Having a baby is a sweet experience, but when it comes to putting the baby to sleep, many moms find it a challenging task. They spend half an hour, an hour, or even two hours trying to get their baby to sleep, but the baby just won't sleep. The more they try to put the baby to sleep, the more awake the baby becomes, causing frustration for the mom. How can we get our baby to sleep peacefully? What is the correct way to put a baby to sleep? When it comes to a baby's sleep, many moms have a series of questions. Let's take a look at whether your method of putting the baby to sleep is correct or not.
The significance of sleep for babies
1. It allows the body and brain to rest, which is a time for organizing information.
The human body has a natural biological clock, which signals the need for sleep when it gets dark outside. During sleep, the body and brain rest while also performing various functions. From 11 PM to 2 AM, growth hormones are secreted, promoting physical growth. Additionally, during the second half of sleep, the brain organizes the information received while awake and consolidates memories.
2. It promotes brain development through sleep.
Sleep is particularly important for the development of a baby's body and brain. However, compared to adults, a baby's sleep is more fragmented. To establish a sleep cycle, it is important to understand the characteristics of each age group and for parents to support their baby's progress.
Avoiding pitfalls when putting a baby to sleep
1. Holding the baby to sleep.
Many moms have been holding their babies to sleep since birth, and some postpartum nannies also teach new moms to do so. This method of putting a baby to sleep has significant risks, as it can lead to situations where the baby wakes up as soon as they are put down and requires constant holding. Correcting these wrong methods of putting a baby to sleep can be challenging.
Although some newborns seem to enjoy being held to sleep, it is actually an illusion. They only prefer being wrapped up due to physical tension or tactile sensitivity. Parents should help their babies relax or improve their tactile sensitivity as soon as possible, rather than holding them to sleep all the time.
2. Promoting brain development through sleep.
Sleep is particularly important for the development of a baby's body and brain. However, compared to adults, a baby's sleep is more fragmented. To establish a sleep cycle, it is important to understand the characteristics of each age group and for parents to support their baby's progress.
3. Prolonged sleep routines.
The sleep routine for putting a baby to sleep should gradually transition from relying on caregivers to self-soothing, and eventually to not needing to be put to sleep. Therefore, our method of putting a baby to sleep should follow a decreasing pattern, so as not to hinder the development of the baby's ability to fall asleep.
Tips for putting a baby to sleep
1. Establish a regular "nap" for the baby.
It is recommended for moms to pick the most tired time period of the day, such as 11 AM or 4 PM, and stick to it for a week, allowing the baby to take a nap with the mom during this time. This helps the baby develop a routine.
2. Use sounds to help the baby fall asleep quickly.
The sleeping environment for a baby during the 9 months in the womb is not actually very quiet. Some sounds inside the mother's womb can help the baby fall asleep. Research conducted in the United States has found that many sounds are similar to those in the mother's womb, and when the baby hears these familiar sounds, they can quickly enter a state of sleep.
3. Leave the scent of the mom.
Sometimes, the baby can't sleep or wakes up at night because the mom is not around. If your baby is particularly sensitive to "separation" from the mom, you can leave some of your personal items in the baby's crib. One mom I know found that when she left her breast pads or pajamas in the cradle, the number of times the baby woke up or had trouble falling asleep noticeably decreased.
4. Provide a "stable" environment.
Most babies have an amazing ability to resist external noise while sleeping, as many moms can attest to. However, some babies have higher requirements for their environment, and certain sounds can easily disturb a soundly sleeping baby. We have asked many professional baby nurses, and their answers were unexpected.
