Parenting can be a challenging job for anyone, it doesn’t matter if you just had your first baby, or you’ve had some experience before. There are a variety of challenges that new parents face and many times, they can be very exhausting. One of the age-old problems that parents throughout history have faced is sleepless babies. Most people don’t know this, but sleep is actually an acquired skill, and babies aren’t born with it. With time, your baby will learn to sleep through the night without waking up the whole house. However, that point usually doesn’t arrive soon, and you’ll be desperate to make sure your baby sleeps the entire night.

There are a few tips and tricks that you can apply so that your baby can get a full night’s sleep. Some of the advice is ancient wisdom passed down from one generation to another, and some of these tips are backed by science. So without further delay, let’s get to it and find out how you and your baby can get some restful sleep without having to wake up in between.

1. Wean Off the Night Feedings

This is a tip that most mothers don’t like to hear, they feel like their baby will sleep hungry if they don’t feed them every time they wake up. However, it’s something that you have to do no matter what. Babies usually establish a connection between waking up and being fed, which can lead to many sleepless nights. However, you should consult your doctor if you should start weaning your baby off gradually and proceed if they give you a thumbs up. This will also help reduce the number of times your baby has to wake up to pee. This is so because babies have a rather small bladder, and they’ll need to relieve themselves more often if you continuously keep feeding them. If their stomachs are empty, then they’ll be less likely to wake up to pee.

2. Establish a Schedule

A schedule is one of those things that most of us associate with adults. However, human babies are very adaptable and trainable. If you establish and keep up a wrong schedule, then they’ll get used to it. Babies don’t know the difference between day and night, so it’s completely up to you to set their bedtime. If you allow your baby to sleep right before bedtime, then you can rest assured that they’ll be waking up in the middle of the night due to being well-rested. 

3. Make Them Comfortable

Babies are completely new to this world, and even the slightest things that most adults would brush off can end up distressing them. You need to make sure that your baby is comfortable at all times or else they’ll wake up due to discomfort. The most common factors that cause discomfort to babies are cold temperature, rashes, too hot of a temperature, tight-fitting clothes, moisture, and much more. This is the reason why babies have been swaddled since medieval times, and knowing how to swaddle a baby is an important skill for every parent to learn. The babies are used to the warmth, comfort, and snugness of their mother’s womb, and coming out of it makes them very uncomfortable. This is why techniques like swaddling can make them feel safe and secure again, which will lead to better sleep throughout the night.

4. Be Patient

Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs on the planet since there are no breaks, no excuses, no recklessness, and no scope for error. This can lead to mental exhaustion for the parents and, believe it or not, all parents get exhausted and fed up at some point in time. However, this is just a part of parenting, and it shouldn’t make you lose patience, after all, it’s your own baby, and they rely on you for everything. Babies are highly sensitive to the emotions of their parents, and your distress can cause them to get agitated as well. So just be patient and calm when they wake up in the middle of the night because you can only help them sleep better if you don’t lose your composure.

 

These are some of the tips that will help you in your parenting journey by making sure that your baby stays asleep throughout the night. If your baby isn’t able to sleep, then it can take a toll on you, both physically and mentally. However, if you can implement these pieces of advice into your life, then you’ll start seeing positive results that will help you and your baby get a good night’s sleep.

published on Holr Magazine