Four Ways To Help Your Baby Get To Sleep
One of the most difficult parts of parenthood is having a broken sleep pattern as you’re little one is going to sleep and waking up at various times throughout the day and night.
Whilst it can seem like their sleep pattern is particularly adhoc at first, by following these four points, you can ensure that your baby not only gets into a regular sleep pattern that you can expect and work around, but which also ensures that your baby is getting the best night’s sleep possible.
Have a routine – children of all ages rely on routines and bedtime shouldn’t be any different. Everything to do with going to bed and sleep should be the same, from the actual time they go to bed to when they go in the bath – stick by these times and you’ll soon find that your little one instantly starts to sleep better.
Shut out the light – there isn’t much difference between babies and adults when it comes to sleep and just like it’s easier to sleep when the room is dark for adults, you’ll find that a baby also sleeps more soundly – and for longer – if their room is dark.
Listen to your baby – every baby has their own individual way of telling you that they’re tired and whether it’s them rubbing their eyes or starting to cry, you need to be looking out for these signs and start getting your baby ready for bed when they happen.
Bedtime should be a happy time – although it might not seem it in some instances, children follow their parents’ to a tee, whether it’s an instruction such as ‘don’t cross the road without looking’ or a certain feeling, as children will usually react to their parents’ mood. It’s therefore important that you make bedtime a happy and enjoyable experience so that your child wants to go to sleep. If you’re angry or upset when putting them to bed, they’re going to think going to bed isn’t good and will do their utmost to fight it.
A baby that doesn’t sleep can make you feel tired, exhausted and emotional. It doesn’t always need to be that way, however and by following the above four steps, you can ensure that both you and your baby get a good night’s sleep.
