10 baby care tips to get your little one sleeping longer

Help your little angel sleep more regularly and soundly with these loving baby care tips.

Does your baby sleep soundly?

"Sleep in heavenly peace” is a line from a popular Christmas song. It’s also what countless moms wish for their babies come snooze time. Well-rested babies, after all, mean healthier and happier infants and mommies as well.

Getting an infant to sleep soundly can be a challenge. But with moms heeding these practical baby care tips, slumber time will hopefully be a lot more serene for your tiny tots.

Have a consistent routine, especially at night

Don't wait for your baby to be tired and cranky before preparing for bed. Give your baby a warm bath, dress him in pajamas, and feed and burp him at roughly the same hour every night.

Make sure to make downtime part of your routine - no more playing, crawling, and other stimulating activities after your bedtime rituals.

Set the mood for sleep

Dim the lights and keep sounds muted. According to pediatric sleep disorders expert Dr. Deborah Lin-Dyken of the University of Iowa Health Care, young babies are quite accustomed to a dark environment due to their stay in the womb. Low lighting also won’t hurt baby’s eyes or keep him from getting a good night’s sleep.

Setting the mood for sleep also means making sure that the room is cool and sufficiently ventilated. Keeping your voice hushed and low when speaking to your baby or your husband is also a must.

Make sure baby is comfortable and safe

Ives Lim-Esteban, safe sleep advocate and president of Halo Philippines, recommends sleepwear that is well-fitting, non-toxic, and gentle on baby’s skin.

She also advises parents to clear the baby’s bed of loose blankets, bumpers and stuffed toys as these are sleep hazards that increase the odds of choking and suffocation.

Image source: Delaware Thrives

Establish helpful cues for different activities

Teacher Suzette Yu-Kho, a Maestro Kindermusik educator and mother to two boys, suggests singing a unique song for baby’s different daytime and night time activities.

When the baby wakes up in the morning, for instance, mom can sing a hello song with the baby's name; this establishes name recognition. It also helps the baby distinguish between day and night as his evening lullaby differs from his morning melody.

Have a bedtime ritual like infant massage

Rituals help babies calm down and go to sleep easily. Reading a bedtime story and rocking your baby both promote sleep. Humming or singing a lullaby can do wonders too.

"You can do infant massage or intentional touch while singing to your baby. This helps regulate sleep patterns and promote better posture,” explains Teacher Suzette.

Learn to adapt to changes and developments

As your baby grows, his sleep pattern and preferences change. Naps during the day, for example, will become fewer and shorter. During bath time, your baby might want to splash around and linger in the tub too. Adjust your routine accordingly.

Also, be flexible when traveling or when coming from parties and other events that disrupt your baby’s normal sleep schedule. It’s okay to skip or shorten a part of your routine when this happens, as long as the baby gets the rest he needs.

Lay your baby on the bed before he dozes off

You can carry and cuddle your child at bedtime but make sure you put him in his cot when he is drowsy but awake.

Doing this consistently will teach the baby to sleep on his own, advises American pediatrician, author and educator Dr. Roy Benaroch in one of the articles in his blog, The Pediatric Insider.

Stay calm and be patient

"Babies pick up on their parents’ cues", says Dr. Benaroch, who is also one of the experts of WebMD. If mom or dad is agitated and stressed, then the baby will most likely be too. That’s why Dr. Benaroch tells parents to be mindful of their emotional state, especially during baby’s bedtime.

Don’t rush your child. Setting up a solid sleep schedule for an infant takes time and is best done slowly and gradually.

Good night and sleep tight!

Do you have other super sleep time baby care tips to share?

About the author: Regina Posadas

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Regina G. Posadas

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