Getting your baby to Sleep - Parents Precinct

The last few nights in Sydney have been freezing cold to say the least. It makes you just want to snuggle in under a pile of blankets and go to sleep.

During the night, you can put more layers on and take them off depending on how you feel, but how about your baby? Unfortunately, it is hard to know how cold your baby is feeling. Last year when I first brought Samantha home from hospital, I used to have the heater on in every room of the house (I know it is terrible for the environment).

Since then, I have learned that it is not good for a baby, or adults for that matter, to sleep in an overly warm room. In fact, the ideal room temperature for sleeping is between 16-20 degrees, with 18 degrees considered perfect by health experts.

At around 18 degrees, all a baby needs to keep warm are a sheet and two blankets (as long as they have a warm stretch and grow on). Beware to if you are still swaddling your baby for sleep as this counts as extra layers and puts your baby at higher risk of overheating.

At night, all bedroom heaters should be turned off. It is much easier to keep baby at the correct temperature with layers that you can add or remove as necessary. Over heating puts your baby at a higher risk of SIDs. It is actually better for your baby to be cool than too hot.

If your baby kicks their blankets off, or wriggles out from under them, and then wakes you to come and cover them up again, try a baby sleeping bag. The bags come with a tog rating, the higher the tog the warmer the bag. If you buy one for 16 – 20 degrees, you know your baby will be warm enough.

This means a better night’s sleep for you and your baby and I certainly will not be complaining about that!

Vote

Shared on

Parents Precinct

Sara Dobson Friends

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Sara Dobson - Category: Getting your baby to Sleep

Email this Post to a Friend

Calming your baby

April 20th 2008 11:34

I just thought I would write a very quick post to share something about settling Samantha that may work if you having problems settling your baby.
Samantha was teething tonight and there was a performance at bedtime. I gave her bonjela a cold teething ring everything but she had got to the stage where she was so wound up she couldn't calm down. After sitting holding her in a dark room for 20 minutes, she was still crying so I did what I always do as a last resort and that is sing the one and only lullaby I know. Hush Little Baby. As soon as I start singing she goes quiet by the time I have finished her heavy eyelids have almost closed. So I continue humming until she is back in her cot and not another peep has been heard since. Being self-conscious because I am such a terrible singer this has always been a last resort. I thought it was a coincidence that she stopped crying when I sang but now I am sure its she actually like my singing (everyone else runs for cover!) Maybe from now on it should be a first resort!
So if you have not tried it yet give it a go. Also if anybody knows any other lullabies I would love to hear them!

Vote

Comments (3)

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Sara Dobson - Category: Getting your baby to Sleep

Email this Post to a Friend

Tips 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!

Vote

Add Comments

[ Link ]

Posted By: Sara Dobson - Category: Getting your baby to Sleep

Email this Post to a Friend

[ Parents Precinct Home ] [ Create A New Post ]