Every mum knows one thing: length doesn’t matter, not when it comes to babies. Put them down for a sleep at 6 p.m. and they’ll still wake up kicking and screaming. And, you and your significant other don’t get the seven hours of rest you’ve been longing for ever since becoming a parent.
Getting kids to sleep through the night is about improving their quality of rest, nit just bumping up the duration. If they’re already uncomfortable, they will be distressed for longer and that will exacerbate the problem.
Below are four tips to help you, your partner and your baby have a quality night’s sleep.
Don’t Make A Noise
They are finally down but you can’t resist a sneak peek at them while they sleep. Or, maybe they look uncomfortable so you re-adjust them. Inevitably, the movement wakes them up and you’re back to square one. If possible, it’s better to make little to no noise whatsoever. To do this, use monitors instead of opening and shutting the door constantly. Another option is to use luxury nursery furniture. Sometimes, things need rearranging which is why you need silent hinges and runners. There is no point taking a risk if they are a light sleeper.
Avoid Strenuous Activities
Conventional wisdom dictates these types of activities will tire them out and make them sleepy. Although this can happen, what usually occurs in the beginning is an adrenaline spike. Now, your baby is all hopped up and isn’t going to fall to sleep for another hour or more. By all means, try and tire them out yet do it earlier in the day. Near their bedtime, everything should be chilled out and relaxing to get them into a bedtime routine. Classic examples are taking a bath or putting on pyjamas and reading a story.
Make It Relaxing
Kids won’t go to sleep if they aren’t in the right settings. After all, they’re light sleepers and always want to get involved in the action. Therefore, their bedroom may need reformatting and redecorating to make it more sleep-conducive. To begin with, removing the electronics is a wise move. They give off interference which the body picks up when asleep. Also, you may need to rethink the colours. Opt for something relaxing yet not bright, such as a deep purple. Finally, swap the blinds for curtains as they let in less light in the morning.
Stick To A Routine
Yes, even at weekends. For babies, there is no distinction between school nights and non-school nights. So, they don’t need to stay up well into the night at the weekends. Sure, you may get a lie in the day after, but you can be certain they won’t as their body clock is like a German train schedule. All it means is that they get less sleep and are more tired. Plus, they have to adjust mid-week when the routine goes back to normal.
Remember that a sleep schedule is a parent’s secret weapon.
~A~
* Collaborative Post
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