Baby Sleeping Tips

One of the greatest things about having a baby is discovering their unique personality and their likes and dislikes. Once you begin to understand what works with your baby and what doesn't, you can apply it to their bedtime ritual. As you observe your baby, notice what seems to help them sleep and what keeps them awake. You might also want to try out some different sleeping tips to see if any of them help your baby drift off to dreamland. Read on for some suggestions on how to relax your baby before bedtime. Getting into the Swing of Things Acquiring a baby swing is almost a necessity for any mother. It will give you the chance to do laundry, wash dishes, clean the house or make dinner and keep your baby entertained at the same time. But, you might not realize that your baby swing is also a great way to calm your baby down before bed. The constant swinging motion will lull your baby to sleep and remind him or her of being rocked to sleep in your arms. After a little while in the swing, you will want to pick up your baby very gently and continue to rock him or her for a few minutes. This may or may not be enough to get them to fall asleep, but it will soothe them either way and make the transition from being awake to falling asleep that much easier. On the Road Again Ever noticed how your baby falls asleep when you take them for a drive? The sound of your engine and the soothing vibrations from your vehicle will often make your baby very sleepy. If you are having trouble getting your baby to sleep, take them for a short drive and see if it helps. Chances are that your baby will be asleep in less than ten minutes. The hard part will be not waking your child up when you get back home. Carry the car seat in the car and if your baby is a light sleeper, leave him or her in the car seat until they wake up again in the night. Then, when they reawaken, you can feed or change your baby and then put them back in their crib for the rest of the night. Some Like it Hot Well, not hot, but warm! Even adults love getting into a warm, soft bed each night and your baby is no different. Warming up your baby's sheets or placing a warm towel on your baby's bed will make it even easier for them to fall asleep. Keep in mind that a baby should never be hot or too warm, so a lightly warmed bed is all that is desired. If you do not want to warm your baby's sheets, try substituting cotton bedding for flannel. This will make your baby's bed super cozy and snuggly. If it's winter, always put socks on your baby's feet and make sure they are covered by a blanket.