Even More Ways to Get Baby To Sleep

As getting your newborn is such a big issue with new parents I thought I would do a bit more research on how to get your baby to sleep.

Sometimes the problem is that your baby is hearing noise that you have gotten used to a long time ago. Is there a playground across the street, construction noise or a neighbor with a loud television set? Is noise from playing children, television sets or construction keeping your child awake? Make sure the room is as quiet as possible or turn on some sort of white noise to block the annoyance out.

Try playing your baby a relaxing CD before bed. There are all kinds of these on the market including ones that play nature sounds, classical music and lullabies. There are even specific compilations on the market that are meant to make your baby smarter or more creative while they sleep. This is called the Mozart effect.

Make sure your baby is not suffering from anxiety or stress. Infant sleep experts have a saying 'a baby who has had a happy day will have a restful night.' Babies suffer from stress that they can relive again just before they go to sleep just like adults do.

If your baby suffers from separation anxiety then try leaving an article of clothing that smells like you in the crib. This may calm the baby enough so that it is capable of sleeping more soundly.

Is your baby napping too much during the day? Consider removing a nap in order to ensure your baby's sleepiness later at night. For instance if your baby is having two naps try shortening it to one.

Take the baby to bed with you. Some babies sleep best in their own crib in their own room, some sleep better in their own bassinet or crib in the parents’ bedroom, other babies sleep best snuggled right next to mommy in the parents’ bed.

Develop a nighttime routine that is the same for every bedtime. This prepares your baby psychologically for the idea that it is time to go to sleep.

Make sure that your baby goes to bed at the same time every night and wakes up at the same time every night. Consistency is key to helping your baby get a good night's rest.
Is teething pain keeping your child awake? Give appropriate doses of acetaminophen (as recommended by a doctor) just before putting your baby to sleep and again in four hours if baby awakens.

Feed your baby at least every three hours during the day to cluster the baby’s feedings during the waking hours. Upon baby’s first night waking, attempt a full feeding, otherwise some babies, especially.

Hopefully these suggestions can help you get some shuteye.

Ways To Get Your Baby To Sleep

There is nothing harder on a new mother then listen to the cries of a baby who can't get to sleep at night. Here are some tested and true ways to lull your child to sleep that you can try.

Try rocking your child in a rocking chair. Holding a child in your arms while rocking back and forth is one the most traditional and effective ways to get a child to sleep.

Consider taking your child for a ride in a car. Strap the child in his or her car seat and drive around the block. This automatically puts many babies immediately to sleep. Singing a little also seems to help, even if you are a bad singer. The lower the voice the better.

Relax your baby before it is time for bed by giving him or her a warm bath. This helps to naturally make the baby drowsy. Massage his or her muscles gently before laying the child in the cradle.

Breast feed or feed the baby warm milk just before it is time for the baby to go to bed. Warm milk contains tryptophan, which is a natural sedative. It's the same stuff that makes us feel drowsy after we eat a big turkey dinner at Thanksgiving.

5Try holding the baby and humming. Place baby in the neck nestle position (nestle baby’s head against the front of your neck with your chin against the top of baby’s head. The vibration of a deep voice lulls baby) and rock your baby to sleep.

Make sure the baby's bedroom is dark. Sometimes it is light from the windows or from an open door that is keeping the child fussy and awake.

Turn on a rhythmic sounding machine that makes a white noise of some kind. Machines like this include dehumidifiers, air conditioners or air cleaners.

Try perfuming your baby's room with lavender. Lavender can have a sedating effect on infants. Vanilla and orange are also soothing scents. Don't make the room smell like a brothel however as that could irritate the child even more. Use a light touch when using room sprays.

Make sure the baby's diapers are changed and that his or her skin is not irritated by diaper rash. If diaper rash is a problem try taking the baby's diaper off.

Make sure the room is neither too hot or too cold. Sometimes a baby is crying because he or she is too warm or shivering.

The key is to make the baby as comfortable as possible. If I find any more techniques I will be sure to print them in this blog. I am sure there are a lot of sleep-deprived parents out there who need all the help that they can get