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Baby Bedtime
http://www.kiddiland.co.uk
16:28 06-Sep-2010
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Baby Bedtime Information
Ask any new parent what they miss most and the answer is probably sleep. These methods can get you and your baby sleeping peacefully through till morning.
Ask any new parent what they miss most and the answer is probably sleep. These methods can get you and your baby sleeping peacefully through till morning.
At first your baby will need regular feeding, day and night, so sleep when your baby sleeps. Don’t worry about bedtime routines in the early days. You need your sleep too, so if you’re awake at night, catch up on sleep during the day.
Learning about night and day
When your baby’s a few weeks old, they'll be more alert and awake during the day. This is a good time to help them realise the difference between day and night. During the day, open curtains, play games and don’t worry too much about everyday noises when they sleep. At night, speak quietly and neutrally, keep lights dimmed and don’t play with them. Soon your baby will learn that night-time is for sleeping.
When your baby’s a few weeks old, they'll be more alert and awake during the day. This is a good time to help them realise the difference between day and night. During the day, open curtains, play games and don’t worry too much about everyday noises when they sleep. At night, speak quietly and neutrally, keep lights dimmed and don’t play with them. Soon your baby will learn that night-time is for sleeping.
Bedtime routines
You may feel ready to think about a bedtime routine when your baby is around three months. Even if naps and night-time feeds are still erratic, getting into a calming bedtime rhythm can be helpful for everyone. It can be great one-to-one time with your baby. Here’s how:
You may feel ready to think about a bedtime routine when your baby is around three months. Even if naps and night-time feeds are still erratic, getting into a calming bedtime rhythm can be helpful for everyone. It can be great one-to-one time with your baby. Here’s how:
- Do the same thing each night. Knowing what is going to happen will make your baby feel relaxed and secure.
- Begin calming any activity in the room down about an hour before your baby’s bedtime.
- A bath is often a good way to wind down from a busy day. Have a splash, sing a song and play with some bath toys.
- Dim the lights in the room where your baby sleeps to create a calmer atmosphere.
- Put pyjamas and a fresh nappy on your baby and read a bedtime story.
- Put your baby into bed on their back and give them a cuddle and a kiss.
- Sing a lullaby or have a wind-up musical mobile that you can turn on when you’ve put your baby to bed.
- Leave the room while your baby is still awake, happy and relaxed, and the baby will get used to drifting off to sleep on their own. This way, if they wake in the middle of the night, they're more likely to get back to sleep by themselves.
Avoid bedtime feasts
Leave a little time between your baby’s feed and bedtime. If you feed your baby to sleep, feeding and going to sleep will then be linked in your baby’s mind. When they wake in the night, they'll want a feed to help them go back to sleep.
Leave a little time between your baby’s feed and bedtime. If you feed your baby to sleep, feeding and going to sleep will then be linked in your baby’s mind. When they wake in the night, they'll want a feed to help them go back to sleep.
Don’t rush in
If your baby murmurs in the night, leave them for a few minutes and see if they settle on their own.
If your baby murmurs in the night, leave them for a few minutes and see if they settle on their own.
Be consistent
React to their cries in the same way each night. If you rush in one night but leave them to cry for a few minutes the next, they won’t know what to expect.
React to their cries in the same way each night. If you rush in one night but leave them to cry for a few minutes the next, they won’t know what to expect.
Be flexible
All new babies change their patterns. Just when you think you have it sorted and you’ve all had a good night’s sleep, the next night you might be up every two hours.
All new babies change their patterns. Just when you think you have it sorted and you’ve all had a good night’s sleep, the next night you might be up every two hours.
Be prepared to change routines as your baby grows and enters different stages (daytime naps may need to be cut down as your baby gets older). And remember, growth spurts, teething and illnesses can all affect how a baby sleeps.