Consistency and Predictability are the Name of the Baby Sleep Game
December 10, 2008 by admin
Filed under Transitioning Techniques For Baby Sleep
When it comes to both bedtime and naptime for your baby, it is important that you observe the principles of consistency and predictability. This is one of the ways that babies learn.
Consistent Naptime
Babies who have nap routines in the daytime that are consistent are much more likely to sleep for longer periods at a time during the night. To get your baby into a predictable naptime routine, you choose the best times for naps, according to when you both need some rest. Very young babies need two naps a day. You might find that naptime is required around 10am and 3pm for example.
To get your baby into a nap schedule, for a period of a week to two weeks lie down on the bed with your baby at the times you have designated for naps. Encourage quiet and relaxation. This gives you both the time to rest and it is also a bonding experience between mother and child.
Consistent Bedtime
If you get your baby into a consistent bedtime routine this will be something he comes to get used to over time and it will guarantee that he will likely go to sleep easier and sleep better throughout the night. Incorporate bedtime with familiar and pleasant rituals that set the stage for your baby to sleep well. For example, a warm bath before bedtime is a way to soothe a baby. If your baby has had a bath earlier in the day then simply wiping his face and hands with a warm washcloth can calm him.
Other activities that are equally advisable include quiet activities such as rocking your baby, singing lullabies to him, talking to him gently, cradling him and nursing him. What you are trying to do is to create a pleasant environment in which a baby learns that these activities then automatically lead to sleep time.
Keep in mind that a baby’s brain is constantly tapping into new things and is always learning. The power of association is strong in babies. If you can teach your baby that certain activities precede sleep, even the simple act of changing your baby into a sleeper, then you are well on your way to encouraging good sleep habits that should carry a baby through into his toddler years.