Many people assume if your baby is up and busy all day, they will sleep well at night – this is not always the case. The baby is usually so over tired and over stimulated, that they have difficulty settling at night.
Night Nannies believes a baby with structured and regular sleeps and feeds in the day is more content and therefore tends to sleep better at night.
In the first few weeks after birth, it’s difficult to introduce any real structure to your new baby’s life. But pretty soon, you’ll find that following a few simple steps during the day will lay the foundations for a good, long-term sleep pattern.
If you are not into a routine then you don’t have to plan your day around naps and feeds.
But if you are keen for your baby to have a routine, then you could try some of these Night Nanny tips:
Day Time Nap
From around 4-6 weeks onwards, babies may feed roughly every 3-4 hours and need 20 minute to half hour naps every 2 hours. Try to encourage a slightly longer 1 or even 2 hour nap around lunchtime – ideally take them to their cot in a darkened room. These lunch time naps, if implemented well could last until they are 3 years old. You will treasure them.
Try to keep your baby awake after 5pm – the idea is that they will then be ready to go to sleep at their 7pm bed-time.
Try and encourage your baby to have a full feed at every mealtime but especially before bed. Often after taking part of the feed they will fall asleep. Don’t give up, encourage them to drink more.
You can do this by:
Changing their nappy
Tickling their feet
If it’s a little warm, unwrap them and let them cool them down a little
This will ensure they have a full feed.