All of us have experienced those nights when the baby has trouble sleeping. Excessive crying and fussing can leave parents frazzled and uncertain of what to do. Most of the time there is no significant problem and your infant is just going through a phase.
Consistency is the most important thing you can provide for you and your infant to ensure that bedtime is trouble free. Decide how you will handle bedtime issues with your partner and stick to it; varying your pattern will disturb the baby and could make bedtime unpredictable and frustrating.
- As bedtime approaches cut down on the interaction between adults and baby. Quiet, soft soothing environments are more conducive to sleep.
- Some people suggest dimming lights as you prepare the baby for bed. Once you’ve put him to bed, keep the room dark.
- Establish a routine, maybe singing a lullaby as you put your little one in his crib, or read him a book each evening immediately before bed. Even though an infant won’t be able to follow the story, he’ll hear your voice and that will soothe and reassure him.
- A cool room is preferable to a warm room for sleeping. A heavy sleeper is safer and easier than using blankets.
- If the baby wakes up in the middle of the night, don’t turn on lights or chat with the baby, you want to maintain the ‘it’s bedtime’ atmosphere.
- Learn to monitor your child for signs of fatigue and try to get him to bed before he gets fussy.
If your infant is waking up during the night and crying there could be a couple of physical causes. Ear infections are a common cause, and can be detected sometimes by a child who rubs or pulls at an ear. Baby colic may cause crying and gassiness, but is hard to diagnose. Sometimes the waking is accidental and your child needs a little help getting back to sleep. Put him back in his sleeping position without too much talking, rub his back or tummy a little and try to quietly leave the room.
As babies go through growth spurts they may wake up hungry in the middle of the night. There are differing opinions here; you can give him a bottle or feeding or try and let him cry briefly to see if he can put himself back to sleep.
If sleep disruptions continue you’ll want to check with your pediatrician to make sure there is no medical reason for the crying. Above all, try to remain calm and don’t get too worried. A crying baby can definitely fray your nerves and cause anxiety as you try to figure out what is wrong. Most of the time it’s just a phase and your baby will outgrow it. If you’ve got a good bedtime routine established early on, the toddler years should be easier when it comes to bedtime.
This primer from Parenting.com has more suggestions for a restful night for baby and for you.
How do you deal with bedtime? Is your baby a good sleeper?
