subject: Baby Won't Sleep - 5 Tips To Get Baby To Sleep [print this page] Getting baby to sleep at night can be difficult for many parents especially if you choose not to co-sleep or share the same room as your baby. The best way for both the mother and baby is to co-sleep. This means that nursing is easy to do and doesn't require very much disruption of sleep (although during the first few weeks getting used to your baby latching and them perfecting the skill will mean more disruption at first). It also means that both baby and mother can get more rest and sleep and baby will be more content because if they wake they will feel the warmth of their mother for protection.
Of course though the worry with co sleeping is that many parents feeling they maybe spoiling their baby and worry they won't eventually go into their own bed. A child will go into their own bed usually between the age of 2-5 if allowed to choose when they are ready, but often parents do not have the patience or want to wait this long. If this is the case, giving your child at least the first 6 months in your bed is better than nothing and will make breastfeeding, bonding and sleep easier.
Despite whether you cosleep or not, this article gives you 5 tips to help you and your baby to get a better night's sleep.
Tip #1 - The best thing to do to ensure babies and children can sleep is to let them sleep in noisy areas in the house during the day. Many parents want to tuck their babies away in a quiet room but if you get babies used to noise to begin with they are much less likely to be disturbed by noise during the night.
Tip #2 - Don't be afraid to nurse your baby to sleep. Breastmilk contains chemicals to calm your baby and prepare them for sleep, the act of nursing also causes hormones to be released into the mother's bloodstream to calm them too.
Tip #3 - Just like breastfeeding, a pacifier can also be an option worth trying. As long as it is only used for sleeping and teething issues, then a baby will not use it out of habit. A pacifier only becomes habit when a child is giving it all the time just to keep them quiet.
Tip #4 - Use a sling or baby carrier. These can help get your baby to sleep very quickly and easily because they are very close to your body. Sleep will be easy for baby if they feel secured and relaxed.
Tip #5 - Routines Can Help - Some people use a routine to give cues to their baby that it is bedtime. Often many people bathe their child as a way to relax them and this can also signal to baby it is bedtime.
Whatever you do, remember that a baby cannot be spoilt by love. Don't feel guilty that you are holding your baby all the time as this is the best thing you can do. A baby will feel secure, loved and calm if they are close to their mother where they belong.
