Prue DeAraugo
RyanaTips to get your Newborn to Sleep through the Night
March 9th 2008 02:40
Samantha started to sleep through the night once she was the equivalent age of a six week old. Some of my friends had babies that were still waking in the night (sometimes twice) right up to 18 months. I remember the sleep deprivation of those first few weeks. I could not think straight. My heart goes out to mothers whose babies are still waking up in the night, as sleep deprivation is the worst form of torture you know! I thought that I would share some of my tips that helped Samantha sleep through.
1. Keep the lights low – Dim the lights to the minimum you need to see before you go to bed at night so that neither you nor your baby gets a shock when the room is suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree. If you do not have dimmers, try red cellophane over your lights.
2. Make the night feeds as boring as possible – Simply get the baby up, feed them, and put them back to bed. If you are bottle feeding get the formula and water ready and put it on your bedside table so it is ready mix when bub wakes. Don’t talk to your baby or make eye contact with them.
3. Do not change their nappy -unless they have done a number two. (Make sure you put a good barrier cream on).
4. Put them in their own room – we found that Samantha slept through better in her own room. You do not disturb them and the constant snuffling sounds newborns make while sleeping will not disturb you.
5. Teach them the difference between day and night – I had a bassinet on wheels that I used to take from room to room with me during the day. I used to watch TV do the ironing or the vacuuming, even have visitors over and she would sleep through everything. She knew when she woke up and it was light she got smiles talking and noise. At night, she would be in her room, no toys and no noise. If you do not have a bassinet with wheels then have the blinds open in bubs room, during the day even leave the door open. From the time they get home from hospital, they will be used to sleeping in a noisy environment – great if you are going to a restaurant they will sleep in the pram!
1. Keep the lights low – Dim the lights to the minimum you need to see before you go to bed at night so that neither you nor your baby gets a shock when the room is suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree. If you do not have dimmers, try red cellophane over your lights.
2. Make the night feeds as boring as possible – Simply get the baby up, feed them, and put them back to bed. If you are bottle feeding get the formula and water ready and put it on your bedside table so it is ready mix when bub wakes. Don’t talk to your baby or make eye contact with them.
3. Do not change their nappy -unless they have done a number two. (Make sure you put a good barrier cream on).
4. Put them in their own room – we found that Samantha slept through better in her own room. You do not disturb them and the constant snuffling sounds newborns make while sleeping will not disturb you.
5. Teach them the difference between day and night – I had a bassinet on wheels that I used to take from room to room with me during the day. I used to watch TV do the ironing or the vacuuming, even have visitors over and she would sleep through everything. She knew when she woke up and it was light she got smiles talking and noise. At night, she would be in her room, no toys and no noise. If you do not have a bassinet with wheels then have the blinds open in bubs room, during the day even leave the door open. From the time they get home from hospital, they will be used to sleeping in a noisy environment – great if you are going to a restaurant they will sleep in the pram!
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