Getting baby to sleep can be a challenge. You worry about sleepless nights. Avoiding these 7 baby sleep mistakes will help get you on the right track.
Getting Baby To Sleep Can Be A Challenge
You desperately want to be able to put your baby to sleep at night with no fuss and avoid the sleepless nights. The thing is that in your eagerness to get it right you could be making some crucial mistakes.
Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. Check out these baby sleep mistakes so you know exactly what not to do.
7 Baby Sleep Mistakes
Not having A Bedtime
It’s understandable that you want to spend as much time as possible with your baby. Maybe your partner doesn’t get in from work until late and it just seems easier to keep baby up with you. Some moms think that keeping baby up later will mean a better nights sleep. This is actually one of the most common baby sleep mistakes. It does sound pretty logical but baby sleep just doesn’t work like that.
The thing is, there is such a thing as too tired. When your baby stays awake for too long they become overtired and cranky. This will make it harder for them to settle and fall asleep when the time comes. The end result is that baby has a bad night, you have a bad night, and cranky baby equals cranky mom.
Work out the best bedtime for your baby by getting to know their routines. Watch for cues that they are starting to get tired. Their eyelids may flutter, they may clench their fists, or start staring into space. rather than waiting until they are overtired put baby down when they are starting to get drowsy. They should settle much easier and learn to fall asleep on their own.
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No Bedtime Routine
Routine really is everything when it comes to babies. A consistent bedtime routine will help your baby to settle down and have a good nights sleep.
Think about what you do leading up to going to bed. You almost certainly have a routine that stays the same every night. Your baby needs this too so plan out a bedtime ritual that you can stick to on a nightly basis. With a small baby you could include things like, a feed, a bath, a story, and a cuddle.
I established a bedtime routine with my son pretty early on. I would feed him, and bathe him with this stuff which has the most relaxing smell ever. Then change him into night clothes, swaddle him, and read to him before putting him down.
You may think that a story isn’t necessary for a baby so young but really its more about the sound of your voice at this stage and soothing your baby than what you are reading to them. I read Wuthering Heights to my son when he was 2 months old. It took a while but he seemed to enjoy it. Also if you struggle with swaddling like I did then I can highly recommend these velcro swaddle blankets. They were lifesavers in our house as both of my babies loved to be wrapped up.
Just remember to take your time with the bedtime routine to keep everything relaxed and calm. Always do the same things in the same order and try to do your baby’s feed first so that they don’t associate eating with sleeping.
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Too Many Distractions
Now I always advise people to get their baby used to noise, not to creep about and talk in whispers. this will result in your baby only being able to sleep in complete silence, which is never going to be practical. There is a difference however between a reasonable amount of noise and distraction, and having so much going on that your baby can’t sleep.
Avoid using bright lights and mobiles that have a lot going on as these will distract your baby and overstimulate them. Don’t play music and keep anything with a screen out of the room. However I would advise using a dim night light and a white noise machine which will help soothe your baby. After I had my first baby a friend suggested we try a white noise machine and it is without doubt the best purchase we made. He was much calmer and settled much better.
Relying On Movement
Rocking your baby may calm and soothe them but try to avoid rocking them to sleep. This is another very common baby sleep mistake. Your baby will learn to rely on the motion and will not be able to fall asleep without it.
The same applies to taking your baby out in the car or in a stroller to get them to sleep. It will soon become a habit and will end up being the only way to get them to sleep. This really isn’t practical. Sleeping while in constant motion is not recommended as your baby’s quality of sleep will be reduced.
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No Consistency
Once you have decided on a baby sleep strategy and a good routine for your baby it goes without saying that you need to stick to it. However, you are not the only one who needs to stick to it.
Everyone who plays a part of taking care of your baby at sleep time, your partner, family, friends, or child minder all need to stick to the same routine. You absolutely all need to be on the same page.
If the various people in your baby’s life all have a different approach to sleep then it is going to be extremely difficult for them to get into a good routine. There is going to be confusion over what happens at bedtime if it is always changing. Your baby needs consistency in order to feel secure, settled, and sleep well.
When you have decided on a clear plan for your baby’s sleep you need to get everyone together. Go through the sleep schedule and bedtime routine to make sure everyone is clear about what is going to happen. Others may have their own ideas on how to deal with baby sleep. Just calmly explain that these are your wishes for your child.
Comparing To Other Babies
No two babies are the same. Your baby is not going to sleep the same way as your friends baby. I get it, it is difficult to hear other moms talking about their babies who sleep right through the night. Worrying that your baby is not at the same stage as other children is not helpful to you and causes unnecessary stress and anxiety.
When you listen to your friends talking about their baby’s sleep just remember that you may not actually be getting the full story. Does their baby sleep through every night? Is it more likely that their child is waking up for very short periods, needing to be comforted back to sleep? Their baby’s needs and way of dealing with sleep will probably not be the same as your baby.
Focus on finding the best way of dealing with baby sleep to fit your little ones sleep pattern. Get to know what works for them and what their needs are at sleep time. Don’t worry if other babies seem to be ahead, just keep working at it and your baby will get there too.
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Expecting Too Much
It’s important to know that your baby won’t have any concept of day and night at first. They will need to eat often and may take a while to go off to sleep. Don’t expect that everything you try with your baby is going to work immediately.
Expecting too much of your baby when it’s time to sleep is just going to make you anxious. You need to realise that when you implement a sleep schedule it may take your baby a little while to catch on. It’s perfectly normal for things to not as planned at first and you will probably have some sleepless nights. Things will get better. You just need to lower your expectations and have a little patience.
Above all, don’t worry you will get there. Avoiding these baby sleep mistakes will get you well on your way, it just takes time.
