If you have a new baby, you know that sleep – for you and for the baby – is crucial! Here are some great tips for how to get your baby to sleep, along with a great product recommendation that can help.
First, here are the great tips from child sleep expert, Kim West, LCSW-C, a.k.a. The Sleep Lady focused on soothing fussy little ones:
· Learn Baby’s Sleepy Cues:
Most babies up to six months old can only be awake for about one to two hours before becoming overtired. Part of the learning curve is being able to recognize a child’s typical sleepy cues, so that you can move them to a safe sleep space as soon as possible. These signs may include yawning, staring, fussiness, quieting down, losing interest in playtime, eye rubbing, and hand sucking. An alert or spirited child may move very quickly from happy to tired to overtired, so keeping one eye on the clock is also important. Be prepared to move straight to naptime or bedtime as soon as you see your child’s sleepy cues.
· Recognize Baby’s Sleep Patterns:
When your baby is about three or four months old, you may start to see a glimmer of a schedule forming where sleeping and waking are concerned. This is because your baby’s internal clock — the circadian rhythm — is starting to develop. Look for this pattern, along with your baby’s sleep cues, and create a soothing naptime and bedtime routine, which can include white noise, feeding and rocking. Nap timing and length are often the last components of a baby’s schedule to develop, so you might need to use more effort and additional soothing techniques in the afternoon when getting a little one to sleep can be particularly challenging.
· Use Motion to Calm:
Motion is a favorite of babies for soothing because it likely reminds them of the sensations and security of their mother’s womb. Movement will often do what no other kind of soothing can do, so it’s a good technique to try. Rock your baby in your arms when you can, but if you need a break to get things done around the house or during times of extended fussiness, consider using a swing. Since every baby is unique, try a swing that has multiple motion options, such as the Graco EveryWay Soother with Removable Rocker. With 16 soothing motions, six different speeds, two vibration settings and 15 songs and sounds, parents can create a personalized soothing environment to calm their little one. As an added benefit, the swing’s seat conveniently doubles as a removable rocker to keep baby happy and close by anywhere in the house. This swing is now exclusively available at Babies “R” Us.
· Understand Crankiness:
Babies cry when they’re uncomfortable, bored, overstimulated and sleepy. There are a few things you can do to try and figure out why your baby is crying. Beyond the obvious diaper and mealtime reasons, try a change of scenery. You can also try dimming the lights, turning on white noise, placing your baby in a swing or offering them a pacifier.
Helping Baby Sleep – A Great Rocker
Nothing can beat cuddles with mom and dad, but a great rocker is the next best thing. Find a rocker or swing like this that can take over when baby needs a little down time. Rockers are perfect for soothing and helping to quiet baby and then let the baby sleep comfortably and safely.
Our favorite rocker serves as a great alternative when parents need a free hand. The swing offers 16 soothing motions – the most of any swing in market – in addition to multi-motion, multi-use and removability features. There are eight unique ways to swing, and two directions allow for side-to-side or front-to-back swinging. The swing seat conveniently doubles as a removable rocker to keep baby happy and by a parent’s side throughout the home. Choose from 6 different speeds, 3 recline positions, two soothing vibration speeds, and 15 songs and sounds to create the ultimate soothing environment for your baby.
