The best gift you can give to a new mother is the secret on how to get their infant to sleep for longer periods of time. It is not a secret that most new moms do not get to sleep well for the first three months after giving birth. Babies are naturally known to struggle with sleep more so at that tender age, and this works to the disadvantage of the new mom who needs optimum time to rest and heal from the whole birthing process.
Because of such lack of enough sleep and rest, postpartum depression continues to be a recurring problem amongst new parents. Apart from sleep training and proper feeding, there are other measures you can put in place to have your child sleep for longer. Below is a discussion of three measures that, if well implemented, work magic in enhancing better sleep for new babies.
Watch Out for Any Medical Conditions
It would help if you were sure that your infant is free from any form of illness such as colic, sleep apnea, or allergies. These are sleep distractors, and you are bound to experience high levels of uneasiness, crying, fever, or sweating in your child.
The best way around such problems is taking your infant to a Chiropractor for neural adjustment. The gentle adjustments to align the nervous system performed by these practitioners works magic in fighting constipation, colic, sleep apnea, and gastroesophageal reflux.
An infant with sleep apnea may need continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy using a prescription oral appliance. CPAP machines are widely used in many countries for newborns with sleep apnea, respiratory failure, or upper airway obstruction. Ask your pediatrician about this treatment option if your baby has sleep apnea.
Don’t worry, this practice is safe and has zero side effects as compared to prescriptions, which may negatively react with your baby.
Make Sure the Child is Comfortable
For your child to sleep longer, they need to be comfortable. One way to enhance this is to give them a warm bath before bedtime. Take note that a baby’s body temperature tends to cool immediately after getting out of a warm bath, which helps them fall asleep more quickly.
Additionally, make sure to soothe them to sleep by gently massaging their body parts with lotion. The contact between you and your baby, together with the relaxation from the massage, helps them feel secure and sleep for longer.
Another secret to enhancing your baby’s comfortability and better sleep is to have them lie in a clean baby-fitting crib. Moreover, make sure the room is quiet and dimly lit. Switch off the TV and any other gadgets that may distract your baby while sleeping.
Singing sweet and soft lullabies is another great sleep-time routine. Also, make sure to check and change their diapers throughout the night as the need arises. Lastly, make sure your baby is well-fed.
Eat Right as the Mother
Your newborn baby entirely depends on you for their growth and development needs. You should make sure to breastfeed your baby any time they desire, as there is no reason to follow a specific routine at this young age. You should, however, pay attention not to go more than three hours without feeding, as their failure to demand food may mean something is wrong.
Since your newborn cannot talk, you need to be on the lookout for signs such as your baby moving head from side to side, opening their mouths, crying, or placing their hands in their mouth. For your child’s proper growth and better sleep, make sure to eat a healthy diet and avoid carbonated drinks and colic-causing foods such as cabbage, peanuts, and spicy foods.
Final Thoughts
Better sleep for your newborn not only brings peace to your home but works magic towards their cognitive development and general wellbeing. Lengthen how long your baby sleeps by following the above three recommendations. Both you and your baby will be better off for it!
