Getting an infant to sleep can be a huge challenge. It isn’t common for infants to sleep through the night, but many infants have such trouble sleeping that you’ll feel like the child simply isn’t getting the right amount of sleep to be healthy. There are quite a few tips to help you get your little one to sleep more efficiently, so they can grow strong, and you can get the rest you deserve. Best of all, these tips will help you save money on your baby’s needs, which may even help you sleep sounder at night.
1. Weighted Swaddle
Swaddling is one of the most common ways to help a baby get the rest they desire. However, not all swaddles are made equal. Now, there are weighted swaddles which apply slight pressure to your little one to help improve comfort and cut back on problems like colic. This swaddle will wrap the baby up to ensure they don’t wake themselves up as well, which is a common problem with little ones. These swaddles offer Velcro closures, which will save you even more time and energy. There are a wide variety of swaddles on the market too, so make sure you research to figure out which will be the best option for your family.
2. Sound Machine
Infants are used to hearing muffled sounds, which is why white noise is one of the easiest ways to help them get the rest they desire. When you use a sound machine or even a playlist with ocean waves or white noise, then you can help your little one fall asleep faster and stay asleep. Sound machines don’t have to cost a lot of money. In fact, there are numerous options that will suit a changing budget. There are even portable sound machines that are much cheaper and can even help the baby sleep in the car. If you don’t want to invest, you can use a computer, phone, or other devices to keep a playlist going as your little one sleeps.
3. Dark Room
Lights can keep anyone up, but they can truly affect the way babies feel. Babies are especially sensitive to light, so getting a little one to sleep in a bright room may be extremely difficult. A dark room is key to helping your little one sleep efficiently without having to spend a lot of money. You can help darken your room in many ways. One of the easiest is to add blackout curtains to the room. These tend to do a great job of keeping things dark, especially if you pair them with blinds. There are many other things you can do to help with a room though, including aluminum foil on the windows. If you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to keep the room dark, there are plenty of tutorials online.
4. Keep Daytime Light
While it is important to keep things dark during sleep times, it is also important to keep the room well-lit during the daytime. When babies are born, they don’t have an internal circadian rhythm yet, so it is easy for them to confuse night and day. Ensuring the room is well-lit with natural light during the day is one of the best ways to help your child develop a healthy rhythm. This will also help your child to keep naps lighter during the day. This will allow them to sleep better at night, which is great for everyone.
5. Baby Massage
Believe it or not, but a baby massage is one of the best ways to help your little one relax. Baby massage, when done correctly, can help you ensure your little one is healthier and happier at all times. These massages can help reduce excess gas in the body while also helping to soothe your little one into a natural sleep. When it comes to baby massage, there are a lot of great tutorials to help you learn the proper way to massage your baby in order to maximize the benefits. When it comes to this, you’ll find that baby massages are actually very easy to do and can even help you bond with your baby all the more.
6. Bath Time
Baths are one of the easiest ways to soothe a little one to bed each night. The warm water on a baby’s skin can help soothe muscles while allowing your little one to feel more comfortable. It can also help to reduce colic and other digestive problems that might cause your baby to stay up even longer. Bath time can also be accompanied by special relaxing soaps like lavender-based soaps, which can help your little one feel relaxed enough to doze off. If you finish bath time with comfortable pajamas and a swaddle, then you might be in for a good night for all.
7. Rocking
In the uterus, babies spend their time swaying around. So, it is no surprise that this motion is one of the best ways to calm them down when they are sleeping. Rocking is also a great way to help little ones fall asleep faster when it comes to rocking. Of course, many parents are leery of doing this after some time, but many have embraced it as a part of their child’s nap and bedtime routine. If you don’t have a rocking chair on hand, then there are still ways you can help your child while using this method. For starters, you can help soothe your child by swaying them back and forth. For some parents, pacing is another option, especially if they want to move their body instead of sitting and holding the little one.
8. Feeding
Feeding can be another key to better sleep before bedtime. If you offer to nurse or bottle feed your child before bedtime it can help the little one begin to doze off prior to when you put the child down. Eating is commonly an activity that makes little ones sleepy, so you already have a great way to help ease your child into sleep. You shouldn’t allow your child to nurse until they are completely asleep though. Instead, allow them to eat until they can be laid in bed so they can fall asleep on their own.
9. Routine
One of the absolute best tools you can utilize to get your child to sleep is a routine. Children of all ages thrive when they are offered a routine, which is why it is important to begin implementing one at an early age. When you have a routine, it allows the body to actually adjust to time so the child will feel naturally sleepy when a nap or bedtime arrives. It might take a couple of weeks to adjust to the routine, but once you do it, it will be easier to get the baby down for longer periods of time, as they will feel at peace with their day which adds a sense of calmness.
10. Baby Monitors
The last thing you should consider when working with your baby to sleep more efficiently is baby monitors. Baby monitors are actually one of the best ways to help parents with the sleep process. When you have a baby monitor that you trust, you will be able to let your little one sleep in peace. Since you’ll be able to see the baby and possibly hear the baby, you will be able to check in on the baby noiselessly. Adding an oxygen monitor to the mix will help you to feel even more confident about your child’s rest routine. Spending less time in and out of the baby’s room means less disturbance for your little one, which is important for rest.
Knowing how to help your infant can be one of the toughest things you will do. However, it is also one of the most rewarding. As your baby begins to rest more, you’ll be able to get even more out of your time to yourself, which is always an added bonus.
