Tackling Baby Sleep Problems

Parenting

Even though you want to respond to your baby’s needs, it’s important not to jump up and soothe your baby the minute you hear him stirring. All humans, babies included, wake up either partially or completely several times a night as they enter a certain phase of their sleep cycle. It’s natural for babies to whimper, coo or cry a little at these times, but if they’re left alone, they’ll usually settle themselves back to sleep.

However, if mom and dad rush into rock, feed, sing or cuddle them back to sleep, they don’t have a chance to learn this important skill- ensuring  that their bleary-eyed parents will endure many more sleep –deprived nights. I’m not saying that you should ignore your newborn’s crying altogether- remember, newborns do need attention a few minutes before you go to your baby, just in case he manages to fall back to sleep on his own.

START DEVELOPING BEDTIME RITUALS AT AN EARLY AGE

Bedtime rituals will take on increasing importance as your baby gets older, but you can start developing a comfortable routine right from the start. End your baby’s day with peaceful, smoothing activities. Just before bed isn’t the time to play airplane or a boisterous game of patty-cake. Instead, give your baby a bath, hold him in your arms as you softly sing or read to him, rock him for a few minutes, then gently put him down. Try to stick to the same routine every night; it soon will be his signal that lights out is just around the corner.

Many parents make the mistake of rocking or holding their babies until they are completely asleep. Some even drive their babies around in the car every evening! Once a baby is completely, the relieved parents tiptoe over to the cot and try to set down their little bundle of joy. But, nine times out of ten, the moment a baby is out of the warm arms of his mother or father, he wakes up and begins to cry. So, the ritual starts all over again, except that the parents is even more tired out than before.

There is a simple way to avoid this trap. You need to put your baby to bed when he’s drowsy but not fully asleep. While they may fuss at first, most babies quickly learn to feel comfortable lying in their cots when they’re drowsy and letting themselves drift off into sleep. Once your baby has mastered this skill- and it is harder for some babies than for others, to be sure – bedtimes become easier.

GOOD HABITS START EARLY

How you handle your newborn’s night time routine has a profound impact on her future sleep patterns, and you’ll both benefit if you get into good habits right from the start. The best way that parents teach their babies the difference between day and night is to be exciting and playful during the day, and calm and low key- or even downright boring! at night.

During the day, be sure to give your newborn lots of loving attention, affection and stimulation, being sensitive to her moods and basic temperament. When she starts getting bored, you can put a little more cheerful energy into your voice or make your face more animated. You can tell when your baby starts to get over stimulated. She’ll frown; look away, yawn or hiccup. You might even notice that the skin around her mouth looks a bit pale- a sign that she is a little stressed.

The best way to respond to these signals is to slow down, make your voice soft and smoothing (or stop talking altogether), look away slightly and, in general, give your baby a little breathing room. She might fall sleep, or she might be eager for more play after a brief respite. She’ll let you know. By listening to your baby in this way and letting her take the lead, you help her stay awake and alert for longer and longer periods during the day. And  that helps her to sleep more at night.

Night time calls for a completely different strategy. When you tend to your baby at night, it’s best to do just what need to be done, but not much more.

If your baby is wet, change her-quickly, quietly, keeping the light levels as low as possible. If she’s hungry, feed her calmly without the usual conversation. If she’s lonely or upset, pick her up for a few moments without much talking or playing, then gently put her back down to sleep. This can be easier said than done. It is hard to do just the bare minimum for a baby you love- especially if she’s at her cutest in the middle of the night!

But if you don’t want to make night time into social time, you have to force yourself to be businesslike (but not harsh or mean, of course). Do what you need to do, but little more.

Amazingly, even very small babies learn from these experiences. They learn that when it’s dark outside, Mummy and Daddy aren’t very much fun; when ir’ slight, things are more interesting and exciting. That makes them much more willing to give up your company during the wee hours once they are developmentally able to sleep through the night.

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