Creating a Bedtime Routine to Help Baby Sleep

When it is time to go to bed, we adults have our routines: a cup of tea, a good book, watch a little TV, brush your teeth, or take a relaxing bath. No matter what routine you have, it helps you to sleep better. Babies are no different. They need a routine to help them get to sleep as well. It is up to you to find out what works best for your baby.

For babies, the routines can be fairly simple and shouldn't take too long. If it takes too long, the baby can sometimes get a second wind and be harder to get to sleep. For many babies, a bath is a relaxing start to the evening. There are even soothing baby baths that are nice to use. (Of course, if your baby is like mine and HATES the bathtub, this may not be such a good idea!) Then you can snuggle them into some comfy pajamas.

After that, sitting together in a rocking chair is a nice way to spend some time together before the baby nods off to sleep. Singing or playing some lullabies while you rock can help relax the baby to sleep. You have to be careful not to move too soon to put the baby in the crib, or you may find yourself starting over. Watch for steady breathing, and relaxed arms and legs.

Another wonderful addition to any bedtime routine is reading bedtime stories. This is one that will continue as the baby gets older. Children love bedtime stories, and it also encourages them to become readers themselves.

It may take awhile to find what works best for your baby at bedtime. Give it a week or two before you make any changes to see if the baby will adjust to it. If it's still not working, try a slight change, only replacing one part of the routine. Eventually you will find the right combination.

If your baby has a particularly restless night, the homeopathic remedy Chamomilla is a great soothing remedy to calm baby (it's great for irritability of any type--even teething).

Consistency is the key, once you've established a routine that works. It may be hard to keep up with at times, but babies need that steady habit. Once they are used to it, bedtime won't be a struggle, but an enjoyable time for both of you.

Why Buy Natural Sheets and Blankets for Baby?

Many families are concerned about the amount of chemicals in our everyday lives. While we might not be able to remove all the chemicals our family is exposed to, we can reduce the amount in the home. When a new baby comes into the family, it is just as important to surround the baby with all-natural products. Since babies sleep nearly half of the day, it only makes sense to make sure they are sleeping in a safe environment.

There are many styles of all-natural bedding. You can find blankets, sheets, swaddling blankets - pretty much the same selection you would have with other baby bedding options. They even come in a wide variety of colors, not just neutral tones.

Having organic bedding is better for your baby's health - as opposed to the 50/50 non-organic cotton and polyester blend that is made from a petrochemical. These chemicals can irritate the tender newborn skin. Another chemical found in bedding and other fabrics is the fire-retardant chemical PBDE. This chemical is sprayed on to the product, so it gets into the environment quicker than other chemicals.

Many people have allergic reactions to some of the chemicals in household goods. By reducing the amount of chemicals your family is exposed to, it will reduce the risk of allergic reactions.

Undergroundbaby.net offers a variety of natural, organic baby blankets!

SUMMER SLEEP GIVEAWAY!

UndergroundBaby.net is giving away one Sounds for Silence Baby Settling and Sleep Program to celebrate summer and this amazing new program that REALLY WORKS!!!

This program, which normally retails for $59.95, includes the proven Sounds for Silence CD and 100 page Sounds for Silence Baby Settling and Health Guide. Even the most settled babies have their irritable moments and times when they do not sleep.

The Sounds for Silence Baby Settling and Health Guide is a comprehensive and practical book containing over 100 pages of reassuring advice for parents on baby sleep and settling strategies, managing irritability and infant health issues. Dr Zehnwirth's informative and encouraging Guide offers parents practical tips, ideas and support.

Chapters in the book include:
• Intuition
• Infant irritability
• Strategies for managing irritability
• Baby sleep and settling
• Feed, play, sleep
• Helpful general information
• Scary episodes
• The preterm infant (prematurity)
• Alarm bells
• Harry's maxims - the minimum you should know
• Family stories
• Troubleshooting
• More information
• Behaviour diary

Dr Harry Zehnwirth has been specializing in Pediatrics for over 20 years. After caring for thousands of babies with irritability and sleep difficulties, he wanted to provide parents with practical answers to help them manage these common problems. What he developed was Sounds for Silence Baby Settling Program.

For more information about this great program, check out:
http://www.okidokiebaby.com/

CLICK HERE TO WIN YOUR OWN FREE COPY!

Here's to peaceful summer nights!

Tips for Helping Baby Sleep the Whole Night Through

Getting a baby to sleep through the night is one of the first things new parents look forward to after coming home from the hospital. However, new parents have to remember that it takes time for the baby to sleep through the night. Newborns will sleep anything from sixteen to twenty hours a day, usually a couple hours at a time. Their small stomachs means that they need to eat frequently, so it will take time before they are physically ready to sleep all night. Most infants are capable of sleeping all night by about three months.

Many parents set up a cradle in their room for those first few months to make those night-time feedings easier. Other families have adopted a co-sleeping method, where the baby is in the parents' bed (with baby-proofing precautions, such as a rail on the outside edge and a firm mattress). But no matter which method works for your family, the baby can't sleep through the night until they are physically ready to do so. Trying to force it too soon will just frustrate everyone.

One night, when the baby is around three or four months, you'll wake up and realize they are still asleep. It's a very nice feeling. But what do you do after you get used to it and they decide to not sleep all night again? By now, you should have a well-developed bedtime routine, but you may find you need to adjust things a little. Nap times begin to change, with the baby taking fewer and shorter naps. Sometimes simply adjusting the naps will take care of things, and your little one will be sleeping soundly all night again.

You may also need to adjust the before bedtime feeding a bit. If the baby's tummy is full closer to bedtime, they will sleep longer. Getting the baby to sleep at least five to six hours is a good start when adjusting to going longer between feedings.

However, there are those babies who just don't want to go back to sleep. They wake up either cranky or want to play. You have a few options. Some parents use the "cry it out" method, where they let the baby cry for increasing intervals, until they learn to fall asleep on their own. Others use a "peek in and check" method where they come in, but do not take the baby from the bed. They comfort them and help them drift back to sleep. Some have continued to use the co-sleeping method and just let the baby nurse and go back to sleep; some mothers barely realize the baby has been awake.

Another thing that might help is to give the baby a massage before bedtime. This can help the baby to relax more, and hopefully drift off into a deeper sleep. If they wake, you may want to give them a very short massage, possibly only on the arms and legs until they relax again.

Every child is different, so you need to find what works for you and your baby. Once you do, stick to it. Establishing a routine will help the baby realize that this is the way things are going to work. Before long, everyone is getting more sleep and feeling much more rested during the day.

Help For Colicky Babies!

Tips to Help Colicky Babies Sleep Better

Colic is one of those things every parent hopes they can avoid. But what is colic? Colic is when a baby starts crying for no apparent reason for about three hours at a time. There is no real medical reason, or treatment, for colic. It usually starts when the baby is between two and six weeks old, and lasts until about three months old. It can be hard on the whole family.

Nursed babies tend to be less colicky, but there are still a few that may develop colic. Some people think the baby is hungry or in pain, but the truth is no one really knows why it happens. Some experts feel it could even be from an immature nervous system and it just takes time to develop.

So what can be done? There are a few things that you can try that may help calm your baby. But first, as difficult as it may be, try not to stress. The baby will pick up your feelings and it just makes things worse. Try to take turns with someone else when the baby is colicky. If you are alone with the baby and just feel overwhelmed, put the baby in the crib and go to another room. Even just a few minutes away can help you be better able to calm your baby. Never blame yourself or the baby. It just happens; you haven't done anything wrong as a parent.

Motion has been shown to offer relief for some babies. Swings or car rides can sometimes help offer relief. It may just remind the baby of being in the womb. If you have a front-carrier or stroller, go for a walk, even if it is just around the house. Rock together and hum or sing to the baby.

Sometimes certain sounds will help the baby to settle down. Some have found that the sound of a fan, washer, dryer or vacuum seem to help calm the baby. Putting the baby in a carrier seat on top of the dryer may also help. Just be sure to stay with the baby, so they don't vibrate off. Parents even combine using the sound of the vacuum with having the baby in a front-carrier.

Giving your baby a massage can sometimes help. Gently moving the legs toward the stomach can also help relive any excess gas that might be adding to the discomfort. The massage can relax the baby and maybe they can fall asleep during it. Sometimes a warm water bottle on the stomach can offer some relief as well - just be careful that it isn't too hot.

If you notice a pattern to when your baby becomes colicky, try to snuggle before the fussiness starts. Sometimes that added attention might help reduce the intensity of the crying. Holding and loving your new baby is in no way spoiling them.

If none of these ideas help and you feel something is really wrong beyond colic, always give your pediatrician a call. Often just talking to the nurse can give you some peace of mind.

How to give your baby a soothing massage...

Baby Massage to Help Relax Your Baby into Sleep

There are very few things more relaxing than a massage. Giving babies massages has been proven to not only help them relax, but has shown to improve their sleep habits. By relaxing them before bedtime, they can fall into a deeper sleep sooner. It can also help with colicky babies.

Studies have shown that massage has helped premature babies gain more weight quicker. According to one study, "preemies who were massaged three times daily for ten days gained almost 50 percent more weight, were more active and alert and were able to leave the hospital six days earlier than other premature infants" (Nelsson-Ryan). Physical contact is so important, especially in the first few weeks, before babies are able to see well.

There are places that offer training in infant massage, as well as videos. However, a few simple techniques are all you need to get started. You can use baby lotion, or natural oils such as almond or vegetable oil with natural fragrances added. You shouldn't use the oil on the head or face area.

First, be sure the baby is not too fussy and able to lay still, about an hour after a feeding. Some recommend removing everything, including the diaper. However, you may want to leave the diaper on to avoid any accidents until you massage the stomach.

Find a safe, soft place where the baby won't roll off onto the floor. Be sure that the room is at a comfortable temperature. Lay the baby on the back, and smile and talk gently while you do the massage.

Start with the head and face, using only as much pressure as you would use if you were to press on your eyelid without causing discomfort. Work from the forehead to the top of the head, moving in gentle strokes. Move from the center toward the outside and back.

Carefully work your way down the neck and shoulders area, again using very light pressure. Work on each arm by making a ring from your thumb and finger, sliding down the arm. Roll the arm gently between your hands. Massage the hands and fingers as well.

Then, massage gently down the stomach area, in circles. If you've had the diaper on, remove it to expose the stomach and then replace it before you begin the legs. Work down each leg, similar to the way you did the arms. Gently bend the legs toward the stomach. This can help gas bubbles that may be trapped to move out. This also helps with the colicky babies.

Once you finish with the legs and feet, turn the baby over and start from the back of the head and work your way down to the feet again. Do not actually massage the spine area. You can make gentle circles with your fingertips on the back. Complete the massage down to the toes again.

Some babies will only want a couple of minutes of massage to start with. Once the baby gets used to the massage, you can increase the time spent. It may soon become the favorite part of the day. This is something that both the mother and father can share in with the baby, creating a special bond.

How Much Sleep Does My Baby Need?

When you bring home that newborn from the hospital, you soon realize that sleeping like a baby doesn't mean what most people usually take it to mean. Babies need a lot of sleep; however, it takes time before they can sleep through the night. The amount of sleep children need changes as they get older. While every child is different, there are some basic guidelines that can help you know if your child is getting enough sleep during that all-important first year.

Newborn - When you first come home with that baby, you may feel like you are in a constant cycle of feeding and napping. This is completely normal. Newborns will sleep about sixteen hours a day, spread out in about two hour segments around the clock. When the stomach is still so small, babies need to eat frequently, especially if you are nursing. It is a good idea, especially when you first get home from the hospital, to nap during the day when the baby naps. You will be on their sleep schedule for a while.

Some nursing mothers use a co-sleeping method so that they lose less sleep until the baby begins to sleep through the night. By keeping the baby close, they feel secure and aren't waking up frightened during the night. If you are bottle-feeding, you might try taking turns with the feedings with your partner, so both of you get a little more sleep.

One Month - By the time the baby is about one month old, they are starting to be awake more, as they are learning about the world around them. They will usually sleep about fifteen hours a day, with around six hours of that time during the day. You will quickly pick up on the cues that the baby is ready for a nap; some will fall asleep shortly after a feed or even while they are feeding.

Three Months - Now is the time that every parent lives for: the baby normally begins to sleep through the night. By about three months, their stomach has grown and they can eat more, so they can sleep longer at a stretch during the night. They still sleep about fifteen hours, but their naptime decreases to about five hours. Not every child will start to sleep through the night right at three months. Some take a little longer. When you start to introduce some solid foods, that also usually helps the baby begin to sleep longer at night.

Six Months - At six months, babies drop to needing about fourteen hours of sleep each day, with only about four hours at naptime. However, sometimes at about six months, infants will still wake up during the night. If they are sleeping in their own room, they will wake and realize that mom is not right there. Sometimes they will go back to sleep, but sometimes they just need to know you are there.

Nine Months - Nine months is another milestone. By now, they should be sleeping through the night regularly. While they still need about fourteen hours of sleep, they begin to nap less. They may only nap about three hours during the day.

Twelve Months - By the time the baby is about a year old, they will normally be sleeping about thirteen hours a day. They will sleep about ten or eleven at night, with a two or three hour nap during the day. Some children may not want to even nap at all. They are too busy exploring their world, but it is still a good idea to try to encourage naptime.

As with most growth milestones, no two children are exactly alike. Be flexible, but still try to ensure that your baby is getting enough rest. It will make life easier for all of you.

6 Ways to Avoid SIDS!

Six Things to Help Avoid Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

SIDS is a frightening word to parents of newborns. There is so little concrete knowledge about SIDS, as every case is different. However, there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the chances of your infant dying of SIDS. Here are five ways you can reduce the risk of SIDS.

1. Good prenatal care is one of the first things you can do to help prevent SIDS. A low birth weight can often contribute to SIDS. So mothers who are careful about their prenatal care and nutrition can have a healthier baby. Avoiding smoking, drugs and alcohol while pregnant also reduces the risk of SIDS. It has also been shown that having two babies in one year can raise the risk of SIDS for the second infant. Teen mothers have a higher risk of their infant dying of SIDS.

2. Having the right bedding for the crib is crucial to reducing the risk of SIDS. Putting the baby to sleep on the back, and using a firm mattress with a tight fitting sheet, is the first step. Despite everyone loving those cute comforter and bumper pad sets, they are best left out of the crib. The bumper pad reduces the amount of fresh air circulating around the baby. Both sleeping on the stomach and the comforter being too close to the face can cause the baby to rebreathe too much carbon dioxide, which is a significant factor in SIDS.

3. Use sleepers or baby sacks to help keep the baby warm on cold nights instead of a blanket. However, if the infant is too warm, that can also contribute to SIDS. It is important to find the proper balance. Even better, consider co-sleeping! Dr. Sears reports that co-sleeping with your infant dramatically reduces the incidence of SIDS. Studies have shown that when mothers co-sleep with their babies, the babies instinctively pattern their breathing after their mother's breathing!

4. Some studies have shown that pacifiers help reduce the occurrence of SIDS. The pacifier helps keep the air passage open. It also helps keep things away from the infant's mouth and nose. This can help prevent suffocation.

5. Avoiding second-hand smoke also reduces the risk of SIDS. Studies by the Surgeon General have shown that, "Infants who die from SIDS tend to have higher concentration of nicotine in their lungs and higher levels of cotinine (a biological marker for second-hand smoke exposure) than infants who die from other causes."

6. Breastfeeding has also been shown to help reduce the risk of SIDS, as there are fewer breastfed babies than formula babies who have died of SIDS. Breastfed babies tend to have a lower rate of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, both of which can contribute to SIDS.

Help! My Baby's Sleep is SO Inconsistent...

Babies aren't born with set sleep patterns!

When a newborn comes home with the family for the first time, there is a period of adjustment for everyone. While at the hospital, there are nurses to help; you are able to rest every time they take the baby to the nursery. You don't have to cook or clean. It's quite a different thing once you are home and you have complete responsibility for this new life. If you are first-time parents, your baby will be teaching you a lot as you both go on this adventure. Even if you are pros at this parenting thing, every child is different, so there will always be new things to learn.

Sleep is now at a premium. One of the best things you can do, especially in the first few weeks, is to nap any time the baby naps. Your body needs to adjust, and you will be tired. At first, the baby will likely be sleeping for about two hours at a time. You'll find yourself in a pattern of nursing, napping and new diapers. Don't try to force the baby to stay awake, or go to sleep at certain times. They have small tummies and need food frequently and will tend to fall asleep shortly after nursing.

Once the baby is about a month old, you will probably notice a change in their sleep habits. They will begin to sleep a bit longer at a stretch, around three hours at a time. Naps during the day may be about two or three hours each. You will notice they start to stay awake a bit longer after nursing. Watch for those signs that the baby is starting to get sleepy, like yawning or getting a glazed look. Once you get to know your child, you will start to see a pattern of when they are ready to sleep, and start a pre-nap or bedtime routine.

Between three and six months, most babies will begin to sleep through the night. It may not be a consistent thing at first, but their stomachs are able to hold more food and won't need to feed as often. You need to decide how to deal with those nights that the baby may slip back into the old pattern of waking off and on through the night. Do you use the "cry it out" method? Do you try co-sleeping? Do you use the "peek in and check" method?

All three of these methods have their supporters, and critics. It is up to you to decide what works best for your family. However, most doctors agree that forcing any behavior on an infant younger than one year is counterproductive. If something isn't working, try something else, while trying to maintain a routine of some sort at bedtime.

By about nine months, not only is everyone starting to get more sleep at night, your baby may only be napping once in the early afternoon. It is important that you find the best time for your baby to nap. If the nap is too early, they will probably be cranky by bedtime. If it is too late, or too long, bedtime will become a real nightmare. Look for the signs that they need a nap, and start the nap routine. If you need to adjust the start time of the nap, do so gradually by about thirty minutes a time until you find the right balance.

By establishing the routines early, and adjusting them as the sleep needs change, you will find everyone is much happier. It takes time, but it will be worth it once everyone is getting a good night's sleep.

For an in-depth resource that really works, check out the book "The 90-Minute Baby Sleep Program", listed to the right of this post in "My Favorites--Nice to try"!

Healthy Bedding for Baby

Decorating the nursery is one of the first things expectant parents tend to do. There are so many adorable things to choose from. There are a few must-haves that every new baby will need when they first come home from the hospital.

Every baby needs somewhere to sleep, so a crib is a good start. Some people prefer to have the baby in a bassinet or cradle in their room until the baby is a bit older. This way the baby is close by at night, and the smaller size of the bassinet makes the adjustment a little easier for some babies. Co-sleepers are also popular, as it keeps the baby even closer for late night feedings, but is still in their own space. If you look to the right of this post you will see the Arms Reach Co-sleeper available at Amazon.com (for a great price, I might add). Co-sleepers are available in every size--from tiny bassinets for the newborn to room for twins! This is what my husband and I used for our second baby, and we LOVE it! A Moses Basket is another great option for a newborn, as it fits into the Arms Reach Original Co-Sleeper for younger babies who need to feel more contained, yet is portable, too! (To find a reliable resource for the Arms Reach Co-sleepers and Moses Baskets, look to the right of this post at my "My Favorites--Why Not Try" list!)

Having the right mattress for the crib is also crucial. It should be a new, firm mattress. The mattress also needs to fit snugly in the crib. If you can fit two fingers between the edge of the mattress and the crib frame, the mattress is too small.

You can never have enough sheets. When those inevitable leaks happen, it is good to have plenty of replacement sheets handy for quick changes during the night or naptime. It is also important that the sheets fit well. If they are too loose, they can tangle around the baby at night.

Most people love the adorable comforter sets. They come with matching bumper pads and sheets. However, research has shown that it is best to not have the comforter and bumper pads in the crib as they can contribute to SIDS when the baby is less than a year old. You can still get the sets, and simply use the comforter while snuggling in the rocker until the baby is old enough to use it in the crib.

A great alternative to the comforters for keeping the baby warm is the baby sack. These are like sleeping bags with head and armholes. They keep the baby warm and they aren't able to squirm out from under them like they can a blanket. To find the absolute best organic baby sleep sack, click here!

Once you've purchased the bedding for the baby's room, be sure to wash it first with a gentle baby detergent. It will help reduce any possible dye residue on the product, as well as give it a nice, fresh scent. (I recommend Maggie's Soap Nuts or Charlie's Soap--both may be found on my "My Favorites--Nice to Try" resource list to the right of this post.)

Happy sleeping!

Tips for Helping Mom Cope with Baby's Sleep Schedule

A new baby in the family means changes for everyone. One of the biggest changes is in sleep, or rather lack thereof. Even if there are other children and you've gone through the adjustment before, every child is different. Some babies sleep through the night early, others make you wonder if you will ever sleep again.

One of the best pieces of advice given to new moms is: sleep when the baby sleeps. While this may seem simplistic, it really does help. Many moms treat nap times as work times, to get things done. But if you aren't well rested, you won't enjoy time with the baby when it is awake and ready to play.

Some babies are born with a "different clock"; they seem to want to be awake at night and asleep during the day. While still in the womb, babies were rocked to sleep during the day by the mother's movements. Then when mom settled down for the night, the babies think it's time to become more active. So, once the little one arrives, it will take some time to adjust to the new routine.

Even though it may be difficult at first, it is important to remind yourself that eventually things will settle into a normal routine. But what is normal for one family isn't for another. You have to find what works for yours. Start to establish a nap and bedtime routine as soon as you come home from the hospital. It will help the transition, and hopefully the baby will start sleeping regularly for you.

If your baby seems to be a night owl, and you want them to go to sleep at an earlier hour, try adjusting the time a little bit each day. It can also be a help to dim the lights as it gets closer to bedtime. This can help the baby adjust and realize it's time to sleep soon. Turn off the TV and maybe play some gentle music. It will help both of you relax. Once the baby is asleep, spend a little more time pampering yourself before getting some sleep.

Babies get hungry during the night. How you handle night-time feedings can make a difference to how much sleep everyone gets. If you are nursing, keeping the baby's crib in your room, or even co-sleeping, can reduce the amount of time it takes to get back to sleep. If you are bottle-feeding, you can ask your partner to take a turn feeding the baby during the night so that you get a little extra sleep.

All babies take time to begin sleeping through the night and it won't happen overnight. As long as you are consistent in your approach, everyone will soon find they are sleeping better. Remind yourself that you aren't a bad parent if you baby doesn't begin sleeping well right away. It just takes time.

For some great resources about helping baby sleep, check out the list to the right of this post: "My Favorites--Why not try"!