It's no secret that having a new baby means you don't get much sleep. Little ones don't start sleeping through the night for several months and you may find that your baby is waking up multiple times each night, even when she's not hungry. Fortunately, you aren't doomed to sleepwalking through both night and day because there are several simple things you can do to help your baby sleep better so that you can too.
Try Swaddling
Your baby is used to being in a small, warm, tight space since he was in the womb for so long. By emulating that feeling for him, you can help him sleep better and at longer stretches. Swaddling also helps minimize the startle reflex that babies are both with and that lasts for about five months. There is a variety of swaddling blankets on the market, but the idea is to tightly wrap your baby so his arms and legs remain in place close to his body. You can do this with traditional receiving blankets or with a swaddling product. Either way, it helps him sleep better and is one of the top recommended sleep aids out there. You can find advice about choosing a great crib and mattress for your baby at whooopsadaisy.com.
Do the Last Night Feed
Sometimes called dream feeding, this involves giving your baby a feeding right before you go to bed. This fills her tummy and gives you the potential for several hours of sleep before she wakes up hungry again. This is a great way to ensure better sleep for you and your baby in the first few months after you bring her home and it works for both bottle feeding and breastfeeding.
Use a White Noise Machine
When your baby can hear what's going on in the rest of the house or a loud sound startles her awake, it can be hard to get her to stay asleep. A white noise machine or fan is great for providing a soothing background sound that masks dogs barking, people talking, the television and the ringing of your cell phone. By covering up those noises, your baby should be able to sleep better.
Have a Routine
Babies and children thrive on routine and once your little one gets a little older, you can implement a routine that will help his body know it's time to sleep. This could be a warm bath and a snuggle, or it could be a snack and a song you gently sing. Whatever it is, use the same routine in the same order and it won't take long before it signals to your baby that it's time to get some sleep.
Teach Your Baby to Sleep Independently
It can be very tempting to rock your baby to sleep or snuggle her until she drifts off, but your goal is to teach her to fall asleep on her own. For that reason, try putting her down in her crib when she starts to get drowsy instead of after she's already fallen asleep. This lets her fall asleep without you and sets the stage for healthy sleep going forward. If she relies on you to fall asleep, it's going to be very difficult to break her of the habit as she gets older. This also helps her get herself back to sleep if she wakes up at night and isn't hungry or needing a diaper change.
Baby sleep is elusive, and it will take some effort to get into the swing of things. But once you do, you and your baby will be so much healthier, happier and better-rested.
