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The journey of motherhood is a beautiful one. However, it is safe to say that it can be challenging, especially when you have a newborn. Newborns do not run on your existing schedule, making sticking to your regular routine challenging. As a mom, you need to get as much rest for the tough days ahead as you need to conquer, but this can be challenging with a baby who struggles to sleep at night. Fortunately, you can get your newborn to sleep at night with the right tips. Here are a few ways to do so.
Keep your baby’s crib close by your bed
According to experts, one way of ensuring that your baby gets a good night's sleep is to let them sleep in the same room as you. This is not to say they would have to lie on the bed. Instead, you can simply move their bassinet or cot into your room. With them sleeping by you, you can check on your child periodically. This encourages safe sleeping as you can determine if the baby is uncomfortable and resolve it immediately. It also prevents the risk of injury and fatal phenomena such as sudden infants death syndrome (SIDS).
Ensure they are snug and warm
Just like you, your baby would struggle to sleep at night if they are uncomfortable in their cot or bassinet. Therefore, you must ensure that their mattress is soft and baby-friendly before purchasing or before the baby comes home. Additionally, you should ensure that the room is sleeping-inducing. For example, a cooler temperature would likely make your baby more comfortable. For some babies, swaddling helps them fall asleep faster. Swaddling is simply wrapping the baby up in light, breathable material, such as muslin swaddles, to keep your baby calm and sleepy. When swaddling your baby, be sure not to wrap them up too tightly, and remember to place them on their backs when swaddling.
Watch out for signs of tiredness
To ensure your baby sleeps at night, you must determine if they are tired enough. The last thing you want is to place your active baby in the crib because they won’t fall asleep soon. An effective way of determining if your child is ready for bed is by watching out for signs of tiredness. Babies have several signs to indicate they are tired. These include rubbing eyes, fussing, and crying. Responding to these signs swiftly would ensure your baby gets to bed and begins sleeping early.
Create a routine before bed
Your newborn baby doesn’t know the difference between day and night time. Therefore, they can sleep at any time during the day and be wide awake at night. In this case, create a routine with your newborn, especially before bed. For instance, you can give them a nice warm bath before bed or ensure you feed them before to prevent them from waking up in the middle of the night due to hunger. You should also consider singing them a lullaby each night to keep them relaxed for sleep.