Getting your little one to sleep can be a challenging task for many parents. Here’s a guide to help you establish a bedtime routine that encourages your child to sleep independently. First make sure you have a safe sleeping environment and you dress your baby accordingly to the temperature. Always be consistent and follow a sleep schedule following the appropriate wake windows and number of naps for your baby’s age.
As a first-time mom, I struggled with putting my baby to sleep. I found it nearly impossible to drop her half awake in the bed and leave her to fall asleep on her own. However, her dad and the daycare staff seemed to have no trouble doing this. Despite my difficulties, I learned that putting your child to bed while they are still half awake is a key step in helping them develop good sleep habits. Our bedtime routine included giving her milk and then reading a story. The time spent drinking milk served as a winding-down period, helping her relax and get ready for sleep.
Establishing a Bedtime Routine
A consistent bedtime routine can signal to your baby that it’s time to wind down and go to sleep. Here’s how to create an effective bedtime routine:
- Set a Consistent Bedtime: Choose a bedtime that works for your family and stick to it every night. Consistency helps regulate your baby’s internal clock. Recommended bedtime is between 7pm and 8pm.
- Create a Calming Environment: Dim the lights and reduce noise to create a peaceful atmosphere. This helps your baby understand that it’s time to sleep.
- Follow a Sequence of Activities: Perform the same activities in the same order every night. Try not to have feeding as last so you don’t create sleep association. The routine might include:
- Bath time
- Changing into pajamas
- Giving milk
- Reading a bedtime story
- Singing a lullaby
Putting Your Baby to Bed Half Awake
Putting your baby to bed while they are still half awake encourages them to learn how to fall asleep on their own. Here’s how to do it:
- Observe Sleepy Cues: Look for signs that your baby is getting sleepy, such as loosing energy, red line on the forehead, rubbing their eyes, grabbing their ear. When they start yawning, or becoming fussy it’s already too late. The baby should be in the bed when they yawn. 🥱
- Complete the Bedtime Routine: Follow through with your established bedtime routine until your baby is calm and drowsy.
- Place Baby in the Crib: Gently place your baby in the crib while they are still awake but drowsy. This helps them associate their bed with falling asleep.
- Stay Consistent: If your baby cries, try to soothe them without picking them up. Pat their back or speak softly to reassure them. Over time, they will learn to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own.
- Avoid sleep association : The goals is to have baby learn to self-soothe and fall asleep on their own. If you feed them to sleep or rock them or anything that involves you being there they will look for you everytime they wake up during the night. Try to avoid it.
Tips for Success
- Be Patient: Learning to fall asleep independently can take time. Be patient and consistent with your routine.
- Stay Calm: Your baby can sense your emotions. Staying calm and relaxed can help your baby feel secure.
- Avoid Comfort Objects for Infants: It is not advisable to have comfort objects, like blankets or stuffed animals, in the crib with infants due to safety concerns.
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