Most new parents experience most of their problems at bedtime, when it is time to put the baby to sleep. Many newborn babies are fussy at bedtime and do not like to be away from their parents for long periods of time. There is a wealth of advice on baby sleep problems available to parents, of varying quality; the main problem is that what works for one family may not work for the next. A general rule of thumb is to remember that when it comes to baby sleep problems, the more specific the advice, the less likely it will apply to your own baby.
I’ve put together some tips to help both baby and parent get a good night’s sleep. Due to the general nature of these points, they should be applicable to most families.
- Try to establish a relaxed bedtime routine, with a set pattern that the baby can learn. This should be fun, with time set aside for little rhymes and songs for the baby as she gets ready for bed. Babies love routine and feel secure, happy and calm with a familiar pattern at bedtime.
- Routine is important for the whole family, not just your baby. As a parent, it’s important to have some time to yourself in the evenings to relax or catch up on things. However, don’t worry if the routine doesn’t work one day, and don’t be tempted to change anything… just start over the next day! This is the only way an established routine can be established, and it can take weeks or even months. Perseverance is key.
- Don’t expose your baby to anything overly lively or energetic that will stimulate or excite him just before bed.
- Set up your evening activities in the same order each night, when practical. Mealtime, bathtime, playtime, and bedtime is an order that works well for most families.
- Always try to keep things calm and relaxing before bed. Newborn babies need food, warmth, security, and comfort. It sounds obvious, but try to make sure your baby doesn’t need anything before trying to calm him down; otherwise, she will inevitably return to serving them very soon.
- Try to create a calming atmosphere in the room when you put the baby to bed. Lights should be dim (lamps or night lights are better than main lights) and background sounds should be calming and relaxing. A CD of lullabies or baby songs can be great for setting the perfect mood for bedtime. The songs should be slow tempo, preferably natural sounds, acoustic and low volume.
- You should try not to pick up your baby at the moment when he starts crying at night. It’s best to monitor them and see if they can settle on their own; after all, this is what you are eventually working on.
- However, contrary to some advice, if your baby really doesn’t want to settle in, it’s perfectly fine to pick him up. Soothe him for as long as necessary, but it’s important to resist the urge to play or entertain him. Try to calm down and reset.
- If the baby is still not calming down, don’t be tempted to bring your baby over to see everyone else in an attempt to comfort them. This is likely to make your baby overly excited when she sees what she’s missing by being in bed!
- Let your baby get used to being in his own crib. The more time a newborn baby spends in her crib environment, the safer and happier he’ll be in it, even when left alone to sleep.
- Regardless of the room setting before you tuck your baby in, playing a CD of baby sleep songs is one of the most effective ways to lull baby to sleep. There are several good quality CDs available that contain soothing baby songs. Natural acoustic sounds, such as twinkling harps and pianos, soothing vocals, and slow tempos, are great for creating a soporific effect on your baby.
- Be careful though, as there are many lullaby CDs available that are not suitable for bedtime; that music can have the opposite effect. Avoid any obviously electronic sounds and impact instruments like drums and other types of percussion. Complex arrangements are also not recommended, as they can overexcite your baby’s cognitive processes, creating activity in the brain. Bass sounds are excellent, as long as they are warm and natural, with a minimum of staccato. Try to find a CD of lullabies and baby songs that works for you; More and more families are turning to baby songs and lullabies for sleep as a cure for their babies’ sleep problems.
- As a professional music therapist, the baby lullaby CDs I have found most effective for the widest range of families are My Lullabies CD by Quality Children’s Music (QC Music). My Lullabies CD it uses 100% acoustic instruments, with twinkling harps, simple arrangements and a well-thought-out song list containing delightful lullabies and baby songs. The voice, of the singer Sara Mullet, is absolutely beautiful; she is very reminiscent of Julie Andrews and incredibly soothing and motherly. As an added benefit of hers, her lullabies and baby songs use a variety of Mozart Therapy techniques to provide learning benefits that help with your baby’s development.
- I have recommended My Lullabies CD many families with baby sleep problems, and a rather staggering percentage find CDs fully effective within a couple of weeks. However, simply playing the CD from time to time will not have the desired effect. When played regularly, specialized baby sleep songs have a cumulative effect; In order to enjoy the full benefits of these lullaby CDs, baby must get used to hearing the songs and lullabies as a staple part of her bedtime routine. Also, it should stay close enough to create a sense of security, without distracting the baby from sleep.
- As a final point, always remember that each baby is unique; There are no hard and fast rules. Whenever possible, follow her parental instincts and try to do what feels right to you. your baby!