Rock-a-Bye Baby (5 page)
Authors: Penny Warner
Make sure the room is conducive to sleep, with closed blinds, a comfy crib, cozy “loveys,” and a quiet atmosphere. This helps your baby know it's nap time.
Unless your baby is crying hysterically, don't respond every time she calls out. She may learn to go to sleep on her own.
Swaddling your babyâwrapping him snugly in a swaddling blanket or a swaddlerâmakes him feel more secure, which can calm down a fussy baby. Swaddling also keeps your baby warm and prevents him from startling awake.
Swaddling can be magical. By wrapping your baby up in a cozy blanket so she can't flail her arms and legs or startle herself, you'll make her feel more secure, as if she's all cuddled up in the womb. And swaddling isn't just great for encouraging sleep and relax-ationâit also comforts babies who are upset, scared, or overly tired. Here's a simple way to swaddle your baby. Just be sure to chat and reassure her as you do
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1
. Choose a lightweight cotton blanket with some give or stretch.
2
. Lay the blanket on the floor at an angle.
3
. Fold down the top corner about a quarter of the way.
4
. Place your baby on the blanket, head above the fold.
5
. Fold your baby's arms over her chestâdon't leave them straight at the sides. Remember, you want to wrap your baby's arms within the blanket so she can't flail them.
6
. Wrap one corner of the blanket over her arms and chest, and tuck it into the side of baby and blanket.
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. Bring the bottom corner up, allowing a little room for Baby's legs to move, and fold and tuck it into the top of the blanket.
8
. Wrap the other corner around baby, and tuck it around Baby's back.
Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks if you're breast-feeding. These drinks go through to your breast milk and not only affect your baby, but they may also cause restless sleep.
Some babies refuse to take a pacifier, but others seem to need one to sleep. Let your baby suck her thumb or a pacifier to help soothe her.
Make sure your baby's room is comfortableânot too cool, not too warmâwhen the door is open or closed.
Gently rouse your baby in the morning if he sleeps late. Your baby's body clock may be off, so waking him earlier may encourage better, not longer, sleep.
Buy a comfortable bed for your baby, with a soft but firm and supportive mattress pad. If you line the mattress with plastic to keep it dry, make sure you add an extra pad over the lining for comfort.
When your baby is awake during the day, spend some time playing together to help burn up energy, so she will sleep better at night. Try a game of peekaboo, bicycle legs (rotating baby's legs as if she's peddling a bicycle), or “I'm gonna get you!”
Perform the same ritual each time you put your baby down for a nap. For example, give your baby a bath, sing a song, rock your baby, and then put him down. Soon he will associate this pattern with sleepâand when you start the first steps, he will already be ready for what lies ahead.