Whether you've been here for a while, or are new here, sometimes, you need a reminder of some simple steps of things you can do to improve your baby's sleep!
So today, I'm going to give you some quick tips of things you can do today to get your baby's sleep on track!
Bedtime:
Get a great bedtime routine going!
Here are some of my go-to's when it comes to having a great routine!
Aim for a 20-30 minute routine! Any longer and your child might start to become overtired, and that tends to lead to more crying. Any shorter, it might not be enough transition time.
Do the same thing every night! I'm sure you've heard this before, but it's true! Having a predictable routine for your baby allows them to understand what's coming, and it cues their body to be ready for sleep.
Ideally, bedtime should be between 7 pm- 8 pm. Occasionally, a baby will need a slightly earlier bedtime, and if your baby is a newborn (under three months), it tends to be later.
Move your baby's feed earlier in the bedtime routine. Here's an example: bath, diaper, feed, PJs, sleep sack, books, and to bed awake!
Let them nap!
Naps can be tricky! It's all about timing, making sure you're hitting your baby's sleep window, and allowing your baby to fall asleep on their own, all the while having a great sleep environment set up (as I said, it's tricky!).
Here are some of my go-to tips for naps:
Make sure your baby's room is dark! Light is so stimulating to our brains, and once your baby has gone through a daytime sleep cycle (30-45 minutes), if there's enough light in the room, it will wake your baby up. How to fix it? Cover up the windows! It doesn't have to be expensive, and you can use items you already have, like cardboard. Ideally, your eyes should have trouble adjusting because it's so dark!
Do a mini nap routine! Here's an example: diaper change, sleep sack, book, and a song and to bed awake!
Start implementing an eat-play-sleep routine! By feeding your baby once they wake up from their nap, instead of feeding them to sleep, you'll be well on your way to teaching your baby to nap well.
If they wake up from a nap that is less than an hour, don't rush in there! Give your baby a few minutes, as it may surprise you that they fall back asleep on their own.
Have a nap cut off! Depending on the age of your baby, and how much awake time they can handle, you'll want to make sure they aren't napping past a certain time in the afternoon. This will help them to be ready for bed! So for example, if your baby can handle two hours of awake time, make sure they don't nap past 5 pm, so they can be ready for a 7 pm bedtime.
There you have it! A quick list of small changes you can start right away to help your baby sleep well.
Give it a few days, as changes to one's sleep habits don't happen right away!
If you find yourself still struggling, well, that's why I'm here! Get in touch below!
Chat soon,
Melody Patton