One of the most rewarding things as a new parent is hearing the sweet sounds of silence; that is, your baby sleeping peacefully! Every baby is unique in her sleep habits, and it can be difficult for parents to manage.
To help you achieve better baby sleep, consider these 15 tips to improve your baby’s nap sessions.
1. Consistency is key
A bedtime routine can help a child wind down before bed and can also help them prepare mentally and physically for the end of the day. Pre-bedtime activities can include a bottle, a bedtime story, and sleepovers.
When these things appear, children will know what is expected of them and playtime will be over. Try to keep the room a little quieter when you start this routine.
2. Make bedtime enjoyable
Sleep should never be seen as a bad thing in the eyes of a child. Make bedtime a calming and relaxing experience for them by incorporating a soothing nightlight, some nature music sounds, and their favorite blanket or stuffed animal. The night should be a comforting experience for them.
As an extension of that, bedtime shouldn’t always be a punishment for children. This makes sleeping, by association, something that children will want to avoid. If they’re in trouble, a timeout might be more helpful.
3. Wrap your baby
Especially in their early years, children will continue to prefer a warm, protective space similar to that provided by the womb. Pajamas and swaddle blankets are great for keeping your baby warm and swaddled in a comfortable position.
Diapers can also prevent babies from waking up with sudden movements and jerks, and can even prevent nervous babies from bumping or scratching themselves.
4. Give children time to fall asleep
The key to a good night’s sleep is to put your baby to bed while he is still awake. In this way, they associate their bed with what makes them feel comfortable and sleepy.
While it’s rewarding when your child falls asleep in your arms, it can teach him poor sleeping habits as he gets older. Putting them to sleep in their crib will help them become more independent in sleeping, and it will be much easier for you.
5. Give the kids a moment
It’s hard to listen to a baby cry and not attend to it, but this is exactly what you should do! If you hear your baby crying in her crib, stop and wait a few minutes. you don’t necessarily need to help them; they may already be in the habit of crying just because they don’t want to go to bed yet.
Instead, wait a bit. If the kids need a change or have lost their sister, you can come in. However, he or she can go back to sleep after a few minutes, which is a huge win.
6. Don’t make eye contact
If your child makes eye contact with you during bedtime, he might think it’s time to wake up. If you need to come into the room for any reason, try to calm him down without looking at him and let him back in without too much interaction.
Calm them down, but don’t talk to them. Keep the room dark so it’s clear that it’s not the time to be awake.
7. Reject the fun
Kids can easily turn off their tired mode and get back to playing. As a parent, it’s essential to try to stay calm and collected when it’s time to go to bed.
The kids will try to tempt you into having a giggle fest, but now is not the time. Even if you feel guilty about not playing with them, this will make both of your mornings much more manageable!
8. Avoid or prepare for diaper changes
Even if you know there’s going to be a disaster in the morning, it’s helpful to skip diaper changes. These movements can trick your baby into thinking it’s time to wake up and play.
If it is unavoidable, have all the necessary changing items in a place outside the bedroom. This practice will help you avoid spending too much time in the room looking for items and you won’t have to turn on the light to find anything.
9. Create a relaxing environment
Soothing music can help drain other sounds in the house and help babies fall asleep faster. Choose a music player that has a few different sound options, so you can find out what your child likes best.
It can be white noise, water sounds, or even a lullaby. Once they’ve found something they like, play that noise in their bedroom before bed.
10. Block out light
A dark room is the best way to tell your baby that it’s time to go to sleep. Also, if they wake up in the middle of the night, they’ll know from the darkness that it’s not time to get up yet.
Find some light-cancelling curtains that block out the light. As they grow, you can slowly open these shades so they don’t get too used to total darkness.
This will help them stay asleep when they are in new environments that don’t have the same light-cancelling curtains.
11. Recognize a tired baby
If you see any signs that your baby is feeling tired, whether it’s yawning or flushed cheeks, take action right away. Timing is critical when it comes to a baby’s sleep, and if she misses her window, she’s likely to have a restless night.
These little signs show that the body is ready for sleep, and taking action right away will improve the chances of falling asleep easily. Waiting too long will make your baby overly tired and the waking hormones will start kicking in.
At this point, it may be too late for your baby to fall asleep without a fight. You will quickly know your baby’s signs; just make sure both parents know the signs.
12. Lower the temperature
People of all ages tend to rest better when they sleep in cooler temperatures. The thermostat should be between 68 and 72 Fahrenheit so that your child can experience his most comfortable sleep.
Not sure if they’re too cold? Many parents tend to feel their baby’s fingers or toes when their temperature is taken. In most cases, these body parts will feel cold, but that doesn’t mean your baby is cold.
Instead, check the temperature of your baby’s chest. This part of the body is the area that will tell you if they are comfortable or not.
13. Have necessities ready
A full diaper can make a big mess in your baby’s crib, but turning on the lights and trying to do a total sheet change is game over for good sleep. Instead, be prepared with necessities always ready. To do this, you might consider placing extra sheets and diapers in a cabinet outside the bedroom.
You might also consider adding a waterproof pad between two sheets. If a mess does occur, you can peel off the sheet and pad and still have a dry layer waiting underneath. Preparation will make changing sheets quick and easy, and your baby will be back in bed in no time.
14. Tag Team
Couples who can get a solid 5 hours of sleep each night are critical to their overall health and performance as parents. To do this, the partners must work as a team each night, even though nursing work is a one-man show.
Couples can wait their turn, change or soothe the baby, or whatever else is needed. Depending on work schedules, you may have varied “night shifts” so everyone feels rested in the morning.
15. Take the kids to the pacifier
Many babies wake up at night simply because they can’t find their pacifiers. You can fix this problem by teaching your child to learn where he can find a pacifier on his own!
Simply place pacifiers in each corner of the crib, then spend each night guiding your baby’s arm to reach the pacifiers in any corner. This practice will ensure that no matter how you twist and turn, you will be able to locate an edge of the crib.
After about a week, they should be able to reach around corners and find the pacifier on their own. This will alleviate the need for parents to go to the bedroom.
A better sleep for everyone
By following these tips, not only will the baby sleep better at night, but their parents will too! Consider incorporating these suggestions so everyone goes to bed on time and wakes up happy and refreshed.
Not all advice will work with your child, but it’s about patience and consistency. Work on an agreed-upon routine and sleep schedule that works for everyone in the family.