Baby Sleep Tips - Making Your Baby Comfortable
Often, it seems fairly random whether or not babies sleep well.
New parents will often discuss how they were simply "lucky" with
one child as opposed to another. While it is true that in many
cases how your child sleeps is largely out of your control,
there remains many baby sleep tips you can employ to encourage
better sleeping habits. One of the most important is to ensure
that your baby is comfortable when he goes to sleep.
Bedtime is a transitional period for your child, and your
efforts to make him sleep better should revolve around getting
him to learn to sleep on his own. One of the most important
elements of achieving this is to create an environment where
your baby is as comfortable as possible. For this reason, the
before-bed routine should always consist of changing and
feedings - the worst thing for a baby, in terms of sleeping
well, is to be in want of something when he is put to bed.
You should also be trying to make your baby as physically
comfortable as possible when putting him to sleep. One of the
most commonly overlooked aspects of this is allowing your baby
to breathe easily through the nose. Most people, but especially
babies, depend on clear nasal passages for a good night's sleep.
It's important to remove all airborne allergens in the baby's
nursery: everything should be well dusted, and you should keep
dust collecting items - like fuzzy blankets and stuffed animals
- to a minimum. When your baby is very young it takes time for
him to learn to breathe through his mouth, so you must carefully
pay attention to his nasal breathing when putting him to sleep.
If you notice the problem is persistent, you may benefit from
installing an air filter in the room that is designed to remove
dust particles and allergens - this also has the added bonus of
creating a soothing hum that will help many babies sleep better.
You should also pay particular attention to your baby's
clothing. All babies are different in terms of their
preferences, and you have to watch them closely. In many cases,
things that look comfortable to you - very snug outfits, for
example - may not be comfortable for your particular baby. Try
both tight and loose fitting clothes and see which ones your
baby seems to prefer.
Finally, consider how well your baby sleeps with wet diapers.
Most babies will sleep well through the night with a wet diaper,
but some will not. If this is the case, you can often solve your
baby's sleeping difficulties by giving him a change in the night.
The main thing to keep in mind in terms of your babies comfort
is to pay close attention, and to trust your instincts. Although
it is tempting to follow guides and stick to hard and fast
rules, remember that the adage "mother knows best" is generally
true. So if your baby seems uncomfortable in his clothes, don't
hesitate to change him into something that doesn't "look" as
comfortable. If you trust your own judgments over those of
guides in terms of your baby's comfort, it's likely that he will
sleep much better.