The most common problem every new parent faces once they bring home their little bundle of joy is: How do you get a baby to sleep? Yes! Unfortunately, little bundles of joy and endless cuteness can turn your peaceful nights into terrifying nightmares.
Although new parents may feel that this cycle of confusion will never end, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Not many pregnant women anticipate the ritual of sleepless nights before giving birth to their babies.
The whole ordeal of giving birth, whether naturally or by C-section, can be quite traumatic on its own. So once the exhausted mother comes home from the hospital with her newborn, the last thing she wants is to calm a constantly crying baby. All she wants is to rest.
White noise
Imagine a life where all you do is sleep, wake up a bit, wave your arms and kick a bit, and then sleep some more. There are no worries in the air, the environment is safe and secure, and all you do is repeat the same things.
Once you are removed from that peaceful environment (your mom’s belly), of course, you will cry at how drastically your life has changed. With bright lights, lots of noise, lots of new faces, and the thought of drinking, sleeping and pooping can be overwhelming.
To soothe babies and get more sleep at night, all parents should invest in white noise. This noise mimics the sounds that the baby hears when he is inside his mother’s womb. This can help relax the baby by mimicking the sound of her “safe place” and allowing her to sleep soundly.
A relaxing bath can do the trick
How to make a baby sleep when he is super tired from playing all day? To relax muscles, all babies need a warm, relaxing bath at the end of the day. It helps to relax the muscles and calm them down.
Be sure to massage your baby once a day. Babies who are crawling or starting to move around a bit need massage to help them sleep better. If you combine massage followed by a warm bubble bath, your baby will surely fall asleep faster.
Your baby’s belly must be full
If your baby is past the newborn stage and is starting to nibble on some purees or solids, chances are he’ll be a sound sleeper at night. How to make a baby sleep if his belly is not full?
If the baby does not eat or drink enough before bedtime, he will continually wake up asking for more food. Make sure your little one goes to sleep with a full stomach. So if any of your friends ever ask you how you get a baby to sleep, share these helpful tips with them.