Helping Your Baby Sleep

It is no wonder sleep deprivation is used for torture – surviving on little or no sleep is one of the greatest challenges for new parents. But it is also a challenge for babies, who need their sleep to develop, grow and refresh.

Don’t babies just sleep when they are tired?

This is a common assumption by new parents (and non-parents, annoyingly). But the answer is, not always! Many babies aren’t born with an innate knowledge of how to send themselves off to sleep. In this way they are no different from adults! How many times have you lain awake at night with your mind racing, unable to drop off even though you are shattered? If you were a baby you might cry or scream or whine until finally you fell asleep.

Of course, your baby will fall asleep eventually – when she is completely exhausted. But there is a simple method for avoiding allowing your baby to get to this stage. And that is to watch out for their sleepy signs – and then take action!

What are sleepy signs?

Sleepy signs are very simply the signs your baby gives you when she is getting tired. These signs are different in every baby, but most often include: rubbing the face; having pink eyebrows; sucking the thumb, fingers or wrists; looking away and not making eye-contact. Many babies will become very active just before they need sleep – don’t assume your baby will go into a relaxed state when she is tired.

You (and your partner, of course) will be the only people who know your baby’s sleepy signs, so ignore all well-meaning advice from grandparents or others, and go with your instincts. The best way to get to know the signs is to watch and learn. They are there, and they will eventually start to form a pattern. In the very early days, this pattern could be something like: wake in the morning, cry for food, appear sleepy (but this may only be satiation after feeding), alert time followed by whining and crying with pink eyebrows. Later this pattern will be repeated with minor changes. Soon you will be one step ahead of your little treasure. Now it is time to take action!

What to do when you see the signs

When you notice, and eventually pre-empt, your baby’s sleepy signs, you will be able to make it easier for her to go to sleep without too much fuss. Take her to her room, or a quiet part of the house so she can drop off easily. Change her nappy and talk to her quietly. Make sure she is warm and comfortable, then leave her alone to have her nap.

The secret is to watch out for that all important window between your baby being a little tired, and being too tired to drop off easily. In very tiny babies, this window can be so short it is impossible to spot. Don’t worry, by the time your baby is six weeks old it will be so much easier.

Now for the best kept secret of all. Most babies, up until the age of about six months, will begin to get tired when they have been awake for about two hours. All you need to do is keep an eye on the clock and you will always be one step ahead.

More Baby Sleep

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AV Baby content is for information only. If you are at all worried about your baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.

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