Renowned child psychologist Dr. Leo J. Burke hit the nail on the head when he said: “People who say they sleep like a baby usually don’t have one.” Sleep is of vital importance to a baby as it aids both physical and mental development according to the National Sleep Foundation. Baby’s sleeping habits are, however, often very difficult to comprehend and often leave parents feeling desperate and frustrated. Luckily all hope is not lost as there are a number of tips, such as the following, that you can follow to help your baby (and the rest of the family) to get a much-needed good night’s rest.

Give your baby a dreamfeed

If a baby has difficulty sleeping he (and you) may benefit from waking him for a late-night feed known as a dreamfeed. A dreamfeed generally takes place anywhere between 10 pm and 12 am and may result in your precious bundle sleeping for longer stretches during the night. When waking your baby up for a feed at night, keep the lighting to a minimum and be very gentle when easing him out of his crib. After he has finished feeding tenderly put him back to bed, being mindful to not burp him unless he seems very uncomfortable.

Limit the length of day-time naps

It may seem like a good idea to deprive your baby of any naps during the day but it is possibly one of the worst things you can do. A baby that does not sleep at all during the day is definitely not going to nod off at night and sleep till the next morning. Instead, you will be left to deal with a baby that is even crankier, more sleep-resistant and more prone to night frights than before – the harrowing result of being over-tired. What you can do is to limit the length of daytime naps, not allowing them to exceed the 2-2 ½ hour mark. Once you approach that mark you need to gently wake baby up, give a feed and diaper change if required and engage in some stimulating activities before allowing him to nap again. Make a point of restricting your baby’s late-afternoon nap to no longer than an hour or he might be too awake to put down at his regular bedtime.

Limit screen time before bed (and during the day)

If you think that only adults and older children are affected by electronic screens, you are wrong. The blue light emitted by television-, laptop-, tablet- and smartphone screen can negatively affect the circadian rhythms of babies as well. As moms, we might think our babies aren’t actively watching TV so it can’t harm them – but it is unfortunately not the case. According to research conducted by Prof W. Chonchaiya from the Division of Growth and Development in Thailand, for every 2.5 minutes of TV a baby watches, it can take up to 5 minutes longer to fall asleep. Instead of relying on a television or other electronic device to keep baby occupied, opt for playing music instead that will not only soothe an irritated child but can boost brain development as well.

Helping your baby to establish a sound sleep routine will be of great benefit to the entire family. It is, however, very important to remember that all babies are different and while some may find it easy to sleep through the night, others may battle for a substantially longer period of time. Be patient with your baby and enjoy every little milestone reached without rushing too much to reach them. Before you know your precious bundle of joy will be a teenager and you will yearn for a few sleepless nights with your newborn again.

Author: Ali Anderson (a Liliputi fan mum)