To every parent, there comes that moment in time when you just can't get your baby to sleep. Babies getting poor sleep is one of the most common sources of stress for new parents. It's important to remember that everyone copes with these challenges differently and if you are feeling stressed about it, talk to someone.
Friends, family members, and doctors are all good places to start if you feel as though the lack of sleep is affecting your personal well-being. Everyone has a different opinion on how to get babies to sleep, but the one thing that remains consistent with every method is that there is no right or wrong way, just what works for you and your baby.
The information below is a collection of tips from parents with advice on how to keep your baby sleeping through the night.
Keep a sleep log
Make sure that you are writing down when your baby wakes up and for how long in order to have a better idea of what might be going on. Some babies will wake up every hour, but the total amount of hours they sleep is still 10, while others will only wake up twice in one night but the total amount of hours is less than what you would like. You can also check for patterns by seeing when your baby sleeps best
Give yourself a break
If your baby is constantly waking up and it has been going on for months, take a break. This means that you should stop doing any activities at home that require your attention for a little while and get out of the house or simply lay down and relax until they fall asleep. There is no reason to feel bad about taking time away from the baby if it's going to make you feel better in the long run.
Put them down awake, but drowsy
If your baby is in the habit of falling asleep while feeding, try changing it up by putting them in their crib when they are still awake. This will help you to avoid the situation where your baby gets used to falling asleep with a bottle in their mouth and can make for some frustration when you try to take it away. Be prepared for some crying during the process, but do not give in and simply hold them instead of laying them down. If nothing else, this will teach your baby how to self-soothe.
Don't wake a sleeping baby
It may be tempting to go in and check on your sleeping child after they have been quiet for a while, but never do this. If you enter the room and they open their eyes or make any noise whatsoever, it will only let them know that if they make enough of a fuss, you will eventually come. This will make them cry even harder when they finally do get your attention.
Ensure you are properly dressing your baby for bed
You should always ensure you are properly dressing your baby for bed. The AAP recommends that babies should ideally sleep at cooler room temperatures, but should still be dressed warmly. The Baby Merlin Magic Sleepsuit and Magic DreamSack are great products to consider when dressing your baby for bed at different stages of their growing up. If you have any questions about the Baby Merlin sleep system, check out their FAQs or contact Baby Merlin today!