One of the most difficult things to do is to have your newborn fall asleep peacefully at night. As from the editor’s personal experience, newborns do suffer from occasional colic moments (when newborns cry for no particular reason, usually occurs during evening time before going to sleep). Even though there is no immediate cure for this, parents should set a set a bedtime routine so newborns will know that they are getting ready for bedtime. The following are some suggestions parents can try to help newborns sleep better.
- Set a bedtime routine. Adults do it, why not newborns? The bedtime routine should start as early as possible and once newborns become accustomed to it, they will be calmer and fall asleep sooner. Below are some things parents can do to set up a bedtime routine.
- Taking a bath. We all feel better and refreshed after coming out of the shower, so why not for newborns? They will feel more comfortable and at ease once they have showered.
- Swaddling your newborn. Swaddling is described as wrapping them up in a blanket or put them in a small stretchable clothing so they feel more comfortable and secure, just like when they were in their mother’s womb. This enables them to fall asleep quicker.
- Leave a small night light for the newborn. This mood can set an atmosphere where the newborn will get accustomed to the fact that it is time for bed. It can also be used for keeping the room illuminated at night for any diaper changes.
- Bedtime stories. Bedtime stories can help newborns relax as parents communicate with their newborns in a low tone voice.
- Rock or sway gently before you place them into their crib or next to you in bed. Most newborns may feel more comfortable when they sleep next to their parents when they are in their first few weeks of age. Once a few months old, parents can let them sleep in their own crib.
- Do not rely on soothing methods. According to Dr. Deborah Givan, M.D., professor of clinical pediatrics at Indiana University of School of Medicine, Dr. Givan says that parents should try to place their newborns into the crib drowsy but awake so they can fall asleep themselves. As this is part of sleep training, once they are taught this way, they will know to fall asleep better and quicker.
- Stick to an early bedtime. Newborns do need lots of rest, and that is time when they actually grow bigger. So, if parents do keep their newborns awake longer into the night. It will be harder to try to put them down to rest. They will become agitated and will need more persuasion to sleep. It will also disturb their routine so try not be put them to bed too late.
- Always take naps seriously. A newborn usually rests anywhere from 14 – 17 hours a day. Once they are older, the hours of rest may decrease little by little. Never try to keep a baby awake so they will rest better at night. When newborns are tired, their stress hormones rise, and will not sleep well at all. Therefore, if they seem tired and would nap during the day, let them rest so they are not agitated.
There are a lot of information for new parents to research on how to let your newborn fall asleep quicker or better, however, from the editor’s point of view, the points aforementioned can help. Once the newborn is introduced to a routine, try not to change it to a new set on the next day. This will confuse the newborn and will make it more difficult to cope with once more. We are all trying to provide the best possible care for our newborns, so once a routine is introduced, try to keep it the same. With hard work and dedication, your newborn will soon fall asleep better and quicker.
Article references:
www.parents.com/baby/sleep/tips/five-ways-to-help-baby-sleep/
