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The first two years of a baby’s life, and sometimes longer, become a real test for parents: sleepless nights, memorized lullabies and constant rocking. The child may fall asleep for half an hour or longer, only in his mother’s arms, or wake up after 40 minutes. Problems with a child’s sleep are generally the most common topics in parent chats, but there is a solution. The Russian brand YokoSun has collected 5 practical tips based on the experience of parents and specialists. They can help make your baby's sleep restful and deep.
1. Introduce a sleep ritual
Many experts insist that a child needs sleep rituals. With their help, the baby understands that it is time to rest, the psyche calms down, and melatonin production increases. Falling asleep becomes easier and does not require parents to rock for an hour and a half. But the key to success is repeating the same actions every day.
You can start preparing for bed one and a half to two hours in advance. First, create a calm environment: no active games, no loud sounds. About half an hour before bedtime, go to the bedroom with your baby and begin your “ritual.” This could be soft stroking, massage or reading a fairy tale.
By the way, sleep rituals can be useful for children of any age and even adults. The main thing to remember is that they only work when they are repeated daily.
2. Learn to fall asleep without your parents
It often happens that children cannot fall asleep without contact with a parent or wake up at night and then do not fall asleep on their own for a long time due to fear - the baby discovered that he is all alone in a dark room, what kind of sleep is there? But this problem can also be solved.
Many parents recommend putting a baby who is falling asleep, not sleeping, into a crib. This is how the baby gets used to falling asleep alone. If the child does wake up at night (not because of discomfort or hunger), he will most likely be able to fall asleep on his own again.
Try to gradually separate falling asleep from breastfeeding. This will require endurance and perseverance, but over time, the baby’s sleep will require less of your participation. Feed your baby before or during the ritual. At first the baby will protest, but after a few repetitions the baby will be able to sleep better.
3. Adapt to the regime
Children under three months require an average of about 14-17 hours of sleep per day, from four to 11 months - 12-15 hours, from one to two - 11-14 hours, and babies from three to five years - 10-13 hours. Children enter the day-night routine gradually and sleep in intervals for the first year of life, regardless of the time of day. Every few months, your sleep intervals increase, as does your waking time.
In order not to disturb these rhythms, it is important to competently build a routine. Active wakefulness should be replaced by calm games. Then - the sleep ritual and falling asleep alone. Monitor the baby's behavior - for example, if the child rubs his eyes and is capricious, it's time to start the ritual. If it's time to feed at night and the baby doesn't wake up, don't wake the baby.
This approach will make falling asleep and sleep itself a predictable and even manageable process. Gradually, you will be able to increase the time you sleep and wake up without causing discomfort to your child.
4. Sleep conditions require attention
The conditions in the room in which the child sleeps may be disturbed. For example, there is still a lot of light in it. For some children with restless sleep, complete darkness may help them sleep better. Try purchasing blackout curtains or even sealing the windows with regular food foil. The occurrence of unnecessary sounds should also be avoided.
The sleeping place should also be comfortable - the mattress is quite rigid, the fence is safe and reliable. Doctors do not recommend sleeping with your baby; it may be unsafe, especially if you are taking sleeping pills.
5. Take care of your health and comfort
Sometimes health problems can be the cause of frequent awakenings. Make sure your child is healthy by consulting a specialist.
A child can also wake up due to a simply overfilled diaper - accumulated moisture creates discomfort and can even lead to diaper rash. Therefore, it is important to choose high-quality overnight diapers, ones that will ensure dryness and protection from leaks. YokoSun Premium diapers provide up to 12 hours of restful sleep. Thanks to the Japanese absorbent, they are able to absorb even liquid stool and evenly distribute moisture inside without forming lumps.
Improving a child’s sleep is not an easy task, but it is definitely within the power of loving parents. And don’t forget to take care of yourself: a well-rested mother is a calm child. And if the problems do not go away, be sure to contact a specialist. Sweet dreams to your family.