him sleep better or longer. In fact, this is sometimes a danger, and introducing solids too early can deprive your baby of essential nutrients from breast milk or formula. Doctors recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months.
Just like adults, it's normal for a baby to wake up briefly a few times to lie down and fall into a deep sleep. But you can help your baby learn to put himself to sleep.
“Put her/him to bed when she's/he's asleep, but stay alert until she's/he's 4 months old,” says a Pediatric Sleep Disorders Clinic doctor. “This helps her/him avoid developing an addiction to falling asleep and makes it easier for her/him to fall asleep on her/his own when she/he wakes up at night.”
How Do You Prevent Your Baby From Having Nightmares?
It is very difficult to know what causes the distress your child experiences at night unless he/she says that he/she has a nightmare.
Toddlers have many possible reasons for waking up and crying at night. Some may need to be comforted because they haven't learned to soothe themselves. Some children also wake up because they are sick or uncomfortable.
However, if your baby, who always sleeps well, suddenly cries and wakes up, is uneasy and does not want to go back to sleep, it is most likely a nightmare. It is usually the second half of his/her sleep when he/she is most likely to dream.
Nightmares should not be confused with night sweats. Children with night sweats continue to sleep after waking up anxiously in a deep, dreamless sleep, and when they wake up they do not remember it.
What causes nightmares?
Your child's nightmare is probably linked to something that happened before bedtime. Watching something that scares or bothers him/her or listening to a horror story can cause him to have nightmares.
Stress can also cause nightmares. Sleep time can be stressful, especially for a child with separation anxiety. Being sick or being away from a parent for too long can also be stressful for children.
But don't worry or blame yourself. Emotional problems are not linked to nightmares, and it's perfectly normal for her/him to have an occasional bad dream at this age. It probably has nothing to do with anything you say or do.
How can I help my child after a nightmare?
When she/he screams, go to your child. Physical reassurance is important, so hold her/him and hug her/him until she/he calms down. Make sure her favorite stuffed animal or toy is with her/him, this can help. Double-check the night light and keep the bedroom door open so they know you're there. Be aware that if you bring your child to your bed to comfort her/him, it will be difficult to reverse.
If she's/he's old enough to understand what you're saying, talk to her/him about the nightmare. But keep in mind that telling him/her that it was just a dream will not be much consolation, because children at this age do not understand the difference between reality and dreams.
How do I prevent him/her from having a nightmare?
Although there is no sure way to prevent nightmares, a peaceful sleep routine, a peaceful hot shower, a good sleep story or a peaceful song may help.
Make your child feel comfortable so that your child has a good night's sleep. The best temperature for restful sleep is a little cool air.
Too much light disrupts sleep. If your child is afraid of the dark, a night light that illuminates enough to keep the monsters away is sufficient.
If the nightmares persist and your child is afraid to go to bed, you can discuss the matter with his/her doctor.