Making your baby sleep all through the night is a tough task that most parents face or even getting the toddlers to make them sleep faster at their bedtime.
In this article, get to know about helpful and soothing sleepy-time products that some other parents trust by.
Swaddling Blankets and Sleep Sacks
Newborns require regular feedings without which they won’t sleep all through the night. But swaddling a newborn can help make them fall for a good quality sleep because it gives them an environment like the mother’s womb. Swaddling is a good technique to help make babies calm and when done correctly with your baby always on his back and well wrapped make them get sound sleep. It is advisable for the parents to keep on watch their swaddled babies and to stop swaddling when their baby starts rolling intentionally from his back. In such case, talk with your pediatrician about when you can stop swaddling and how to wean your baby from it by leaving one arm out at first.
When the time comes for swaddling to stop, or even instead of swaddling, most of the parents turn to sleep sacks or wearable blankets made in a variety of sizes for babies on up to toddlers. Sleep sacks have become famous because frequent, loose blankets should not be utilized in a baby’s crib due to the risk of SIDS. Keeping your baby in a sleep sack can make your baby warm on cool night (select from lightweight muslin sacks to warm fleece ones) and also prompt him that it’s the time for bed.
Blackout Curtains
Blackout curtains or shares are a perfect way for your baby’s daytime naps. Even when the sun is shining or headlights are gleaming by, your toddler’s nursery will remain dark and cozy with the help of these light-blocking window treatments. Blackout curtains come in various nursery-friendly prints and colours and not just in solid dark colours. Infact sleep experts advocate holding off on using blackout curtains until after the newborn phase so that the babies place an understanding of an internal clock or understanding of day(naps time) and night(a time for deeper, longer periods of sleep). After doing that use blackout curtains, crack them open to allow in some daylight a little while before it’s time for your baby to start waking up.
White Noise Machine or Music Player
Most of the parents sing the praises of white noise machines that make their babies fall asleep with a womb-like “shhh” or hum. It is however recommended not to play the white noise machines at a maximum volume in close proximity to the child for long durations can potentially harm your baby’s hearing power. Experts suggest placing the machines farther from the crib and playing at a volume comparable to a quiet shower instead of a loud hairdryer. Also, consider these tips in mind with other sound machines like mobile apps or nature sound machines as well as lullaby-playing mobiles and music players.
Real Lavender Bath Products or Essential Oils
The lavender scent boost up your baby’s relaxation spirit, so it’s preferable to use in many bath and body products for babies. So if bath time is a regular nightly routine of your toddler, go for real lavender-scented products or prefer adding a drop of lavender which is a necessary oil to the bath water. It is however recommended to read the product’s ingredients to ensure that natural essential oils are composed of plant extracts instead of chemical impostors. It is also advisable to be careful with essential oils –even though they are natural, strong and irritate the skin, so they shouldn’t be applied directly. Whenever you try out any new body product, test it out first on your baby’s skin by applying a very small amount to ensure that your baby’s skin is not prone to any adverse reaction. Consider essential oils that can promote calmness on your baby’s skin.
Rocking Chair or Glider
Rocking chairs predates to hundreds of years and stay here just because of their capability to relax people of all ages. Moms considering to streamline their baby registry checklist might be enticed to skip a rocker or a glider. But there are many parents who will inform you to ditch your design concerns and choose for the cushiest, comfiest rocker or glider you can get——it will become your little retreat during fussy nights and midnight feedings. Gliders consider costing more but often come up with a padded ottoman and more cushioning to rest your legs.
Lovey or Blankie
If you’ve the latest SIDS prevention guidelines information, know that any loose bedding or objects like pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or sheepskin are a strict no-no until a baby is at least 12 months old. After your pediatrician shows you the way-to-go, you may introduce a “lovey”, stuffed animal or small blanket that your older toddler or baby can hold and use to get self-soothe in the crib. When selecting a lovey, go through the manufacturer’s age guidelines and examine that there are no choking hazards like poorly attached tails. Every baby need not be necessarily likes a lovey, but most toddlers find it cozy in caressing, holding and babbling to them, especially when they’re sleeping somewhere away from home.
Night Light
Younger babies aren’t frightened of the dark; they’re used to it after spending months in the womb. But you may find toddlers and babies frightened of the dark or have night terrors, where they suddenly wake up scared and disoriented. If it becomes a common problem for your toddler, consider trying a dim night light. Night lights of todays are more creative and fun than ever. Parents of the toddlers set a night light and an alarm clock to turn green at an acceptable wake time, suited for that transition time from crib to ‘big kid bed’.
Bedtime Stories
A good bedtime story is evidently one of the simplest and best sleepy-time soothers. When you read books to your baby can help fear of monsters and dark to rest. In addition, reading aloud to toddlers and babies has brain-boosting advantages, so make reading a part of your bedtime routine as early as the newborn stage.
In short, you can try out any of the above techniques that can help your baby to fall asleep faster without making a fuss.