If you ask any parent of a newborn baby what the drawbacks are they will almost certainly mention the lack of sleep. For first time parents the shock of just how tired interrupted sleeps makes you can come as unpleasant surprise and may even put a strain on your relationship. There’s no way round the fact that most babies will interrupt your sleep to a certain extent for the first few months of their life however there are some simple methods that may help to get both you and your baby sleeping more peacefully.
During the first few months of your baby’s life he or she will need regular feeds so there is no way around the problem, you will just have to try to get some sleep when your baby is asleep. However after a few weeks babies become more alert and awake during the day and this is your cue to try to teach your baby about daytime and night-time. One way you can do this is by being playful with your baby during the day, keeping the curtains open to let in daylight and don’t tiptoe about too much – make as much noise as you want.
You need to teach your baby that early evening is the time that he or she needs to settle down to sleep. To help your baby understand the difference between daytime and night there are a few simple things you can do. Start by drawing all the curtains and dimming the lights, make sure you speak to your baby in a quieter voice and do not initiate any game playing at this time. Your baby’s body should soon get used to the natural rhythms of the day and night.
Around the age of 3 months old you might want to think about starting a regular bedtime routine for your baby. Many parents find that a bedtime routine that is performed every night helps to get their baby in the mood for sleep and gives them some precious together time together. Babies find the regularity of the routine comforting and are likely to settle much better if they feel relaxed and secure. Start around an hour before you want to put your baby to bed by dimming the lights, drawing the curtains and maybe giving your baby a soothing bath.
Once you have given your baby a bath, take him or her to the bedroom making sure the lights have been dimmed previously and dress your baby in a clean sleep suit and nappy. You could gently read a story to your baby at this time but don’t be too animated when reading it, try to engage your baby in looking at the pictures together. Once you have finished, give your baby a cuddle and put him or her into the cot to settle down. You could sing a lullaby to your baby or if you prefer invest in a musical bed toy or over the cot mobile that plays a gentle lullaby.
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