How to help your baby calm down
Babies
from birth to 12 months usually wake up one to three times a night. Some babies
fall asleep very well, while others need extra help. During the first 3 months
of a baby's life, his sleep pattern continues to form and it is perfectly
normal for him to cry at night.
You
can use soothing techniques such as gentle rocking, wrapping, rocking, or
rhythmic tapping to get your baby to sleep. However, as your child grows, he
will develop more independent and self-soothing abilities.
As a
caregiver, there are things you can do to help your child calm down and sleep
through the night.
- Have your baby sleep in your room. You can put your baby in a crib
or bassinet in your room next to the bed. Doctors do not recommend sleeping with
a baby in a crib because a baby can accidentally suffocate in the gap between
the headboard and the mattress or between the headboard and the wall. If you
accidentally turn your baby over, he may become stuck or unable to breathe.
- Follow a consistent daily routine. Bathing, cuddling, singing, soft
music will help create a calm atmosphere that will let your child know it's
time for bed. Some children have trouble falling asleep when overstimulated. By
doing these steps every night, you can establish a good bedtime routine.
- Put your baby to bed drowsy, but
awake. Put
the baby in the crib or bassinet when he is tired and wants to sleep, but has
not yet fallen asleep. This helps them get used to the feeling of falling
asleep on their own. Always put children on their backs.
- Give them time to calm down. It is perfectly normal for your
baby to cry or fuss when you first put him to bed, when he moves and tries to
get comfortable. If the crying doesn't stop, observe it, offer comfort, and
leave the room.
- Think about the pacifier. A pacifier can help your baby
sleep through the night and can also help prevent sudden infant death syndrome.
- Learn your child's sleep patterns. Just like adults, babies have
different sleep preferences. Some are night owls, while others are early
risers. Pay attention to your child's preferences and be open to adjusting the
routine.
Child self-soothing problems and how to overcome them
The
most common reason a child has trouble calming down and falling asleep is
because their caregiver keeps the child moving instead of letting them do it
themselves. This causes the child to associate you with falling asleep and rely
on you to fall asleep again.
This
pattern can start for a number of reasons, but is usually associated with
something like:
- Worry that your baby is lonely or frightened
- Anxiety about your baby
- Worry about being separated from your baby
- A dislike of hearing your baby cry, so you try to stop it before it happens
- Guilt for not helping your baby
- The way you soothe them being too stimulating
- The baby being hungry and going to sleep while being fed
These
are all the usual things loving parents do to help their child. While this is
normal, there are things you can do to help your child calm down so that you
both sleep better at night:
- Try to understand why you so often help your child fall asleep again. Knowing the causes can bring you some relief and give you a good idea of how to start troubleshooting.
- If you suffer from anxiety, talk to someone who can help you. Your health care provider can help you manage your anxiety and give you advice.
- When your baby is small, he needs regular nighttime feedings, but as he gets older, feedings will be more spaced and less frequent. Gradually and lovingly begin to stop feeding your baby at night. It may take them a while to get used to it, but it's worth it in the long run.
- Try a different technique. It's easy to use the hyper-stimulating relaxation technique with a child, especially in the middle of the night when you're tired and can't wait for your child to go back to sleep. Using the right technique can change everything.
Overstimulation
Technique:
- Picking your baby up as soon as they wake up
- Vigorous arm rocking
- Bouncing
- Too much handling or talking
- Overexposure to blue light
Soothing
technique:
- Waiting before you pick up your baby
- Slow, gentle rocking
- Rhythmic motion
- Calm quiet
- Gentle handling
Using
a soothing technique can encourage your child to calm down and establish a
healthy sleep pattern in the future. If you are unable to calm your child,
remember that change takes time. They love you and want to be close to you.
Learning to be alone is something new. Try to stick to it.
Babies who continue to struggle to calm down, or who are extremely difficult or impossible to comfort, may have health problems. If you think something is wrong with your child, see a doctor. They can offer support and advice.