Baby Sleep Problems And Solutions Part 1
In the first few months of a babies life they will not be able to tell the difference between night and day. This causes them to sleep more hours in daytime than at night. The daytime sleep is made up of many naps throughout the day. As the baby gets older they will gradually erase one of the naps and this will continue as they get older. A young child will never be able to see one full morning and afternoon without napping some of the time though the naps get less frequent.
From a very early age you need to set out a baby sleep schedule and to stick with it even though sometimes you may find this difficult. The idea is to instill in the babies mind that now is the time for bed because certain things are happening. This set routine will not only assist you with organizing your time but it will also be appreciated by the baby.
Every mum has their own type of schedule that involves many different things and some of them maybe similar to the ones that have worked for me even though they may be done in a different order. I used to call mine the five step method and I will go through each step so you can see why I do it and how effective it can be. You can integrate any of these methods into your schedule if you wanted to quite easily.
As the baby gets older you can still provide these same five examples though they will be done at different times as the baby develops.
The first Step: I set aside a specific time of the day for afternoon playtime. This will get the mind of the baby working along with their body. It can be playing with small soft toys or just simple, games of peek-a-boo and other family favorites. The idea is to get the activity out of the way now and as far away as the sleep time as possible so they do not go to bed a little excited and hyperactive.
The Second Step: After all that energy being used I find this is a good time to give them a bath. Babies normally love the bath time experience nearly as much as the mother. This is a good mother -baby bonding session in it's own right. By now the baby should be feeling clean and refreshed.
The Third Step: Before I dress the baby for bed I like to give a 10-15 minutes massage. This is the ultimate relaxing moment for the baby as you give them a gentle rub down on the front and back. Baby massage has many benefits and aids baby development. After the massage has been finished I powder the baby a little then get them into their sleeping clothes. By no the baby should be continuing the winding down toward sleep.
The Forth Step. I always give a feed before bedtime. After all the energies of the past few hours I think you will find that they are ready to fill tuck into something warm and nourishing. Babies are not unlike adults in many ways. I don't know about you buy if I have eaten too much I just ant to relax and often fall asleep. Babies do the exact same. After a good feed and still feeling the benefits of the last hour of pre-sleep ritual they should be ready to get into slumber.
The Fifth Step: If you have done the first four steps correctly the last should be a breeze. You may not need to get into singing, humming, swaying or gyrating mode for this as all your past work is hopefully now going to pay dividends and the baby drops off to sleep of their own accord.
Mission done I pour myself a glass of wine and flop down on the sofa and recap on another eventful day for mother and child. What will tomorrow bring? Who knows.
Related Tags: health, family, parenting, babies, baby, motherhood
Vilma Ladaga has written many articles regarding baby care and likes to include many real life experiences that have assisted her in bringing up children and hopefully they will benefit others who read the articles. Vilma has recently written articles for www.babybehavior.net Copyright Vilma Ladaga 2006
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Baby Walker - Myths And Facts
First of all baby walkers was introduced in as early as 1851 which was a patented version previously - Choose Best Baby Walker For Your Baby
Baby walker is a device, used by infants who cannot walk on their own.Although it is designed for ch - Philips Avent Baby Monitor Can Put Your Mind At Ease!
The Philips Avent Baby Monitor is a very high rated audio baby monitor that you can use to monitor y - Week By Week Pregnancy Guide
First Trimester These are the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy. During this time, the mother's body g - Stroller Safety - 5 Things To Check Ahead Of Time!
So you're in the market for a brand spanking new stroller for your baby. You want your child to not - A Sit And Stand Stroller Is Great For Your Toddler And Baby!
A sit and stand stroller can be a great choice for parents that have both a toddler and a baby. Manu - Beautifully Designed Toddler Accessories To Add A Finish Touch To The Nursery
Every parent aims to create a beautiful, cozy, and comfortable space for their babies whether it's a - Baby Potty Chairs
Kids accessories and gifts for babies have changed a lot in recent years, and potties haven't been l - Baby Nursery Wall Décor
Custom painted baby nursery wall décor adds a lot of character and style to a room so that your baby - Baby Bibs And Other Baby Feeding Accessories
Feeding time can be a very stressful or a really enjoyable time to spend with your baby and it will
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Personalized Baby Blankets - 5 Quick Ideas for an Original and Cherished Gift
A baby is the pride and joy of any new parents. For the parents, life changes, and their focus shift - Playing And Childrens Educational Toys
What does play do for a child? Contrary to what some people think, play is not just a waste of time - The Da Vinci Kalani Crib Is Not Only Elegant - It Provides A Full Solution For Your Child's Sleeping
The Kalani crib by Da Vinci is stylish, elegant, yet very functional, this crib truly is a solid, st - The Wiggles Party Fun for the Toddler
Music is an essential part of a child's development so enjoy the music of Wiggles at your child's bi - Attending A Baby Shower? Top 5 Baby Shower Gifts For New Parents
Finding out that you are expecting for the first time can be one of the most exciting times in a c - Feng Shui Baby Names
There are various ways to pick a baby name. The ways vary from different Feng Shui schools. Feng mea - What NOT To Feed Your Baby
In this world we live in, we are so busy that buying food and microwaving it, is much easier than s - Baby Proofing
When that innocent baby comes into your life the main thing that stays in your mind is keeping him o - Baby Shower Fun Activities
There are many baby shower fun activities. It is the activities that really make a baby shower a gr - Preschooler's Educational Toys
The demand for educational toys is fast growing, as more and more parents see the value behind these