12 Baby Sleep Tips That Will Save Your Sanity

Being a parent is a blessing and all but it can turn into a nightmare when your little one simply WON’T sleep when you want them to.

Sadly, your baby doesn’t come with a tutorial in hand to help guide you through their many different life stages. However, we can help you with some tips and tricks to help your little one sleep better at night, giving you that much needed time to relax.

So, instead of being kept up all night, help your baby to fall asleep faster with these amazing tips that will basically solve all of your problems in life (kind of.)

1.) There’s nothing better than a swaddle!

(Image Credit: Reddit.com)

You know when you’re falling asleep and you suddenly get that falling sensation that jerks you awake? Well, babies get that too which is adorable, I know. However, this sensation will jerk them awake and then cause them to cry as they don’t understand what’s going on. A tight, comfy swaddle will prevent these jerks and aid them in a smooth, peaceful night’s sleep.

2.) Use dimmers to indicate day and night

It can be really hard to teach your baby that nighttime is for sleep, especially when they go to bed earlier than you! However, if you use dimmers on all of your lights, your baby will associate bedtime with when the lights get darker. Once your baby understands the day and night cycles, your life is going to get so much easier! You’re welcome.

3.) Make a warm bath part of your baby’s night routine

(Image Credit: YouTube)

Who doesn’t love a warm bath before getting all snuggled up in bed?! A warm bath followed by a fresh diaper change is the perfect way to soothe your baby before a good night’s sleep. If you make this a daily routine, they will soon learn that a warm bath signals bedtime!

4.) Regulate the temperature of your baby’s room

(Image Credit: A Touch of Pink)

The optimum temperature for your little one to sleep soundly is in the range of 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping the room temperature on the lower end helps your baby to fall asleep quicker, keeping the windows on or having a fan on low could really help!

5.) Make use of white noise

(Image Credit: Science News)

A dead silent room really isn’t the key to giving your little one a sound night’s sleep. White noise is actually a really helpful component to helping your little one sleep as it reminds them of when they were in their mother’s womb. Finding the right type of white noise could work miracles, whether it’s leaving a fan on, buying a white noise machine or even finding baby sleep apps that continuously play the sound of a hairdryer! All of these methods could help send your little one to sleep quickly.

6.) Plan diaper changes through the night

Most babies wake up for a midnight feed, so before putting them to bed, change their diaper. Then, when they wake up for the midnight feed you can change it again. This means that your little one’s sleep will be as smooth and uninterrupted as possible.

7.) Cut caffeine if you are breastfeeding

We know, this request probably sounds like we are asking you to cut off your right arm. However, you won’t need caffeine so much if you are sleeping enough so you might want to follow this tip! Your baby can become fussy or irritable if you drink too much caffeine when breastfeeding. You should be able to get away with one or two cups a day, any more and you might notice your baby’s mood change.

8.)  Invest in a bassinet or a co-sleeper

(Image Credit: Jillian Harris)

For the first 6 months of your baby’s life, it is important to keep them close to you at night with either a bassinet or co-sleeper. This will help your baby to have long uninterrupted naps as they feel comforted and secure that you are nearby.

9.) Limit screen time before bedtime

(Image Credit: YouTube.com)

Research has proven that babies who play with touch screens actually take longer to doze off. Try keeping your baby away from screens a couple of hours before bedtime and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes!

10.) Avoid making eye contact when cradling your baby to sleep

(Image Credit: Science News)

Making eye contact with your baby is always a heartwarming moment and not just for you either! When you look into your baby’s eyes, they release the love hormone, oxytocin, which actually increases their heartbeat. So, if you are trying to get your little one to sleep, looking into their eyes is likely to have the opposite effect.

11.) It IS OKAY to wake your baby up for feeding

(Image Credit: New Scientist)

I know that the golden rule amongst parents is to never wake up a sleeping baby. However, if your little one is sleeping through their next feed time or they haven’t eaten in 3 hours, you are allowed to break this golden rule. This will actually help your baby get into a proper routine.

12.) Do what works best for your baby

(Image Credit: sortra.com)

Whether the sounds of the vaccum puts your little one to sleep or just brushing their hair, look out for the signs and run with it! The above tips are likely to help but every baby is different and you need to tailor your baby’s night routine to their likes and dislikes, good luck!

Hopefully, these tips and tricks give you and your baby a better night’s sleep than ever before. Do you have any baby sleep tips? Let us know in the comments! AAx

The post 12 Baby Sleep Tips That Will Save Your Sanity appeared first on Go Social.