Parenting is hard. Fact.
Gone are the days when all you had to think about was you. Now, you face countless nights of broken sleep and often wander around in vomit/dribble/poo stained clothes. Rest is hard to come by, and when you get down to it, improving your baby’s quality of sleep is all part of the issue.
Ready to take back some time for yourself and give your baby all the help they need for a good night’s sleep? Following these simple steps may be the key to your success!
-
Embrace a routine
Children love routine. It’s almost like it’s wired into them from the moment they are born! From brushing their teeth before bed to getting dressed for school, having a framework in place will set your babe up for life!
What better way to start building these foundations into your baby’s every day than starting right now. Anything from having a rough nap time schedule as well as a set bedtime will help your little one’s circadian rhythm. This means your baby will be able to tell when it’s daytime for being awake, and nighttime for you’ve guessed it, being asleep!
Whatever your baby’s routine looks like, it needs to fit in with your way of life too. So if that looks like all your children bathing together or setting alarms, you need to stick to it!
-
Bathtime, fun time
Hear me out - yes bathtime is meant to be a fun, enjoyable experience full of all the sensory wonders that babies love, but it’s also an entryway to sleep.
While your baby is delighting over bubbles, and feeling like they are momentarily back in the warm womb, pure science takes over. Once your babe is out of the bath and all snuggly in their towel, their body temperature starts to cool. When this happens, your baby is more likely to fall asleep more easily as their body warms back up as they lie tucked up in their cot.
Due to delicate, sensitive skin, your baby may not be able to have a bath every night. But when they can, you will notice that their quality of sleep is better as a result! Win, win.
-
Ambient and calm room
Whether your baby is still in your bedroom or on their own, keeping their sleeping space as calm and ambient as possible will help to improve your baby’s sleep.
Here are a few things to consider:
-
Lighting: night needs to appear as night, and day as day, so keep to soft/minimal lighting where possible
-
Decor: when your baby is expected to sleep in chaos, you can pretty much guarantee their sleep will follow suit! So keep decor simple. Stay away from bright and loud colours, and think about calm and soothing ones instead!
-
Temperature: if your babe is too hot or too cold, their sleep will be impacted. So think about windows and radiators when placing their cot
-
Familiarity
Babies like to feel safe, and who can blame them after spending nine months in the womb! There they have had everything they could possibly want without even having to think about it. Now they are out in the big, bright and loud world.
Creating familiar, comfortable spaces will help your baby sleep better. Whether that’s having a favourite cuddly toy nearby or a muslin that smells like Mum, familiarity will help improve your little one’s sleep.
When sleep is becoming more of an issue, it may be worth considering a kids weighted blanket. Designed to help you feel more grounded, a weighted blanket is by nature like a warm hug. Popular amongst adults and children alike, these blankets aren’t worth ignoring. For your baby, it might just be the groundbreaking item they need to feel safe, secure and comforted as they sleep.
-
Storytime and songs
Your voice is the most recognisable sound in your baby’s world. From the moment they heard you in the womb to being held in your arms, your voice has been present from the start. Now think about how comforting that sound is to your baby as they drift off to sleep.
Stories are an excellent tool for parents. Not only do they help your little one to understand the world better, but they help develop essential language and communication skills. As you tell your little one about other worlds, adventures and fairy tales, you are stimulating their imagination too.
When stories aren’t cutting it, there’s the power of song to consider! Full of soothing melodies and rhythmic sounds, singing to your baby may be the ticket to improving their quality of sleep.
Familiar and comforting, your voice is one of your greatest assets as a parent. Prepare to be amazed!
Quality of sleep is a hot topic amongst parents. From the classic “mombie” to the restless babe, improving your baby’s sleep is not as difficult as it may seem. Whether you embrace a rigid routine or invest in bathtime, your bedtime is about to look very different!
