Rock A Bye Baby, 4 Factors to Consider When Putting Your Newborn to Sleep

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The journey through the nine months of pregnancy is somewhat of a rollercoaster ride – not only will you experience the highs and lows of mood swings and cravings, but you’ll also be slapped with unwarranted symptoms that are really hard to ease. However, that’s just the start of the lifelong commitment to raising a child.

Once the baby is out, parents are more than excited to bring the bundle of joy home and to share on social media their numerous family selfies.

The thrill extends to more than that, they also shop for baby stuff frequently, even if it’s already unnecessary because the adorable human needs all the best things in the world. However, as much as having a baby is all the parents can ever ask for, we can’t hide the fact that a newborn can be hard to put to sleep.

Of course, the child doesn’t care if you both are tired from work or from taking turns in carrying the bundle of joy all day. The point is, putting the infant down to doze off and to stay asleep is harder than you think. Some may even say it is impossible, although it is true that there’s no one way of letting them fall into the arms of Sandman. But, there are a few tips which could help you with that:

One of the most challenging parts of dealing with newborns is putting them to sleep

One of the most challenging parts of dealing with newborns is putting them to sleep

Room Share with Your Baby

Good news for parents who can’t seem to stay a minute away from their baby: according to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep guidelines, parents can share a room with their newborns for at least six months up to a year but it is important that they shouldn’t share the same bed.

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There are a lot of advantages to this, including encouragement for breastfeeding, reduced chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and long stretches of the child’s sleep. The proximity between the parents and the child also helps in the regulation of the baby’s nervous systems reactions, temperature, and breathing.

Lighting

As with adults, lighting also plays an important role in babies’ sleeping patterns. Bright lights mean it is daytime for newborns so to keep them sleeping soundly, avoid any light that can distract them. Better yet, cut off light entirely from the room as it is said that they aren’t afraid of darkness until they reach 18 months.

Most infants feed within three to four hours’ interval, so parents can install a dim light which they can be switched off after the feedings.

Swaddling

This is the technique that makes use of a blanket to hug a baby tightly, usually done to help an infant feel comfortable and to help them fall asleep. However, this may only be applicable to the first few months and may not work later on.

This is totally normal – putting a newborn to sleep is such a tricky process that you don’t know whether a strategy might be effective or not.

It is best for babies to share rooms with parents until they’re a year old

It is best for babies to share rooms with parents until they’re a year old

Cool Environment

Babies can’t outright tell you if they’re warm or cold, so it is basically your job to know what temperature is optimum for their delicate bodies. What’s established is that they tend to doze off when the temperature is between 69 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit. Although that is the common preference, that doesn’t mean you should pack them in heavy, thick clothes which will only end up making them more irritated.

Pediatrician Edward Kulich suggests dressing them with something light and breathable, as well as covering them with a snug blanket. If the child is sweating, that is a clear sign that he/she may be wearing too many layers, so take some off asap! When it comes to temperature, you should also consider the spot where your baby’s crib or bassinet is situated in the nursery.

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Make sure that it isn’t placed where the air-condition or the heating vents will directly hit because it can cause diseases to the infant. Any abrupt changes in temperature can disrupt the sleep of the baby. More so, it is best if you keep the bed away from the windows to avoid the outside noise that could wake the babies up.

Keep babies’ crib away from the direct pathways of the air-conditioning unit and heating vents

Keep babies’ crib away from the direct pathways of the air-conditioning unit and heating vents

Declutter

Make sure that you establish the nursery room as a sleeping nook and not a playground. To do this, avoid toys outside the crib and even inside the crib because these may serve as a distraction. Infants may be confused if they should sleep or if they should play.

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