One of the most difficult and frustrating situations is when you're trying to make bedtime a success. Sleep training baby can be difficult, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't have to be successful. As with everything, you might find that some methods aren't effective for your situation, but you won't know for sure until you try. There's nothing that says everyone has to use the same process and it's important to figure out what works for you. In addition to knowing how to sleep train babies, t's also important that you know when to sleep train baby because doing it too early will make the process harder and possibly unsuccessful. To get the best results, you'll want to start trying these methods around 4-6 months old and continue working until you get a successful routine down. Take a look below at 10 sleep training methods that you can try to sleep train baby.
10 Tips for Bedtime Success
Create a bed time routine to set the mood
For starters, you'll want to try and create a routine that will help set the mood. There are a few things you can do to achieve this. One of the first things you'll want to do is turn your lights down or off when it's time for the baby to lay down. The reason for this is that light sends signals to the brain saying you need to be awake and alert. Turning down the lights show your little one that it's time to sleep and you can also put curtains up if sunlight is a problem. If you need some type of light, try and find a small night light that doesn't put off too much harsh light.
Put your baby to sleep at the same time each night
Regardless of what you have going on, you should try and have your baby lay down at the same time every night. Not only will this train their body to get tired around this time, but it can make a bedtime routine go much smoother. Your baby will become used to the routine and this should make things a little easier. If at all possible, try and be home and settled down before it's time to lay your child down. If that's not possible, try and find a quiet area where you're at and see if you can get them to sleep. With that said, though, it's normal to miss a few days and you shouldn't be too hard on yourself.
Avoid sugary foods in the afternoon
In the afternoon, it's normal to want a little sweet pick-me-up that can help you finish out the day. Depending on the age of your child, they may be used to having small bites with you or you might be breastfeeding. Since anything you eat or drink goes to the baby through breastmilk, you'll want to avoid sugary foods or drinks. There are plenty of healthy alternatives that you can have to get the same pick-me-up without transferring any of the sugars. Now, this might not seem like a big deal, but sugars effect babies different and can make it hard for them to fall asleep. You could also eat the sugary foods or drinks, then pump and dump to ensure your baby isn't getting the sugar.
Make sure your baby is not hungry
Babies can't necessarily tell you what they need or want, so making sure they aren't hungry is an important step. You'll want to offer a normal meal to see if that's the problem. If they won't eat, but are still upset, you could try using a pacifier. The sucking helps calm your baby and they might need it to get to sleep. If neither of these work, you might need to try a different method to see what works. Since we're talking about eating, you should also make sure your baby doesn't have a tummy ache or stuck gas. Depending on your baby's age, there are some awesome products that you can use to help soothe these issues.
Avoid Stimulation
Babies are cute and cuddly, and it can be hard to not always want to hold them or play with them. The issue, though, is that this stimulation can make it so your baby can't sleep. In addition, things like a loud TV, loud people, or loud animals can also cause too much stimulation. Another big form of stimulation that people don't realize is making eye contact. When most babies make eye contact, this tells them that it's time to stay up and play. To get the best results, try and remove as much stimulation as possible and try to avoid eye contact or stop yourself from going into the bedroom every few minutes.
Use the best swaddling blankets
One of the things that many people find helpful are swaddle blankets.. It can be hard to find the
best swaddle blankets and there are many options out there. There are many companies, However we at Free Birdees have some of the
best swaddles of 2021. You'll want to find products that are made from high-quality materials and will keep your baby safe and warm. The reason why these types of blankets work so well is because it makes the baby snug and feel like they are still in the womb. They come in many different designs and colors, so you should be able to find some great ones.
Ideal room temperature
Ideally, you'll want to keep your baby's room between 68 and 72 degrees. In addition, you can use some of the softest baby clothes on the market to help keep them warm or cool, depending on the weather. Keep in mind, though, you don't want put too many clothes on your little one and cause them to overheat. Make sure you're looking for signs of this, which included flushed cheeks, more restless sleep than normal, or a sweating head. They should have an easier time sleeping as long as you make sure they aren't too hot or cold. If you discover this, add or remove clothes to change the temperature.
Keep it quiet
Even though babies get used to a lot of everyday sounds while in the womb, some might still wake them up. This is especially true if it's a really loud or close sound. You want to try and make the room where the baby is sleeping as quiet as possible. This includes taking out or turning off anything with a lot of sound, as well as asking anyone that visits to try and not be too loud. You could even set up the baby's nursery in a room that's away from all of the commotion and noise that comes with having a family. If you can't stay in the room with them, get a high-quality baby monitor to keep watch at all times.
Be patient
Sleep training takes time and there's going to be a lot of tears from both sides. One of the best things you can do is be patient. Remember, this is new for you both and there's bound to be some hiccups on the way. Don't be afraid to take a minute to yourself and just breath. Let yourself feel the frustration and sadness, so you can more easily deal with your emotions. It's also important to keep your compsure and refrain from getting upset or losing your calm. If you need a break, ask your significant other or other close family member to take over until you feel calm enough to try again.
Have fun
Finally, just try and have fun with it. Remember that your baby won't be this small forever, so enjoy the moments as they come. Make great memories and just enjoy your little one. One day you might realize how much you miss those moments, so just remember that they won't be around forever and things will get easier. There are all kinds of things you can do to make a bedtime routine fun. This includes things like singing a little song or doing a little dance, especially if your little one is starting to smile and laugh, there's nothing better than seeing and hearing these beautifully amazing things.
Conclusion
Now that you know some methods you can use for sleep training baby, you can figure out which ones work for you and your little one. Creating a successful bedtime routine can help your child get the sleep they need and take away the frustrations of sleep training. Remember to be patient, give you and your baby plenty of breaks, and don't be too hard on yourself. You're doing a great job and this stage will pass!
