So your baby isn't sleeping and you are dying for just one good nights sleep, I feel you, I was there, my horror story is, I was there for three years, but i'm sure this wont happen to you!
There are so many reasons a baby isn't sleeping through the night, she may need to feed, she may need reassurance and comfort or she may need a more consistent bedtime routine to help her settle. Its normal for babies to wake during the night for many months, even when not hungry, hang in there, your baby may be perfectly normal!
So your tired and something needs to give, your need sleep! Here are a couple of tips of helping your baby to sleep.
1. Clear the clutter - designing your nursery as a room for sleep and not play, keep the crib free of toys and other fun nick knacks. The less they have to focus on the more likely they will play.
2. Make sure the room is the right temperature - being too hot or too cold can prevent your baby from sleeping well. If baby feels cold, add more layers, if hot and sweaty she may be over wrapped. Also placing cot away from windows will protect from drafts and outside noise.
3. Soothe with sound - a white noise machine can be invaluable in helping baby get to sleep, it helps to cancel our house noises, passing cars and other distractions and your baby will learn to associate the constant and consistent noise with sleep.
4. Dim the lights - Light signifies daytime, so blocking out the sun will help keep her sleeping. If you are night time feeding, try using a dimmable light to keep light level low.
5. Give your baby a chance to fall asleep on their own - putting baby down when they are sleepy but still awake. babies who drift off on their own are more likely to learn to soother themselves to sleep. If baby wakes, wait a few minutes and see if she will settle back to sleep on their own. If she doesn't it sounds like she is waking up, try and reach her before she escalates into a full-blown howl. Stepping in before meltdown means you will catch her before she's too worked up to fall back asleep.
There are so many other resources out there to help you to get your baby to sleep through the night, always remember you know your baby best. Some things will work for one child but not another so trust your instinct and keep doing your thing. You got this mama!
More about the Author.
Cheryl Peach is a family photographer based in Plymouth, Devon who specializes in maternity, newborn and family lifestyle photography, creating natural photographs that show the emotions and uniqueness of every family. Oh So Peachy Photography was
created in 2016 when Cheryl found her passion for photography whilst photographing her own children and wanted to create memories for other to cherish for years to come. To book a session, please get in touch.