Infant sleep and sleep methods are hotly charged subjects amongst new and experienced mothers alike. Whether to co-sleep or to let a baby cry it out can be tough choices, and may feel like drastic ones. There are other, proven methods for calming babies down, and helping them to sleep; trying them may solve many minor sleep problems.
Swaddle a Fussy Baby
Swaddling is an easy of calming a fussy baby, and helping the baby to sleep better. New babies are used to the close confines of the womb and are often unprepared for the freedom they get following birth. Swaddling helps to recreate this feeling of security and calm baby down. While many parents may swaddle for the first few weeks after birth, some babies may require being swaddled longer, in some cases up to 9 months or a year.
According to Dr. Harvey Karp, author of The Happiest Baby on the Block [Bantam Dell, 2002], “Swaddling is the cornerstone of calming. It gives nurturing touch, stops flailing, and focuses [the] baby’s attention.”
Swaddling will also help to cut down on the baby’s Moro Reflex. This is the startle reflex that all babies are born with. Babies are born with a fear of falling, and will startle and fling their arms out to the sides if they feel that this is happening. The Moro Reflex can be triggered even when the parent is lowering a sleeping infant into bed. Swaddling helps to reduce this reflex, thereby letting the baby, and parents, get more sleep.
Bath and Baby Massage
A set bedtime routine that begins at the same time each night, and includes many calming cues that sleep time is coming can help an overtired and fussy baby to relax. Try a warm bath followed by a baby massage, taking care to avoid nut based oils. By building positive experiences on top of one another, the baby begins to associate bedtime with good feelings. The key to this is sticking tightly to whatever routine is established, and beginning the sequence at the same time each night.
Put Baby Down Awake
Putting the baby down drowsy, but still awake is crucial. This allows the baby to begin the process of learning to self sooth and put himself to sleep. Additionally, this helps to avoid confusional arousing. As described by Elizabeth Pantley, author of several books on baby sleep, allowing a baby to fall asleep in her parents arms, only to wake up in a crib would be like going to sleep for the night in a bed and waking up on the kitchen floor. Letting the baby fall asleep on his own can help to avoid this, and keep the baby from needing his parents right there to fall asleep always.
Sound Machine
For babies who sleep lightly, disturbed by every sound in the house, a sound machine can be an invaluable tool. White noise has been recommended by pediatricians for years as a way of soothing babies used to the noisy environment of the womb. New sound machines designed for babies will even include recorded womb sounds, heart beats and the sounds of a car ride. Try experimenting with different sound masking tracks to see if the baby responds to one.
Always check with the pediatrician if a physical cause is suspected for the lack of sleep, and remember to be patient. New babies may require weeks of sleep training to help them learn to sleep well, so be prepared to try different methods multiple times if they don’t work at first. Listen to the baby’s cues and try to offer what’s needed. Sooner or later baby and parents will be getting the sleep they need.
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