As a mother, every day is a new challenge for you. You are thinking far and beyond every single moment you are free from endless exhausting chores around you. We understand how tired you are just by being a mom full of love, affection, and tenderness in your heart. Imagine seeing your precious little lovebug in a peaceful slumber! I bet it can vanish your exhaust in a snap. As much as you love to make your little one fall into a peaceful and dreamy sleep, it can be challenging.
You already know that Sleep is essential for your sweetheart to develop tiny brains and restore strength and enthusiasm for the new adventures tomorrow. I have heard moms complain that they are worried and find it hard to make their babies sleep well. I am sharing some effective hacks you can follow to make your little superhero “sleep like a baby” so they can continue their journey exploring new adventures.
5 Things You Should Know about Infant Sleep
In the journey of nurturing these tiny beings, we often encounter uncertainties and questions about their sleep patterns. Fear not, for we are here to gently guide you through six heartwarming revelations about your baby’s sleep. Embracing these common facts will not only soothe your worries but also empower you to create a nurturing sleep haven for your bundle of joy, ensuring moments of serene rest for both mother and child.
- Sleeping Patterns are Different from One Baby to Another
Since the little hero in your arms is unique, their sleeping patterns are so too. You might have come across a baby who sleeps peacefully and it might make you wonder why your baby doesn’t. Well, experts say all babies are unique in their ways and have their own “body clocks” (circadian systems) which make them follow their sleeping patterns.
- They Don’t Sleep Through
If you ever expect your little one to sleep for a long time in one go, well, it is an unrealistic expectation. Their little tummies need to be filled more often, so they wake up in the middle of their sleep to find you, hoping to have food, especially milk. Waking up is rather important for them because they wake up from their comfy slumber due to some discomforts like an empty tummy, being cold or sweaty, etc. They wake up from their dream world to the real world filled with love, care, and warm kisses of yours.
- Day and Night are not Different for Them
As exhausted adults, we are looking forward to the night’s falls so we can have a good sleep to restore energy for another hectic day. The little lovebugs have no idea whether it is day or night. In other words, sleep is not associated with night for them until they reach 3 months.
- Sleep is Essential for Their Growth
Sleep acts miraculously with the innocent souls and bodies of little ones. The little and gentle body of your dreamy angles continues to grow expanding the horizons of their capabilities. Like the lullaby you whisper to your little one with love, sleep nourishes their little bodies gently. As you hear the stable and tranquil breaths of your little lovebug, they are in the peaceful embrace of sleep, and nature is doing its wonder on them. Experts Say sleep performs marvels in the little body as well as the brain to make the little one prepared for the future with infinite capabilities and potential.
- They Learn to Sleep in More Predictable Patterns as They Grow
Your little one will make you experience the joys and reliefs of more predictable sleeping patterns as they pass their infancy and get bigger. Their slumber harmonizes with the time of the day like sweet rhythms in a peaceful symphony when they distinguish between day and night. So, hold up Mom! It’s getting better.
Knowing these facts about your little one’s sleep, let’s move to learn some tips that help you to put them to sleep well and safely. The innocent little angel already trusts you; they hope you will make them as comfortable as possible. They already know you are the one to be asked if they need something. That’s why they can be a little demanding and can exhaust you quickly. Let me help to relieve the burden on you being the most trustworthy and responsible caretaker of your precious little one. We will be taking a journey together to explore some safety tips for your baby and tips that can help your little one sleep better.
Tips for Sleep Safety
Experts with years and years of experience suggest safety tips for the baby. As a mother, I know how much you are worried about the safety of the wonderful soul you brought into the world just a few days ago. I’m sure you will love to watch the gentle and rhythmic rise and fall of the chest of your little prince or princess as much as you love to see the happy and dreamy smiles appear on their faces while they are exploring the dream world in their sleep. You will be relieved to know these safety tips as you know that your little angel is safe even in their sleep.
- Keep the Crib Empty
Your little one probably has toys and blankets they already love. You might think to put them in the crib so the baby won’t feel alone in sleep. Well, experts say otherwise. The most experienced mothers and pediatric professionals say that keeping your sleeping baby in an empty crib is the best way to assure anything won’t suffocate them in their sleep. Since their limbs are so gentle like the petals of a morning flower, they won’t be able to remove an object even if it is blocking their breath.
- Make the Baby Sleep on Their Back
Your little one does new things that amaze you. Every new move is an adventure and effort for them and a pleasure for you. Though they show you the new postures they have learned every single moment, experts suggest making your little one sleep on their back is the best sleeping position to avoid SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). You can roll a thick blanket forming a U shape and put it in a pillowcase, as shown in this video, to make sure the little one is comfortable and won’t roll over when they wake up. You also can place crib bumpers these crib bumpers in a rectangular shape, cover them with a comfortable sheet and make the little one sleep comfortably in the little nest you formed. Since the bumpers are lightweight and able to be cleaned just by wiping them with a wet cloth, they will make a good choice for the little one to have a dreamy sleep full of smiles. Always remember not to place any heavy blankets or pillows close to the sleeping baby.
- Avoid Bed Sharing
As much as you love the little ones, you love to spend time with them. It’s pure pleasure to keep them in your eyesight. What you might often forget while taking care of the baby is that you are tired too. You deserve a good sleep without having to worry about suffocating the baby. That’s why professionals and experienced parents suggest having a bed for yourself and giving your baby a separate space to sleep. You can still keep your infant in the same room by buying them a BabyBond Baby Bassinet Bedside Crib, which would be their first bed. This crib is adjustable to 3 heights so you can keep the baby comfortably matching the situation and place but if you are looking for a space-saving crib, this might not be the most excellent choice for you since it is big and needs more room.
- Provide a Firm Sleeping Surface
Bouncy can be comfy but the firm is safe. A firm surface is specifically safe for your little one because it can reduce the risk of face sinking and suffocating. Don’t worry your little one is comfortable and safe on crib mattress because the extra firmness is proven. You will be benefited from this mattress which is specifically designed for babies so it is easy to clean. This mattress with the Greenguard Gold certificate can be the best product for you especially if you are looking for an environmentally sustainable mattress.
By following these tips, you can ensure the safety of your little one while they are experiencing the wonders of sleep. You can watch this Video if you wish to know more from experts.
Tips for a Better Sleep
- Regular Bedtime Routine
You are the first teacher of your precious little warrior. They are physically incapable of a lot of things but learn quickly. They are always ready to try something new in your warm care and eternal loving embrace. Preparing them for a regular bedtime routine saves you from a lot of trouble. If you put your little one to sleep at the same time and after the same routine, they are smart enough to perceive the time for the dream world as time passes. Baby sleep: Tips for newborns will help you further to develop a regular bedtime routine.
- Read the Signs of Drowsiness
Being a mother is a wonder. You perfectly understand your baby by reading their body language and expressions. Your instincts know when your lovebug is hungry, hot or cold. Babies often rub their eyes, yawn constantly and pull their eyes when they feel drowsy. That is how your little angel is telling you to put them to sleep. When you see the signs, don’t hesitate to put them into bed, they will sleep peacefully.
- No Activities at Night
You may already know that your baby does not sleep through the night. They wake up several times at night, looking for you to fill their little tummy. When they wake up at night, just feed them and make them sleep immediately. Do not try to be active with them or make them physically active. If you fall for their charming ways, mischievous giggles and playful glances and start to play with them, they won’t learn nighttime is sleeping time and will get used to being woken up for a long time. Reducing the time they spend in the wonderful dream world will exhaust them as well as the mommy. This video will help you further to
- Soothing Music
The power of music to calm us is not strange for you. As adults, we try music to match our moods. Fortunately, your little lovebug already enjoys music. It can often act as a distraction for them and soothe them to sleep. Soothing music will not only make your baby sleep easier but also will bring them happy and enchanting dreams in their peaceful slumber.
- Daytime Naps
There is a huge myth among mothers that daytime naps will reduce the sleep during night. This cannot be more wrong. Daytime naps are essential for the development of gentle bodies as well as the active brains of your little angels. They provide time for the little ones to restore all the spent energy and explore new adventures with more happy energy.
- Pleasurable Bedroom Conditions
Babies are full of wonders. They may not understand the meaning of your loving and caring words, but they sense the love in your actions and the comfort in your embrace. Therefore, making their bedroom pleasurable for them is important to boost their sleep. Do not forget they have just arrived from your womb, which was their familiar environment. They seek comfort all the time. Their serene sleep will be disturbed if there is too much light, dust, and noise in their room or if they feel too hot or cold. You can make their bedroom a pleasant place because it makes them feel secure as if they were inside you. On the other hand, it is the first place you form the lifelong and cherishing bond with your baby.
- Enough Playtime
The little bundle of joy loves mischief. They move their tiny limbs with enthusiasm, especially they are happy. The little adventures of the baby with their little kicks and arm stretches. Every little body movement is important for the little one to grow healthily. That’s why Playtime is recommended for you little one so much. When they move their little bodies as if they wish to show off to you what they are capable of, they need time to restore the energy and they reach their dream world for that. It will be a pleasant relief for you to see you baby in the crib, sleeping like a little angel after so much mischief.
I believe now you are ready to put your little one to sleep. I want you to know that some babies can be light sleepers, may be because they just need more adventures. When you are trying to make them sleep, do not force them too hard, they will fall asleep when they feel the necessity. The gentle little souls have so much energy in them and a world full of marvels to keep them awake. As a mother, you can trust your instincts. If you feel like the little one is having some physical discomforts beyond your control that are keeping them awake, you should know when it needs medical interventions. Trust the process because your little one is smart and will adjust to a more regular sleeping schedule when they grow older. Happy sleep!
