Putting baby to sleep
There is a certain art to putting your baby to sleep, both for his comfort and for your peace of mind. Helping him get into a routine will also make bedtime more pleasurable for you both.
Putting your baby down to sleep
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The safest position in which to lay your baby down to sleep is on his back. He will not be more liable to choke in this position. As a result of research, doctors now believe that the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death) is reduced when the baby lies on his back.
When he is about four or five months, he will be able to roll over to find the most comfortable position, regardless of how you put him down. Put your baby down with his feet touching, or close to, the bottom of the basket or cot.
It's best not to use a cot bumper as it impedes air circulation and later on your baby may use it to try and climb out of the cot. Once your baby has fallen asleep don't change his position or he's bound to wake up. Similarly, don't keep on going in to the room to check that he's all right. However, there's nothing wrong with carrying your baby in a sling while he's asleep; he'll be soothed by your constant closeness.
There's no need to keep the house quiet when you put your baby to bed. In fact, it's good to encourage him to get used to going to sleep while all the household noises are going on.
Getting your young baby to sleep
Your newborn baby will undoubtedly fall asleep whenever he's tired, and in almost any situation, but there are a few precautions that you should take to guarantee this:
- Wrap your baby before he's put down, at least during the first month. He'll feel much more secure and contented with something firmly wrapped around him. Swaddle him in something that is not too heavy, however, and make sure his head is uncovered. Note that swaddling is instead of, not as well as, other bedding and don't let him get too hot.
- Darken your baby's room at night.
- In the winter leave a hot-water bottle in the bed for half an hour before he's put down. Don't forget to remove it before putting your baby to bed.
- Make sure that the room is warm enough (see Where your baby should sleep).
- Place your hand on your baby's back or on one of the limbs to soothe him; rock your baby slightly.
- Use a musical mobile.
Getting your older baby to sleep
By the time that your baby's about nine months old he'll be able to keep himself awake, even when he's actually quite sleepy. As a result he can become over-tired and so tense that sleep is impossible. The main reason why he does this is attachment to you; you provide love, security and excitement and he doesn't want to lose these, even for a moment.
Another reason, which is also linked to the desire for security, is that he doesn't like routines being changed. For example, if you've been on holiday or if your baby has been moved to another room, he may become disturbed by the change. Whatever the cause, this period of clinginess and insecurity will be brief, so treat it as calmly and sensibly as possible and remember, yours isn't the only child in the world who refuses to go to sleep.
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Posted 03.11.2010
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