Since they have to wake up often to feed, newborns and young children are not necessarily the best sleepers. That is why, in my opinion, the expression “sleeping like an infant” is misleading!
Understandably, parents are eager to learn how to get their newborns to sleep as soon as possible after delivery. The problem is that newborns and young children are not ready for sleep learning.
Don’t be discouraged: just because your baby is too young for sleep learning doesn’t mean you have to endure months of sleep deprivation. There are steps you can take to help your baby sleep more naturally and smoothly.
That’s what we’re going to see today!
Here are 7 natural and gentle methods to help your newborn sleep better. Let’s take a look.
Take A Walk With Your Kids
It turns out your grandmother was right: getting some fresh air helps kids sleep better. You should start adding a daily walk or time spent sitting outside as soon as your baby is a few weeks old. This will go a long way in improving sleep quality at night and during naps.
Try Infant Massage
Infant massage is a simple and natural way to help your newborn relax, which can promote better sleep. I’ve already told you about the benefits of infant massage to improve babies’ sleep, but I’ll say it again. Indeed, for children aged 3 to 6 months, this study found an improvement in the amount of sleep of about 1.3 hours per day.
On top of that, infant massage can aid digestion (which is especially beneficial for colicky newborns), the mother-child bond, and even growth and development!
Make Sure The Days Are Clear And The Nights Dark
Newborns do not understand that the day is for play and the night for sleeping. Many newborns confuse day and night, sleeping for long periods during the day and being awake every hour at night! You can correct this problem gently and naturally by ensuring that your baby is exposed to the sun during the day (not direct sunlight, but rather filtered sunlight in a bright, sunny room).
On the other hand, make sure the nights are dark, for example by sifting the room during diaper changes and meals. This will gradually change your newborn’s circadian patterns and encourage them to sleep for long periods at night and take naps during the day.
The Evening Group Feeding
It is quite normal for newborns and young babies to fill up on bottles in the evening and eat more often than during the day. Although group feeding can be exhausting for mom and dad (especially if mom is breastfeeding, she may want to stay on the couch for hours every night!), many experts agree that it is a normal stage of the newborn’s life.
Many experts believe that newborns do this to have a long night’s sleep, many babies sleep more after being fed in groups! Group feeding is a smart technique if you want to encourage longer, deeper nighttime sleep.
Keep An Eye On Him
It’s not just about holding or carrying your child (more on that in a moment). Try sharing a room with your baby and letting him sleep in a bassinet or small bed next to your bed at night. There are several benefits to keeping your newborn close to you at night. For example, it can make feeding in the middle of the night more convenient.
However, it is proven that bed-sharing is not only convenient, babies who share a room and sleep next to their mothers sleep better. They are less likely to cry and sleep longer. The incidence of SIDS is also much lower. This is why many pediatricians suggest room-sharing as the safest sleeping formula for infants.
Of course, room sharing is not for everyone. There are obvious pros and cons to sharing a room with your child. As always, we suggest you find the sleeping formula that best suits your needs.
Try To Take Enough Naps During The Day
If your infant or young baby wakes up every hour or most of the night, you’ve probably considered keeping them awake more during the day in hopes of encouraging them to sleep better at night. This is not a good idea, in most cases, babies who do not nap during the day sleep less well at night because they are too tired!
Yes, your baby must spend some time awake during the day (this can help clear up any confusion between day and night in the newborn).
However, your newborn’s waking period should be limited (usually no more than 45 to 60 minutes), and they should nap often during the day.
Carry Your Child To Soothe Them
Nothing soothes a baby more than being hugged by his mother or father. This is why most newborns sleep well when carried in their parent’s arms or a baby carrier. This is especially true for colicky infants, who benefit greatly from carrying. Remember that carrying your baby around the house is not a long-term cure. Rather, they are short-term solutions to help your baby (and yourself) sleep as much as possible for the first few months after birth.
I hope you enjoyed this article and that these tips will help your little angel sleep better during his first months.
