Helping Your Baby Sleep Safely
For the first 6 months the safest place for your baby to sleep is in a cot, crib or moses basket in your room beside your bed and in the same room as you for all sleeps. You’ll also be close by if they need a feed or cuddle.
You can help your baby get a good sleep and stay as safe as possible by:
- always putting them to sleep flat on their back on a firm flat mattress, and putting them on their back again if they roll over
- tucking them in with blankets across their chest and under their arms
- always putting them feet first at the bottom of the cot so they cant wriggle down and get caught under the blankets
- removing any bumpers, pillows or soft toys from the cot as these can cause your baby to overheat or affect your baby’s breathing if they’re too close to their face
- making sure they don’t get too hot or cold – check their temperature by feeling their stomach or the back of their neck, and dont go by hands and feet as they’ll often feel cold
- keeping their head uncovered when theyre sleeping and taking off any swaddling or sleeping bag if they’re in bed with you
- taking your baby out of their car seat when theyre not travelling, and from a bouncy seat, swing or nest if theyre asleep, as their head can roll forward if they’re not sleeping flat which can affect their breathing
- making your home smoke-free, and keeping your baby away from cigarette smoke
Make sure that any other family or friends who may look after your baby know how to put your baby down for a sleep safely.
Pick Out The Best Toddler Bed
Begin by looking for the best toddler beds online or at departmental stores.
- Predetermine whether you want the bed to last just a few years or until your child reaches teenage .
- Make sure to buy low-lying beds.
- It is best if bigger beds have safety rails around them.
- Some parents begin the transition with convertible cribs. The front panel is removable and can give your toddler the impression of sleeping in a bigger bed within the comforts of a crib.
- Go for beds that are certified safe.
How Long After Feeding Can I Put My Baby Down
Whether or not your newborn is at the 6-week point and is becoming aware of the night and day differences and you are trying to create a bedtime routine or your newborn is not at that stage of development yet, parents wonder how long after feeding must they keep their infants awake.
The short answer to that question is a half an hour. If you put your baby down too soon, then that will guarantee that the baby will be spitting up. That can happen regardless but keeping your baby up for at least a half an hour would minimize the discomfort. Lets go over some common points and concerns that parents have when it comes to putting their babies down after they have been fed.
Related:This is Why Your Baby Wont Sleep in the Crib!
Read Also: How To Get Your Newborn To Sleep Through The Night
Mittens To Prevent Scratching
One thing that continues to surprise me is how fast baby fingernails grow. It probably has something to do with their diet of 100% milk plus vitamins. Clipping your babys fingernails is an exercise in courage and takes nerves of steel. When your little one gets a little older and can grab at things, youll know their nails are long because theyll scratch you.
In the meantime, if you start finding scratches on your babys face or head, it was probably self-inflicted while he or she was sleeping. Until you have the time and bravery to trim them, a set of soft little sleep mittens will prevent any more scratches. These are inexpensive and often come in packs of four, which is good because theyre easily lost .
Why Wont My Baby Sleep Afterfeeding
There may be several reasons as to why yourbaby will not go to sleep after a feeding, and aside from the reasons that werementioned above, the baby just may not be tired enough. The trick is to get thebaby drowsy enough to take a nap after a feeing. There are several ways to getyour baby to become tired.
If it is during the summer or a mild sunny dayof any other season, have your baby go outdoors in the sun, with the rightprotection of course. Be sure to put a sunhat on the baby, and to putlightweight cotton long-sleeve clothing so your babys limbs are covered. Anewborn is too young to wear sunscreen. A little bit of sun will make the babytired.
Additionally, if your newborn is not swaddledproperly in a blanket, that can be the reason that your infant is wide awake. Ababy that is not swaddled will not be feeling secure and therefore, sleeping isa challenge. If you are struggling with the baby going back to sleep at night,then there are other pointers to utilize as that can be even more problematicthan the daytime.
You May Like: What Causes Eczema In Newborn Babies
When Do Babies Learn To Sleep On Their Own
Each baby comes with their own set of joys and challenges what is easy for one kid may prove challenging for another. Every parents approach will vary when adjusting to their childs particular needs after all, nobody knows your child as you do.
In research, its been shown that most little ones have the capacity to sleep independently from the age of four months old. Good news, right? However, how quickly they go down and how content they are to do so will vary, so dont be discouraged, but there is verifiable hope.
Sample Sleep Schedule For A 3
The best sleep schedule for your 3-month-old ultimately depends on his needs. While your child’s routine will probably still be unpredictable at 3 months, a typical day might look like this:
- 7:00 a.m.: Awake
- 6:30 p.m.: Bedtime routine
- 7:00 p.m.: Bed
This sample schedule assumes your little one is awake for 90 minutes at time and naps for exactly one hour throughout the day. However, keep in mind that babies at this age can stay awake for 60 to 90 minutes at a time, while naps can be between 30 minutes and two hours.
Also Check: How To Get My Newborn To Sleep At Night
Night And Day Difference
While its an instinct to keep your newborns environment sleep friendly so that you can squeeze a meal in between feedings, dont blend babys nights and days together. Keep the blinds open and noises up during the day, then tiptoe and whisper when putting your little one down at night. This will help baby know the difference between daytime naps versus nighttime slumber. Of course, dont be surprised if this approach isnt full-proof babies will sleep whenever they sleep.
Settling Baby To Sleep
Every baby is different, and youll get to know what works best for settling your baby down to sleep.
Having a sleep routine is a good start, but try to be flexible. Your babys sleep cycles will change as they grow.
Try putting baby to bed while theyre awake or slightly sleepy, if possible. That way they associate their bed with sleep. If they wake up knowing where they are and feeling safe, they might be able to settle themselves back to sleep.
Read more about settling your baby to sleep
Also Check: What To Pack For A Newborn
Bedtime Routine For A Toddler And Newborn
If you have both a toddler and a newborn, the bedtime routines can be a bit more challenging depending on the age of your toddler.
If you have a 12-18-month-old and a newborn, your toddler might be too distracting and unable to be quiet while you put your newborn to bed. For that reason, I recommend you put your toddler to bed first and then your newborn later. If your newborns bedtime is still late, this should be easy to do. You can put your newborn in a sling or wrap if they are fussy and need to be held a lot. If your baby is content, you can consider putting them in a bouncer and give your toddler more individualized attention.
If you have a 2-year old or 3-year old, your toddler might be better able to help put the baby to bed if the time to put your newborn to bed has moved to earlier than your toddlers bedtime. If this is the case, ask your toddler to help such as getting the diaper, helping with the baby massage, etc.
If both your toddler and newborn are going to bed around the same time, you can try combining the bedtime routines but you will need to allow for extra time . Toddlers can delay things quite a bit. Here is a sample combined bedtime routine for a toddler and newborn:
Mom And Dad Aren’t On The Same Page
“Parents must be a united front when it comes to improving their child’s sleep,” says West. “You need to agree on what tactic you’re going to use to help your child learn to self-soothe and get a good night’s rest. It’s okay for your routines to be slightly different–Dad might like to read a few books at bedtime and Mom reads only one–but the big decisions need to be agreed upon in advance.”
Those decisions include what time Baby needs to go to sleep and whether you?re going to rely on any sleep crutches to get her to sleep. That means one parent can’t decide rocking the baby to sleep is A-OK if the other parent doesn’t want to do it at bedtime and throughout the night. Sit down together and figure out what works for both of you. And if one of you is getting up more than the other, then what makes that parent most comfortable should take precedence. Remember: Being consistent every night is imperative to the sleep process.
You May Like: How Much Does A Newborn Cost
Put Some Small Soft Toy Or A Blankie Inside His/her Crib
Toys and blankies can replace your arms. The root cause of your babys inability of going back to sleep without your holding is the love with your pleasant and comfortable warmth. Therefore, you need to change those when you want to sleep well at night.
Try introducing him/her with some small and soft toys first. They can distract him/her from the surrounding. And when you start cuddling and singing for him/her, wrap him/her inside a blankie. You should measure your babys size before purchasing a right one.
Otherwise, he/she will feel uncomfortable. And remember to choose only small as well as soft toys to put into his/her crib. You had better completely avoid blankets, pillow, or stuffed animals due to high risks of suffocation.
A Bed Goldilocks Will Love
Create a comfortable and cozy oasis that no baby can resist falling asleep in. Be sure babys co-sleeper or bed isnt placed in a direct path of air vents. Add extra plush layers under babys sheets, or invest in a soft night-light. Whatever drifts them off to dreamland. Of course, this excludes putting an overabundant amount of blankets and toys in the crib with your baby, as this could increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome .
Also Check: How Do You Get Health Insurance For A Newborn
Use Night Time Rituals
If you create a consistent, yet boring routine, it is more likely that your newborn will sleep through the night. A bath, reading a story, singing a lullaby, or rocking for a few minutes are great ways to consistently wind your baby down for bedtime.
Many babies will prefer a specific sleepwear item to provide feelings of comfort, safety, and security as they head to bed. Medical studies have shown that babies sleeping in wool sleepwear settle more quickly, cry less, sleep longer, and even feed better. Woolino products are an excellent option as they are made with the Magic of Merino Wool, and the benefits are countless.
Putting your newborn to sleep with a predictable nighttime ritual will also come in handy down the road when your baby begins to go through sleep regressions.
Typical Bedtime Battle #: Your Tot Won’t Stay In Bed
These are the years when children typically transfer from the crib into a big-kid bed. A big deal, to be sure. But it can be an even bigger headache for parents hoping to get some much-needed shut-eye.
Solution: Consider holding off on the big-kid bed. Developmentally, some children are simply not ready for a bed until the third birthday. They might not even understand the idea of staying put. Kids who were great sleepers in a crib often fall apart when expected to stay in a bed with no restraints. Of course, if he’s climbing out and you’re worried about his safety, or you need the crib for number two, well, you have to do what you have to do. Expect that the novelty of being in a big-kid bed will cause some after-bed activity. How do you keep a toddler in bed? The answer may depend on what he’s doing out of bed. If he leaves her room, you’ll need to calmly escort him back, giving as little attention as possible. If he stays in his room, pulling out books and toys, you may choose to ignore it, depending on how long he stays up. Jodie Mathies, of Oakland, California, says that when her daughter was 2, she let her play after her official bedtime as long as she was quiet and stayed in her room. “I would generally check on her an hour or so later. She would be asleep, often wearing different clothes and sometimes fairy wings.”
You May Like: What Do You Really Need For A Newborn
Things A Newborn Should Sleep In
There are basically four to six things you should put your newborn in for sleep. Top to bottom, they generally include a set of soft pajamas, a tightly-wrapped swaddler or sleep sack, and possibly a light blanket. Very young newborns might also benefit from a sleep hat to conserve body heat and mittens to prevent scratches during sleep. For safety and sleep training purposes, newborns should also do most of their sleeping in a baby crib or bassinet.
Where Should My Baby Sleep During The Daytime
Actually, the same rules apply during the daytime as they do at night. Ideally, for the first six months, your baby will sleep in their Moses basket or cot in the same room as you even for their daytime naps .
“In reality, babies often fall asleep in the car seat, pram or buggy, sling or anywhere they get comfy and fancy a snooze.”
There can be downsides to those unexpected snoozes though. For example, your baby might overheat if theyre dressed for the cold outside but then theyre moved inside. Remember to remove any extra layers if that happens and choose outer clothes with zips to make this easier .
If your baby is very young, dont let them sleep in their car seat for more than 90 minutes . If you arrive home when theyve dozed off in there, transfer them over to a Moses basket.
And if your baby is in a soft sling, especially if they are under three months old, make sure you can always see their face. Following the T.I.C.K.S. guidelines can help to keep them safe.
Don’t Miss: How To Interact With Newborn