Sleep is one of the elusive things that just drives parents nuts when their children are little. But babies only make us lose our sleep for a little while. Meanwhile, here are my top ten tips for making it easier on everyone!
1. Turn off all the lights. It might even take covering up the digital clock display or the LED light on the television.
2. Don’t be afraid to let your baby fall asleep in your arms but try to swaddle the baby or keep a blanket or baby carrier between your skin and the baby’s skin to increase the chance of a successful transfer into bed or crib. Breaking skin contact wakes babies!
3. White noise works! Try an “off” radio station, run your washing machine or dishwasher at bedtime, use a white noise tape or machine.
4. Vibration is your friend. Put the baby in a carrier on top of the clothes dryer or washing machine and let it do its magic. If all else fails, take a trip in the car.
5. Sleep with your baby. Co-sleeping is a safe and common sleep arrangement and is safe if simple precautions are followed. Babies sleep sounder when Mama is near, similarly to how many wives sleep sounder when their husbands are near.
6. Suckling is a sleep-inducer. Breastfeeding is a great way to get a baby to sleep and fill her up for awhile, too. If you are not nursing, try a bottle of water or a pacifier for your baby. Thumb suckers may drive you wild later, but they will get you some much needed sleep at night in those early days.
7. You may not be Sinatra but your voice is the most familiar thing in your baby’s world. Singing is calming and relaxing and will soothe a little one right into slumberland. Try a familiar song you sung while pregnant – you might be pleasingly surprised at how fast it works.
8. A warm bath filled with calming essential oils like lavender are just the ticket for a calming bedtime approach. But be ready with another adult nearby because little ones sometimes don’t make it out of the bath before falling fast asleep!
9. Rock-a-bye baby isn’t just a weird little lullaby – it’s a time-tested method for getting wee ones to sleep. Glider rockers are so soothing you might just fall asleep yourself. But any rocking chair will do. Older babies can often be lulled to sleep in baby swings but supervision should always be available when baby swings are in use.
10. Reading. Do you miss your old book habit? Miss it no longer. Read out loud to your baby. Don’t worry about the content at this point. Just the sound of the English language will stimulate intellectual development. But it may also have the charm of lulling your infant into a deep sleep. Don’t take it personally – you aren’t really that boring.