Share on Facebook | Follow on Instagram:
As a new parent, you really hate the idea of making a mistake when it comes to raising and caring for your child. Mistakes are for people who didn’t prepare or study as much as we did in anticipation of our new baby, right? Unfortunately, even the most prepared can be susceptible to mistakes, but the good news is that we can help with that! In today’s blog, we’re going to cover some of the most common nighttime mistakes with newborns and how to fix them.
Mistake #1: Keeping Baby Awake Too Long Before Bedtime
It is so easy to forget that a baby’s brain isn’t yet wired and functioning like a grownup’s. We see the world through our eyes in the moment, so of course when we are tired and up for long hours, it is typically very easy for us to fall asleep. Following that logic, then it must be the same for our little bundles of joy. The thing is, that they are actually still figuring out this whole falling to sleep thing and being tired thing in the first place.
If you keep your baby up too long in the evening in the hopes that they will be extra tired and fall asleep faster and for longer, then you have another thing coming! If your baby stays awake too long between sleep sessions, then they can actually get into a state of overtiredness which will make them harder to put down and more irritable to boot.
-
- Instead of relying on the clock to determine when to put your baby down for the night, look for the subtle cues that they are getting sleepy. As a newborn, they can need to go to sleep again as soon as 45 minutes to 90 minutes after their last nap! If they start rubbing their eyes, pulling their ears, or zoning out, then they may actually be ready to go down. Keep an eye on the clock and your newborn and learn their sleepy cues so you can avoid the overtired cycle.
Mistake #2: Putting Baby Down Only After They’re Fully Asleep
This is an easy one to do. It seems so counterintuitive, but it is the truth! As you may notice with your newborn, when you attempt to put them down in their crib or bassinet after they fall asleep in your arms, they will sometimes startle or wake up when they notice that they are not being held anymore. Your first instinct is to pick them back up and rock them back to sleep again. The result is that they will then end up spending the rest of that sleep cycle in your arms and eventually, they will spend every sleep cycle in your arms. That can get to be a major inconvenience fast!
-
- Luckily, the fix is relatively easy. Before you get in a feedback loop of putting baby down and then picking them back up again, try putting them down just before they are about to fall asleep. Make sure they are relaxed and tired and on the cusp of sleep. If you put them down then, you can stay there to soothe them by either putting your hand on their chest or gently rocking them or singing to them as they fall asleep. The result is that they will then learn to fall asleep and stay asleep in the bassinet without having to be in your arms. Try it today!
Mistake #3: Too Much Light and Noise at Night
As we mentioned before, your baby’s brain is still figuring out its natural cycle of sleeping and waking. In fact, their circadian rhythm is not yet in place like ours is. Night time vs day time mean nothing to them insofar as sleepiness goes. Help build a natural schedule of sleep and wakefulness tied into day and night so that they can build up their schedule naturally.
-
- Make sure that you use the tools around you in your home to help give your baby a clear contrast between night time ambience and behaviors and daytime ambiance and behaviors. At night, keep the lights dim and the noise quiet. Keep nighttime feeds calm, dark, and quiet. Speak quietly and keep stimulation to a minimum. No TV’s blaring, or harsh lights. Help them learn that nighttime is for sleeping and resting and day time is for activity and playing.
Before You Go
We hope that this blog about tips for nighttime with newborns was helpful to you. If your little one is still fussy after feeds, struggling to settle, or having trouble sleeping, we’re here to support you.
From sleep consulting to in-home sleep training and overnight newborn care or in-home newborn care services, we offer personalized guidance to help your little one (and you!) get the rest you need.
Have questions? Let’s Chat — we’d love to help your family rest easier.
Katie B.
Expertise You Need:
- Certified Master Pediatric Sleep Consultant
- Certified Advanced Newborn Care Specialist (2016-2022)
- Board Certified Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
- 16 years professional childcare experience
- Certified Postpartum Doula (2015-2022)
- Travel & ROTA Nanny
Katie has over 16 years experience working with children of all ages. As a Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Newborn Care Specialist, she has professionally supported families and babies worldwide over the last 10 years. Her mission is to help the entire family unit get better sleep, utilizing a holistic approach that supports the baby or child’s natural biologic drive to sleep. She has personally served hundreds of families, holds 20,000+ hours exclusively caring for infants & babies and has 69+ 5-⭐️ Google reviews.
The content contained in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace the advice of any medical professional. It is based on our opinions and experience working with newborns and their families. Other’s opinions may vary. It does not represent the views of any affiliated organizations. The reader understands that the term “Babynurse” is often a word used to describe a newborn caregiver. However, unless otherwise disclosed, we are not licensed nurses in any state. By reading and/or utilizing any information or suggestions contained in this blog, the reader acknowledges that we are not medical professionals and agrees to and waives any claim, known or unknown, past, present or future. This blog may contain affiliate links.
© 2024 Bishop Enterprises, LLC All Rights Reserved
Share on Facebook | Follow on Instagram:
Disclaimer: This content was automatically imported from a third-party source via RSS feed. The original source is: https://www.theearlyweeks.com/top-nighttime-mistakes-new-parents-accidentally-make-and-how-to-fix-them/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-nighttime-mistakes-new-parents-accidentally-make-and-how-to-fix-them. xn--babytilbehr-pgb.com does not claim ownership of this content. All rights remain with the original publisher.
