If you’re a first time parent, those first few months with your new baby can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. The new experience of caring for a newborn, coupled with sleep deprivation, can leave you feeling completely and utterly exhausted.
But don’t worry, you’re not alone, it’s completely normal to feel like this. You’ll find most new parents are up all night with their new baby, trying to figure out the secret formula for getting their babies to sleep.
Unfortunately, there is no secret formula for all babies. Every newborn is different and what works for one, may not work for another. If you’re baffled by your baby’s sleep routine (or lack thereof), here are a few tips from the Grace Private team that may help your little one (and you) get the shut eye they need.
It’s important to introduce your little one to a regular, calming bedtime routine as soon as possible. You can try bathing, singing, cuddling, reading or playing soft music to your little one to help them identify when it’s time to go to sleep.
If you look up tips for helping new babies to go to sleep, this tip will be one that pops up a lot. Babies can be fussy if they are overtired and find it more difficult to fall asleep. Putting them to bed just slightly drowsy will help them associate bedtime with falling asleep.
It doesn’t have to be whisper quiet for a baby to fall asleep. In fact, some say that newborns sleep better when they can hear some kind of repetitive sound such as a fan or white noise.
In fact, cancelling out all noise altogether during your baby’s bedtime could make them more susceptible to waking up from everyday noises and make it more difficult for them to stay asleep.
No, we’re not talking about closing the window! Before you put your baby to sleep it can be helpful to ensure you get all their wind out by burping your baby after they have a feed.
Dream feeding is when you feed your baby immediately before they are due to go to sleep, or even when they have fallen asleep. The principle of dream feeding is to ensure your newborn has a full tummy to help them sleep for a longer period of time.
As you endlessly watch your new bundle of joy, you should also be watching for sleep cues.
Watching your baby for their unique and individual sleep cues can help you understand when they are ready to fall asleep and give you inside knowledge on how they act when they are tired.
It could be balling their hands into a fist, becoming increasingly fussy or rubbing their eyes. Every baby is different, but you’ll come to know their individual cues.
Just like adults, every baby is different and has their own sleep routines. Don’t be too hard on them (or yourself) if they don’t sleep in a particular way. Having some flexibility and adjusting routines to suit their individual needs can help you stress less and not feel so much pressure when it comes to putting your baby to sleep.
However these next few months roll by, don’t be too hard on yourself. Your baby will go through so many different stages, constantly keeping you on your toes. Just be sure to trust your instincts and know that you’re doing the best you can.
If you feel like the emotions you are feeling are more serious than the everyday challenges of sleep deprivation and becoming a new parent, it might help to speak with someone. At Grace Private, we are here for new parents and our experienced midwives can help with advice.
Book an appointment online or call Grace Private on (07) 5594 7632.
