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Birth to 1: Baby Sleep TricksAuthor: Pitman, TeresaPublication
info: Today's Parent 22.7 (Aug 2005): 148.ProQuest document
link
Abstract Abstract): I'd nurse him, and he'd fall asleep at the
breast. Then I'd try to shift him to the crib, and he'dwake up
immediately - often before his little body even touched the
mattress.
Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution, says
middle-of-the-night quiet is important: "When your
baby wakes in the night, don't talk or play. Say 'shhh' or
'night, night' in a quiet, calm voice and move slowly.
Keep the room dark too. This will help your baby stay in a
sleepy mode."
Timing counts. Pantley suggests creating a sleep-friendly
"twilight zone." "Darkness causes an increase in the
release of melatonin, the body's natural sleep hormone," she
says. "You can help your baby feel sleepy by
dimming the lights in your home for an hour before bedtime."
Full text: By the time my first baby was a month old, I was
exhausted, worried about doing something wrong,and completely
confused by all the conflicting advice I was getting.
I'd nurse him, and he'd fall asleep at the breast. Then I'd try
to shift him to the crib, and he'd wake up
immediately - often before his little body even touched the
mattress.
Put him in the crib while he's still awake but sleepy, someone
advised me. But I never could figure that one out.
If he was getting sleepy as he nursed and I took him off the
breast, he'd start to cry frantically.
Four babies later, I'd learned a few tricks - and that what
works beautifully with one baby may not work at all
with another. With that in mind, here are some tips from parents
who've been there and have the dark circles
under their eyes to prove it:
Let your baby's sense of touch help. Put a receiving blanket
into the dryer so it's nice and warm, then use it to
wrap your baby in before putting him in the crib. (You can also
try warming the crib mattress and sheets, before
laying your baby down, with a heating pad set at a moderate
temperature, or a hot water bottle, so there's no
sudden change in temperature.)
For the early months, many infants like to be wrapped snugly.
Some startle themselves awake, flinging their
limbs out and crying. Swaddling these babies may help them sleep
longer. Just make sure your baby isn't
overheated - the back of her neck should not be hot and
damp.
If you lay your baby down asleep, try gently patting her tummy
(remember that babies should always be put to
sleep on their backs). Gradually make your touch lighter and
softer until you can remove your hand and baby
stays asleep.
Remember other senses too. Tuck mom's bathrobe around the
mattress and use it as a sheet. It will have your
smell and your baby will be comforted.
Try letting your baby listen to classical music as he falls
asleep - it can be an effective distraction from the
normal household sounds. Other parents have used a fan or a
radio set at low volume for the same effect.
There are even musical toys that attach to the side of the crib,
but that you can control from outside the room.
Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution, says
middle-of-the-night quiet is important: "When your
baby wakes in the night, don't talk or play. Say 'shhh' or
'night, night' in a quiet, calm voice and move slowly.
Keep the room dark too. This will help your baby stay in a
sleepy mode."
Timing counts. Pantley suggests creating a sleep-friendly
"twilight zone." "Darkness causes an increase in therelease of
melatonin, the body's natural sleep hormone," she says. "You can
help your baby feel sleepy by
dimming the lights in your home for an hour before bedtime."
She adds that it helps to get familiar with your baby's sleepy
signals -fussing, yawning - and put her down to
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8/14/2019 Birth to 1- Baby Sleep Tricks.pdf
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sleep as soon as she seems tired.
If you wait about 20 minutes after your baby falls asleep in
your arms, she'll go into a deeper level of sleep and
can be more easily moved without waking. You'll know she's there
when her arms and legs become floppy.
Move it. There's a reason why rocking cradles and chairs were
invented - a little movement often helps babies
fall asleep.
Take your baby for a walk in a soft carrier and he'll probably
drift off to sleep. (He can nap in the carrier, or you
can transfer him once he's soundly sleeping.) Other parents have
used strollers that can adjust so baby lies flat
- or you can even push the stroller up and down your hallway if
need be.
Keep baby close. Night wakings are always easier if you don't
have to trudge down the hallway to soothe your
baby, and baby will fall back to sleep more easily if he hasn't
had to rouse himself to full-blown loud crying.
One more tip: Bev O'Reilly, whose son is now a toddler, suggests
parents think carefully about their sleep tricks.
"I found that stroking his face with my hair helped him fall
asleep," she says. "I discovered it accidentally one
day and then just kept doing it. But now when he feels upset, he
wants to tug at my hair or stroke it, and that
can drive me crazy!" So make sure the sleep trick you use for
your little one is a treat for you both!
Watch step-by-step videos on swaddling, holding, breastfeeding
and more at Todaysparent.com/videos.
SidebarTake your baby for a walk in a carrier and he'll probably
drift off to sleep.
Subject: Babies; Parents & parenting; Sleep;Classification:
9172: Canada
Publication title: Today's Parent
Volume: 22
Issue: 7
Pages: 148Number of pages: 1
Publication year: 2005
Publication date:Aug 2005
Year: 2005
Section: STEpS & STAGES
Publisher: Rogers Publishing Limited
Place of publication: TorontoCountry of publication: Canada
Publication subject: Children And Youth - About
ISSN: 08239258
Source type: Magazines
Language of publication: English
Document type: General Information, Commentary, General
information
Accession number: CBCATDPR6239921ProQuest document ID:
232905275
07 October 2013 Page 2 of 3 ProQuest
