Having trouble getting your newborn to sleep? The first thing to remember is, you’re not alone. We’ve all been there and we’re here to help. Read on for our top five tips to help settle your little one and get the whole family’s sleep back on track.
How to get baby to sleep?
It’s one of the most frequently asked questions on the internet when it comes to baby sleep. The best thing you can do is implement a routine early on. Babies love routine and the earlier you start to get them into a sleep routine, the better. Giving them a bath, reading a bed night story, and swaddling them into their crib, are all things that can help to relax them and help induce sleep. It’s important to put them to sleep on their backs, and not keep anything else in the crib, including blankets.
How much should my baby sleep?
Newborns are going to sleep for majority of their time, but we should also remember they’re going to wake frequently too. During the first months, your baby will sleep in cycles of only 50-60 minutes, before needing a feed, or some help settling into the next sleep cycle. When your little one gets to 3 months though, their sleep habits will likely evolve and they should start sleeping a little more throughout the night. If you’re lucky, their sleep cycle may even increase to four-five hours at a time.
5 Baby Sleep Essentials
Sleep is seriously important for the entire family. Your baby needs it so they can grow and develop, and you need it for your own health. It’s a tiring time as you’re learning new information and how to raise a child quickly, so there’s really never been a more important time to make sure you’re getting good sleep too. If your little one is struggling with their sleep, here’s five essentials to consider investing in.
- SNOO Smart Sleeper Bassinet
It’s the world’s most awarded (and beloved) baby bed. Created by Dr. Harvey Karp (The 5 S’s, Happiest Baby on the Block), SNOO helps babies settle and sleep by imitating the calming sensations of the womb, combining gentle rocking with soothing white noise and snug, safe swaddling. SNOO automatically responds to your baby’s needs when it detects fussing or crying, by increasing motion and sound, often calming crying in under a minute.
After 75 million hours of logged sleep in the SNOO, there hasn’t been a single reported injury or death, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. “SNOO is not a baby bed, it’s a caregiver, it’s your older sister who moved in and rocks the baby,” Karp says. “The bed responds and puts the baby to sleep.” SNOO is a big cost outlay, but if you value sleep, this is the way to go. Parents around the world use SNOO like a night nurse or baby whisperer, acting like an extra pair of hands throughout the day and night. It’s now exclusively at the memo in Australia, and you can find it here.
- Baby Sleep Suit
Swaddling is the way to go when it comes to newborns. But hands up if anyone else finds it super difficult? Enter baby sleep suits from Love to Dream and Ergo Pouch. Not only do they keep your baby at a safe sleeping temperature with their TOG-ratings, they’re also super easy to use. For hands up sleepers, go for the Love to Dream Stage 1 sleep bag. It helps to contain startle reflex while keeping your baby snug and securely swaddled throughout the year without the need for complicated wrapping. If your bub turns out to be a hands down sleeper, then go for ErgoPouch Cocoon Swaddle.
- White noise machine
Did you know white noise can help settle your baby? It actually reminds them of being in the womb, so can be a great sleep aid to implement in your quest for more sleep. We like the Hushh Continuous White Noise Machine as it’s also portable so you can take it with you anywhere and everywhere that baby needs to get their zzz’s.
- Blackout blinds
Again, going back to the womb, your newborn is used to being in darkness and likely will sleep better when it’s pitch black. That’s where blackout blinds can really help to emulate the same comfortable environment they’re used to. Try these ones from EasyBlinds that allow you to cut out the perfect size and are also portable so you can take them to the grandparents or on holiday with you!
- Comforter
Help your little one learn to self-soothe from a young age with a comforter toy. The idea is to allow your child to more easily ‘transition’ from you to become independent. This separation is made easier by giving your child a transitional object that they can eventually attach to and rely on when you are not around such as when they are sleeping. It’s best to use this during feeding time to help relax them, as SIDS advice is to not put any soft toys in the crib until your little one is at least 7 months old. If you’re looking for adorable comforters, discover some of our favourites here.
Remember to take it one step at a time. Some days are better sleep days than others, but with a little patience and some assistance from these snooze aids, good sleep days are ahead.
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