Sleepy Baby

Sometimes at the end of a long day, nothing is sweeter than a sleeping baby.   We all know that getting a baby to sleep soundly at the end of the day can be a triumph, but it doesn't have to be filled with stress (and tears).  Each and every baby is different, so it is always best to do what is right for your family, but here are some tips we like to try is bedtime is a little rough.

1.  Try putting your baby to sleep when he/she is drowsy, but hasn't already fallen asleep.  It can be tough not to let your babe fall asleep while nursing or in your arms, but a baby tends to sleep better and fall asleep faster when they drift off on their own.

2.  Try to avoid eye contact when you put him/her down for bed.  Babies are easily stimulated and eye contact can encourage them to get out of their 'sleepy zone'.  If you do have to go into your nursery and sooth them try gazing at their belly instead of their face.

3.  Don't jump up every time you hear a noise on the baby monitor.  Of course it is important to make sure you baby is sleeping safely, but if you go in and check on your baby every time he/she makes a noise then you will disturb his/her sleep cycle.  

4.  Keep the bedtime routine sweet and simple.  Dragging bedtime along will only make it harder for your baby to fall asleep.  Too much stimulation may actually cause your baby to wake up, so keep it simple and get your baby into the crib when they are drowsy and quietly leave the room.

5.  Climate control can be a good friend when it comes to bedtime.  If a room is too hot or cold, your baby may have trouble falling asleep.  Giving your baby a nice warm bath before bed, and then putting them to sleep in a slightly cooler room will make the body temperature drop, causing him/her to get more drowsy.

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