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Congratulations! You may be pregnant or maybe you just had a baby (and lucky you if actually have time to read this)! There’s no feeling more incredible than when you’ve just had a baby. So why don’t you feel wonderful all the time? Well, even the best events in life have stress attached to them. Having a baby is exciting for everyone. You’ve been flooded with company practically from the moment of delivery.
If you’re a first-time mother, hospitals don’t give you very much help or advice; they send you home with this new little creature with an array of demands that you have to try to interpret. And new babies don’t sleep much. At least not long enough to allow you to get some much needed rest. Add to that the hormonal changes in your own body, and you have a formula that’s guaranteed to be stressful. Sometimes you think you’ll never get a full night’s sleep again. Until the baby settles into a routine, you probably won’t!
To get through those first few weeks and months, here are a few tips to help you get at least a little more sleep.
First of all, don’t try to be a supermom. When the baby goes down for a nap, take a small nap yourself. The laundry can wait and so can the dishes. You don’t need to have a perfect house. There will be time for all that; give yourself a break whenever you get the opportunity. If you have a good friend or relative to help out, by all means take advantage of that for an afternoon. Grandma would probably jump at the chance to have the baby all to herself for a few hours! When you put the baby to bed for the night, take some time to decompress and relax so you have a better chance of falling asleep. Take a bath scented with lavender; put on some soft music and baby yourself a little. Sometimes it’s hard even without a new baby to fall asleep right away. There’s a lot to get used to!
Sleep Training Approaches for Babies
Your baby's health, behavior, and overall development depend on the kind of sleep they're getting. Kids who are unable to get enough sleep are often cranky all throughout the day - much to your annoyance. Here's how you can help them get the quality shuteye they need to maintain a positive mood and grow. There are, basically, two types of sleep approaches. One is the Gentle To Sleep approach, which employs the direct monitoring and participating of a parent or a caregiver, while the other is the Sleep Training approach, which teaches the child to learn to fall asleep on his/her own; that is, without much parental intervention. How to Gently Lead the Baby to Sleep During the daytime, carry and cuddle your baby as he/she naps. Applying the same routine at night will help your child develop a more consistent bedtime pattern. Help your baby distinguish day from night by playing with him/her as much as you can during the day, with daylight coming through the window and natural day noises seeping in. Before bed, you may use calming-down methods such as bathing, massaging, nursing, and rocking. If the baby refuses to sleep, you will have to stay up until he/she is ready to snooze. Finally, once the baby is asleep, make sure he/she is in deep sleep before leaving her. (Hint: limp limbs) Otherwise, he/she will wake up as soon as you leave. If the baby does wake up, try rolling him/her over to his/her stomach, while tapping your baby’s leg lightly. After frequent practice, he/she will eventually learn to sooth himself/herself back to sleep. Make nighttime a contrast to daytime by keeping the room softly lit, with the noise and activity levels kept low. It won't be long before baby associates nighttime with sleeping. Be in the same room or same bed with your baby so that you're there if he/she stirs in the middle of the night. Comfort, rock, change, or nurse your baby if he/she wakes up. How to Sleep-Train First, check for sleep problems caused by pain, stress, or medication. Before bedtime, bathe your child, read a story, or cuddle your baby close. These help establish a routine that calms your baby and signals bedtime. If your baby still nurses in the middle of the night, replace feeding time with "rocking to sleep" or some other parental bonding activity before training your baby to find his/her own way to sleep. Put the baby down while she's still awake. Sleep where you can easily hear him/her, but not necessarily in the same room. At scheduled intervals, let your child hear your voice, and rub the back or tummy. Resist the urge to pick your baby up, and stay only two to three minutes each time you comfort him/her. Choosing an Approach Find out what you think is good for your baby and your family. Make sure the whole family arrives at a consensus. Consult your pediatrician before changing your baby's sleeping habits. There may be health reasons on why your child is unable to sleep through the night. Also, do your research. There are many books and online sources on sleep approaches. Finally, be sensitive. Learn to distinguish a clear cry from a whimper. Keep in mind that an exhausted baby finds it more difficult to sleep. Do not hesitate to interrupt or discontinue any training method if you think your baby is sick or has special needs.
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