Sleep Like A Baby

Does your baby refuse to fall asleep at night? Does she keep waking up? Heres how you can get your baby to sleep through the night. In this articleWarm bathResponseHer own bedPlaytimeFeedingSchedule Warm bath A warm bath really helps put your baby to sleep. If you normally give your baby a massage followed by a warm bath during the day, consider changing this routine to give your baby a warm bath and massage at night. Your baby will fall asleep sooner, and will stay asleep longer. Its best if you avoid bathing infants twice a day. In fact, until your baby starts crawling around the house, you dont even need to bathe her daily, especially in cooler climes. Response Some babies wake up at night and fall asleep on their own. If you get up at the slightest sound and try and put baby back to sleep, this may backfire and she may wake up completely. However, at times if you dont lull your baby to sleep as soon as she wakes up, she may awaken completely. You need to see what works best for babies. First, try and see if she can put herself to sleep when she wakes up. If she cannot, and her cries just keep getting louder, try patting her with your hands as soon as she wakes up the next time. Her own bed See what sleep arrangement works for your baby. If your baby is on your bed, she may wake up more often due to movements than if she were to sleep by herself in her crib. If you want her close to you and want the convenience of not having to get out of bed and bring her to you to feed her, and would rather just roll over and reach out, consider putting her in her own crib and flushing it to your bed, instead of putting her on the bed with you. She will have more place to move around without getting disturbed at night, and may be able to sleep more soundly. Different babies are different, and some babies may be able to sleep best snuggled against mommys warm body. You need to figure out what works best for your baby. Playtime Although it may seem like a good idea to play with your baby just before bedtime and tire her out, this may have the opposite effect. Some babies get so charged after a good play session that they find it difficult to wind down and fall asleep. Its best to play with them at least an hour before you want them to fall asleep. Feeding After a good playing session, feed your baby. If you have started solids or semi solids, feed her this for dinner. You could then breastfeed her a little, an hour or so later, to lull her to sleep. If she wakes up at night, as far as possible, avoid feeding her and try rocking or patting her to sleep. Feed her as often as she wants during the day, to fill her up. Soon she will start getting the message that daytimes are for feeding, night is for sleep. Schedule Put her to sleep at the same time every night. The more to stick to a schedule for sleep, the better it is. Fix a time, say 9:30, and take her to the bedroom at this time every night. Turn down the lights and play some soft music. Start preparing her for sleep.

Does your baby refuse to fall asleep at night? Does she keep waking up? Here's how you can get your baby to sleep through the night.

Warm bath

A warm bath really helps put your baby to sleep. If you normally give your baby a massage followed by a warm bath during the day, consider changing this routine to give your baby a warm bath and massage at night. Your baby will fall asleep sooner, and will stay asleep longer. Its best if you avoid bathing infants twice a day. In fact, until your baby starts crawling around the house, you don't even need to bathe her daily, especially in cooler climes.

Response

Some babies wake up at night and fall asleep on their own. If you get up at the slightest sound and try and put baby back to sleep, this may backfire and she may wake up completely. However, at times if you don't lull your baby to sleep as soon as she wakes up, she may awaken completely. You need to see what works best for babies. First, try and see if she can put herself to sleep when she wakes up. If she cannot, and her cries just keep getting louder, try patting her with your hands as soon as she wakes up the next time.

Her own bed

See what sleep arrangement works for your baby. If your baby is on your bed, she may wake up more often due to movements than if she were to sleep by herself in her crib. If you want her close to you and want the convenience of not having to get out of bed and bring her to you to feed her, and would rather just roll over and reach out, consider putting her in her own crib and flushing it to your bed, instead of putting her on the bed with you. She will have more place to move around without getting disturbed at night, and may be able to sleep more soundly. Different babies are different, and some babies may be able to sleep best snuggled against mommy's warm body. You need to figure out what works best for your baby.

Playtime

Although it may seem like a good idea to play with your baby just before bedtime and tire her out, this may have the opposite effect. Some babies get so charged after a good play session that they find it difficult to wind down and fall asleep. Its best to play with them at least an hour before you want them to fall asleep.

Feeding

After a good playing session, feed your baby. If you have started solids or semi solids, feed her this for dinner. You could then breastfeed her a little, an hour or so later, to lull her to sleep. If she wakes up at night, as far as possible, avoid feeding her and try rocking or patting her to sleep. Feed her as often as she wants during the day, to fill her up. Soon she will start getting the message that daytimes are for feeding, night is for sleep.

Schedule

Put her to sleep at the same time every night. The more to stick to a schedule for sleep, the better it is. Fix a time, say 9:30, and take her to the bedroom at this time every night. Turn down the lights and play some soft music. Start preparing her for sleep.