Sleep is one of the most important factors for a baby’s health. During sleep, the baby rests, recovers, and develops. However, to ensure that the baby gets the maximum benefit from sleep, it is necessary to provide all the necessary conditions. In this article, we will look at several tips on how to put a newborn baby to sleep properly.
How to put an infant to sleep correctly?
To dispel the doubts of young parents, we have prepared the most popular answers to questions about pediatrics. Take note of this valuable information!
- How to put a newborn to sleep after feeding? The baby should not be put to bed within half an hour after feeding. It should be kept in a vertical position for 10-15 minutes to minimize immediate regurgitation. Infants regurgitate food, and this is inevitable. The reason for this phenomenon is that their muscles in the esophagus are not sufficiently developed to close properly. The baby may also feel uncomfortable due to gas if it is put to bed too early after feeding.
- How to put a newborn to sleep with colic? Children with colic often find it difficult to fall asleep when lying on their back. Since the cause of colic is unknown, some doctors believe that colic is caused by excessive gas or acid reflux. Regardless of the cause, you can put the baby on its side or tummy. Try laying the baby on its side on your knees, rocking its belly with one hand and allowing its head to rest on your forearm. Alternatively, you can place the baby on its stomach, supporting its abdomen from below with one hand. In any position, gentle pressure from your hand on its belly can help relieve excess gas and provide additional comfort.
- How to put a baby to sleep without swaddling? Swaddling is a necessary step to achieve independent sleep for the tiniest babies. However, as the baby grows older, you may begin to notice that it resists swaddling. This is a reason to abandon this measure. As a rule, children become more active between 2 and 4 months of age. Many begin to turn over at around 3 months.
- How to put a child to sleep when they’re teething? In this case, gentle pressure on the baby’s gums can help. All you need to do is run a clean finger along their gums while they’re going to sleep. The counter-pressure sensation can help them relax! Another useful tip for parents to normalize their child’s sleep can be an over-the-counter medication. Coordinate with your pediatrician to choose the appropriate medication and dosage that can help your child fall asleep peacefully.
- How to lay a newborn in a crib? Wait until the baby begins to fall asleep. Then stand up and hold him on his back. If he protests, rock him on your arms until he falls asleep. The next step is to start lowering him into the crib while he is almost asleep. When he protests, lift him up and rock him a little, and then stop. Keep repeating this action until the baby allows you to put him to bed without protest.
- How to lay a baby down without breastfeeding? Put the baby to sleep right before he falls asleep at your breast. Gently put your little finger between his gums to loosen his grip and lay him on his back to sleep in his crib.
- How to sleep correctly for the back and neck? Sleeping on the back provides the most secure sleep for your baby. There is compelling data from around the world indicating that a baby’s sleep on his back significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- How to sleep correctly so that your back does not hurt? As we mentioned earlier, the optimal sleep posture is lying on your back. However, it is also essential to create conditions for sleeping correctly for posture, as recommended by pediatricians. To do this, provide a firm and flat surface. Soft surfaces can increase the risk of suffocation and SIDS. Also, make sure that there are no items in the sleeping area: remove any soft items or unsecured bedding. These include pillows, blankets, and soft toys.
- How to sleep correctly so that your head does not hurt? Although the baby should sleep on his back, his position should be periodically changed. This measure is necessary to prevent plagiocephaly. Every night, put the baby with his legs in one direction, then in the other. Since infants tend to turn their heads to look for their parents, placing them in opposite directions will help them turn away from their favorite side to see adults. This advice will also be appropriate in answering the popular question of parents about how to sleep correctly so that the neck does not hurt. Frequent repositioning of the baby’s body will prevent the development of torticollis.
- How to lay a baby to sleep in stirrups? During the period of wearing stirrups, the baby should sleep on a firm mattress without a pillow. Position – on the back. At first, the baby may not like it, and he will be irritated, but after just 3-4 days, he will get used to it, and it will not cause any problems in the future.
- How to sleep correctly to grow? The relationship between growth and sleep, on the one hand, is a myth, on the other hand, a very real situation. During sleep and complete relaxation, bone and muscle tissue really do grow. It is only necessary to clarify that a child’s growth during sleep depends on its quantity. Somatotropin, the growth hormone, is produced in the child during the first sleep cycle. If a child does not get enough sleep, his growth hormone levels may decrease, causing the child to grow more slowly. According to the National Sleep Foundation, newborns should sleep for 14-17 hours a day. Some newborns can sleep up to 18-19 hours a day.
We have compiled a list of the most popular questions about how to properly put a baby to sleep. The period of sleepless nights with a little one is undoubtedly the most challenging, but also unforgettable. We wish you strength to overcome it stoically!
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