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Consider changing the bedding in the crib to improve your baby’s sleep. If you need comfortable sheets to fall asleep, assume your baby does too.
Is your baby keeping you up all night? Don’t panic! Take a minute and take a breath. You will sleep again. All you need to do is find a way to improve your baby’s sleep schedule. If you don’t know where to start, read on, and we’ll tell you.
Pay Attention to the Signs
All babies have a tell-tale sign when they are about to be out for the count. Pay attention to these cues and signals and note the time of day when they start showing signs of tiredness. Some of the common signs are eye rubbing, yawning, and fussing. All that crying might mean they want you to put them to bed.
Don’t wait until they can barely keep their eyes open. When you notice any of these signs, start to gently rock them to sleep. Once they’ve fallen asleep, place them in their crib. Try to refrain from letting them always sleep in your arms. It will make it difficult for them to fall asleep and stay asleep in other places.
Change the Bedding
If an uncomfortable mattress keeps you up all night, assume that your baby needs the same comforts. You might not need to change the entire crib out, but consider changing the bedding because it might be disrupting your child’s sleep schedule.
If you place your baby in bed and they get fussy immediately or have a hard time staying asleep, investigate the bedding and see if it’s time to make a change.
Keep Nighttime Calm
Follow a calming and consistent nighttime routine, and try not to deviate from the schedule too much. The same routine can help program your baby to know when it’s time for bed.
Also, when they wake you up for a feeding or need your attention, keep the disturbance low. Don’t turn on bright lights to wake them up fully. The goal is to put them back to sleep, so keep the lights low or completely off if you can.
Practice Patience
Your baby is new to you, and you’re new to them. While mothers have an instant connection with their babies, there’s still room for growing and learning.
Don’t get frustrated if you can’t get them asleep right when you need them to. Try to sleep when they do so that you don’t miss out on any sleep. Or use the moments when you aren’t tired, but they are, to tackle all the other things you need to.
Having a newborn takes some getting used to, but it won’t be long before you and your baby develop a nice routine and you see their sleep schedule improve.