We all have that one person in our lives that has a great influence on everything we do. That person for me was my Grandmother. Sweet and patient, she was my go-to person for advice whenever life threw me a curveball. When I became pregnant with Caili, I resorted to parenting books assuming my grandma’s advice would be outdated. But the solutions in the books don’t always work and I figured that out when Caili had trouble sleeping. Like an obedient child, I went to my grandmother with my problem. Her newborn baby sleeping tips not only ensured Caili got her rest but I didn’t have to spend sleepless nights anymore. Here are the 5 tips that really helped put my newborn daughter to sleep.
Pay attention and you’ll know!
When I told my grandmother about Caili’s sleeping problem, my grandmother told me it was not a big deal. As a new parent, that advice wasn’t exactly helpful but it all made sense when she explained it to me. At the end of the day, I was the only person who knew what was best for my little girl. But since I wasn’t exactly confident about my parenting skills, I relied on outside suggestions. Give your baby some time to adapt and in the meantime, observe and figure out what works best for your baby and yourself. There is nothing wrong with listening to others’ suggestions, but it’s important you trust your own instincts first.
No long naps
I have tested out all these tips and this one showed results in no time. I would let Caili sleep for hours during the day since I didn’t have the heart to wake her up. But long naps during the day will not only keep the baby up at night but it will also rob you of your sleep. Short naps during the day will help the baby sleep better at night and also makes time for more feeding during the day.
Swaddle
Swaddling my baby was something I would follow, but not regularly. But what my grandmother said about why swaddling babies makes them sleep better. When babies are in the womb, they are accustomed to being in a tight space. Swaddling them gives them the same feeling and helps them transition easily to their new life.
Warm up the crib
My biggest struggle with Caili was to get her in the crib after she’d fall asleep in my arms. After I spoke to my grandmother, I found out the problem might be the change in temperature. Keep a hot water bottle or hot water bag in her crib for a few minutes before transferring her to the crib. Remove the hot water bag/bottle just before you put the baby into the crib.
Don’t rush in every time they cry
This was one thing that I really struggled with. Every time I’d hear Caili cry, I’d just rush in and hold her. But this only disturbed her sleep schedule. Sometimes babies tend to toss around or cry when they are sleeping. If you really want to enforce a good sleeping schedule, give the baby some time to resettle by itself before letting your motherly instincts take over.
These tips really helped establish a good sleeping schedule for my newborn daughter. What are some newborn baby sleeping tips that helped your baby? Let us know in the comments below!
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