Sounds of Silence: The Beauty of Sleep

Sounds of Silence: The Beauty of Sleep

Sleep is one of the most important parts of our lives, and it makes up an enormous chunk of it. Babies need sleep too, however like most things baby related it's not as simple as one would think. For the first year a baby's sleep is extremely important to their development. You must make sure they get a good night's sleep in a safe manner. Here is our list of ways to help with that first year of bedtime.

1. Watch for If you start to notice long sessions of yawning or nodding off you can start creating a "bedtime". This can condition baby to get tired relatively the same time every day, and once they do, it is important to make it routine.
2. That is a perfect transition to this tip, create a routine. Making bedtime a routine will dramatically help your baby's sleeping patterns and will make it much easier to put them to bed. They will eventually become so used to it, they will get tired around the set bedtime.
3. A great way to soothe your baby is by rocking or swaying.The motion is very relaxing for babies and makes them feel safe. This will make them comfortable enough to fall asleep. Repeated motion also has a mesmerizing effect that may help them fall asleep faster.
4. For the first year, you want your baby to sleep on their back for safety reasons. A great way to do this is to swaddle them. It will make it harder for them to roll around, and it keeps them comfortable and snug.
5. It is also suggested to have your baby sleep in your room for the first six months. This will make middle of the night feeding sessions and diaper changes much easier. Plus, there's nothing like waking up to the face of your smiling baby.

The best part about your sleeping baby is the development that is happening before your eyes. This is when their brain processes all the new information they received throughout the day. There are always stories of sleepless nights with a crying baby, and that will happen. But the more you practice at bedtime, the better and easier it will get. Before you know it they'll be teenagers and the new battle will be getting them out of bed.

General information, not medical advice. For guidance specific to your baby, talk with your pediatrician.