New parents often find that one of the greatest challenges they face is when their baby won’t sleep. Teaching a baby to fall asleep and stay asleep should be a top priority for new parents as sleep deprivation can lead to childhood obesity, depression, behavioral problems, illness and learning difficulties.

There are proven baby sleep techniques that can really help babies and parents find a better night’s sleep.  Here are 5 tips to help your baby go to sleep easier:

1. Develop a Baby Sleep Routine – Children thrive on routine and predictability. With proper nap and bedtime routines, a child will know what to expect and begin to welcome sleep as part of the daily schedule. A typical bedtime routine might last 20-30 minutes (possibly longer for spirited children) and include diaper and pajamas, a quiet game, breastfeeding/bottle/cup (for babies under 2), teeth brushing, potty (if applicable), reading, cuddling, and then lights out. A nap routine is similar to the bedtime routine, but usually shorter, about 10 minutes.

Your baby’s sleep routine does not necessarily need to include bath time. Parents simply may not have time or energy to bathe their child every day, and, until they are older and getting very dirty, there is no need. Second, if a child is spirited, a bath may actually do more to energize the child than calm him.

2. Schedule an Early Bedtime – An early bedtime is crucial to a good night’s sleep for baby. When babies and young children are overtired, they may have more difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep and will often wake too early in the morning. While many parents think that keeping a child up later at night will help with baby sleep problems, it is actually the early bedtime that will lead to a more restful sleep for a baby and lead to later waking in the morning.

3. Ensure Baby Takes Naps – The better a baby naps during the day, the better she will sleep at night because she is less likely to be overtired at bedtime. A good nap lasts at least one hour and is in a quiet, sedentary location, versus in a stroller, swing or car, which is not nearly as restorative. Shorter, more frequent naps are common during baby’s first 6 months. If your baby is in daycare, parents may need to work with their daycare providers to establish a baby sleep routine  and techniques to enable the baby or toddler to nap longer.

4. Avoid Sleep Associations – Babies, like all humans, have natural sleep cycles, which are periodic awakenings throughout the night. Often baby sleep techniques for new parents will involve a soothing device or action, like a pacifier, bottle, nursing, or rocking, which baby cannot replicate on his own when he awakens between sleep cycles. When baby cannot go back to sleep, he will likely cry out for Mom or Dad to help him. Baby sleep associations are often at the root of so many baby sleep problems. This is why it’s important for parents to put the baby into his bed awake, so that he falls asleep on his own and will be able to put himself back to sleep during the night.

5. Manage Baby Night Feedings – Through the first nine months, it is considered normal for babies to eat one or two times overnight. Some stop much sooner on their own accord or with just a little nudge from mom. If a baby is eating more frequently than that or she is older than nine months, Mom may want to consider cutting back (or cutting out) night feedings. All babies are different and experts disagree as to when feeding baby at night should stop. A mom knows her baby best and will be best able to determine whether she still needs to eat at night, but any more than two feedings after three months old and she probably has a sleep association with nursing or the bottle.

Everyone’s situation is unique and that what works for one family may not work for another. It takes courage and dedication to work through your baby’s sleep issues, but the time spent on teaching your baby healthy sleep habits will be worth it.

-
About the Author:
Nicole Johnson is a baby sleep coach and the owner of The Baby Sleep Site specializing in baby sleep products and consulting services. She also works with Babble Soft, a premier baby software company, in order to further help new parents. Nicole is a wife and the mother of two boys. With a B.A. degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Ohio State University, Nicole has also received an honorary degree in “Surviving Sleep Deprivation,” thanks to her son’s “no sleep” curriculum. She has become an expert on infant and toddler sleep and has made it her mission to help other parents solve their child’s sleep problems, too.
Article Source

Getting ready for the arrival of your little one is an exciting time! “Nesting” instincts, over-compulsive cleaning, and neatly folding and arranging all those little clothes are just some of the things you will do to pass those last few weeks and days. Another way moms-to-be like to prepare for their little one is by packing a hospital bag that includes not only things for mom, but for baby as well. While hospitals are equipped with all the things you will need, packing some personal things for your baby may help them get used to the smell of their new home.

Car seat. Okay, so you don’t necessarily have to pack this, but you should have it installed and ready to go in your car. If you’re not sure how to install it properly, then you can go to your local fire station and the volunteers there will be happy to help you. Most hospitals won’t let the baby leave until the car seat has been brought up to the hospital room and they have seen the baby be strapped in securely. So, it’s important to have your car seat on hand.
Pacifiers. Hospitals usually give newborns extremely archaic looking pacifiers, and if your baby gets attached to that kind of pacifier it will be hard to switch them and the really kicker is that you can’t buy those pacifiers anywhere. So, you may consider bringing your own pacifiers, and giving one to the nurse, as you get ready to deliver. You may consider bringing two or three different kinds, just in case your baby doesn’t take to the first one you give her.
Breast pump. If you are planning on breast feeding and using a breast pump, then it may be a good idea to bring your breast pump along with you. By having it on hand, you will get plenty of opportunities to practice with it and you will have the support of the nursing staff to help you in case you have questions.
Sleep gowns or other PJ’s. While you won’t be able to put your baby in some of their own pajamas right away, you can ask the baby nurse to dress your baby in something you’ve brought for them after the baby receives it’s first bath. While the hospital has little outfits there for newborns, you may want your little one to wear something of their own from the very beginning.
Socks. Hospitals are very cold, so in addition to pajamas, you may want to pack 2 or 3 little pairs of socks to help keep your newborn extra warm.
Diapers (size newborn). The hospital has diapers and they will most likely send you home with a pack or two, but because the sizes of babies differs so much, most hospitals only provide size 1 diapers. While size 1’s will probably work for your baby, they most likely will be too big. So, you may want to pack a few newborn size diapers so that your baby gets diapers that fit.
Going home outfit. Every baby needs a going home outfit, so be sure you pack something that is cozy and comfy for your little one. You should also consider the weather, is it cold? Hot? Rainy? You may want to wait and pack the babies outfit until like a week or two before that way you can get a feel for what the weather may be. Another suggestion would be to pack a couple different outfits that way you are prepared for any weather situation.

Jack “the Clipper” (coupon clipper that is) is a coupon hunter and manager of JacksCouponCodes.com.† He searches the net to find all the best money saving promo codes ( http://www.jackscouponcodes.com ) to use when buying online.† Check out the new discounts he just added featuring Diapers coupon codes (http://www.jackscouponcodes.com/store/2307/Diapers-coupon-codes.html).
Article Source