Helping your Baby Sleep

Listening to my two girlfriends talking both about their daughters who “will not sleep” and seeing how those moms could also need a break tosses me back to the days that my little ones had the hardest times sleeping through the night. Apart from illness, when you simply can expect to NOT sleep at night because you have to tend to your infant, you may find that there are some simple issues, when removed or dealt with, are actually hindering your baby from sleeping.

Here are a few articles around the web which I find to be helpful, each in it’s own right, to understanding what could be causing your wee one trouble finding a peaceful slumber.

Baby Won’t Sleep – Here’s Some Helpful Advice « Patsy Lockridge

Your baby may fall asleep immediately after and sometimes during a feeding. He will probably be indifferent to noises such as doors shutting or the radio and in fact, may find certain noises soothing. Babies sleeping patterns do vary …

Publish Date: 05/16/2010 4:28

http://blog.csis.suu.edu/wordpress-mu/patsylockridge/2010/05/15/baby-wont-sleep-heres-some-helpful-advice/

Helping Baby Sleep – Tips to Get Your Newborn to Sleep Through the …

One of the most common questions new parents try and find out is how to get their newborn to sleep through the night. Sleep is such an important part of our.

Publish Date: 05/16/2010 2:29

http://newbornbabycaretips.org/787/helping-baby-sleep-tips-to-get-your-newborn-to-sleep-through-the-night/

Ferber Baby Sleep Method | BabyCenter Video | Parenting-Success.com

Learn how to use Dr. Ferber’s sleep method to get your baby to sleep. For other tips on baby sleep and health visit.

Publish Date: 05/16/2010 1:58

http://www.parenting-success.com/newborn-baby/baby-sleep/ferber-baby-sleep-method-babycenter-video

My baby won’t sleep! HELP!!!? | Baby Care

My 9 month old daughter has never slept through the night since the day she was born. She can wake anywhere from 2 – 8 or even 9 times every night, the average.

Publish Date: 05/16/2010 9:31

http://babies.secretbest.com/16210/my-baby-wont-sleep-help-2/

Videos on Sleep Help for your Baby:

No Cry Sleep Solution

www.realsavvymoms.com: Real Moms, Real Stories, Real Savvy talk about ways to get your baby to sleep through the night using the No-Cry Sleep Solution

Co Sleeping

In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Troy fills in for Daddy Brad and joins Daddy Clay to talk about a controversial parenting topic, co-sleeping. Part of the attachment parenting movement, family co sleeping happens when the baby sleeps in the bed with…

So there you have it… um. You know, you need to find your own pace. Main thing: if you have a good understanding of your baby and her needs, you know these are met and your baby is healthy, then you need to find your comfort zone which can lead to “ferberize” or “co-sleeping” and pretty much anything in between. Rule of thumb: if you are comfortable, relaxed and feel comfortable in your role as a parent, your baby will be more at ease and you will find your way together.

Digging deeper:

• How do I get my 7 month old to sleep through the night? | Baby 411
• Babies And Bedtime Fussiness
• Baby Sleep Patterns
• Helping Baby Sleep – Tips to Get Your Newborn to Sleep Through the Night | Newborn Babycare Tips

Technorati Tags: baby sleep, infant sleep, sleep patterns, sleep safety

Top 10 Reasons Why Your Baby Won’t Sleep

Sleepless nights with your baby can threaten to rob you of the greatfulness you feel to have a wee one in your care. The truth is, if mom and dad are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis, they are going to be cranky and this will effect a few things in daily life.

There are numberous reasons why your baby won’t sleep, understanding this is key to finding a way to work around or even solve your sleepless nights.

Reasons why your Baby won’t sleep:

1. Lack of or no routine or change up in routine (for example visitors staying in the house, holidays, moving house, starting childcare or a new environment …)
2. Ignoring tired signs
3. Over or under stimulated with people or activities
4. Personality needs: Insecure and in need of contact and reassurance or fear of separation or just plain a snuggly little person
5. Immunizations
6. Hungry or Over fed
7. Just before achieving a new milestone like teething, learning to roll over, crawling…
8. Sleep associations such as rocking, pacifyer/dummy dependent
9. Health related issues: allergy and intolerance to substances or foods (direct or via breast milk), unwell or after an illness
10. Family situations – tensions picked up or a single parent craving a child’s company

One more often overlooked cause for infant sleep difficulties:  Weather conditions — Cold/windy/hot/full moon

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Checking this list may very well help you to discover what actually is hindering your baby from getting a peaceful night’s sleep. You might be surprised to discover that an elementary need can be accomodated and attended to, offering your baby just the missing ingredient to allow you all to have a peaceful night.

Understanding why your baby won’t sleep is a huge step in the right direction and once you have pinpointed the reason, you may work on eliminating this distractions/problems and move on to a good night’s rest.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 10 Ways to Get Baby to Sleep (blisstree.com)
• Low Breast Milk Supply (healthhype.com)

Technorati Tags: sleep patterns

How to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Certainly the greatest fear of any parent is the sudden death of their baby, also known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS.  What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and what you can do to lower the risk for your infant.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS, is the sudden and unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant during sleep.  It is the leading cause of death for children from one month to one year of age and is also known as “crib death” or “cot death”.

7 Tips to help reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

1. Check the Baby’s Crib Start with the baby crib.

   Be sure it has a firm mattress that is covered with a fitted sheet. Do not use a pillow in the crib, and remove any soft or fluffy bedding as well as stuffed toys.

   Thick cloth bumpers or any material that restricts airflow in the crib is not recommended.

2. Dress the Baby in Light Clothing

   Dress your baby in light clothing so she does not overheat. Sleep sacks are a safe and comfortable way to dress your baby for sleep, usually eliminating the need for additional blankets.

3. Keep the Room at a Moderate Temperature

   Keep the room temperature at a moderate setting that is comfortable for you. Watch the baby for signs of sweating or overheating, which may increase the risk of breathing difficulties.

4. Give the Baby a Pacifier

   Consider giving your child a pacifier in the crib. Studies have shown that pacifier use is linked to a reduction in SIDS. Do not force your baby to take the pacifier but offer it gently.

   If you are breastfeeding, you may wish to wait to offer the pacifier until after the baby is one month old to reduce the chance of nipple confusion.

5. Put the Baby to Sleep on Her Back

   Always place the baby to sleep on her back even for short naps. Make sure the baby’s head and face are uncovered while sleeping.

6. Maintain a Smoke-Free Environment

   Smoking has been shown to increase the risk of sudden infant death so be sure to maintain a smoke-free environment in your home.

7. Ensure that all Care-Takers of your Baby Understand and Adhere to these Tips

   Lastly, be sure that anyone who cares for your baby understands about putting the baby to sleep on her back and the other steps I have outlined above. Following these recommendations should help you sleep easier, too.

Following these tips will help lower the risk for Sudden Infant Death Sydrome.

Oded Preis MD Neonatology www.DrMDK.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Video memorial of our son (Aug 1, 2008 to Nov 13, 2008). God gave us an angel and we were blessed. We hope this memorial video will encourage you to treasure every single moment you spend with your loved ones and encourage a deeper walk with Christ, so that we all may enjoy the glory God has in store for us in the place where Nathan dwells. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” What a message John shares with us from scripture. Feel free to visit the Nathan Michael King Foundation website as we continue to develop it at www.nmksids.org Thank you so much for taking the time to watch the video. It is quite an honor to present our blessing to people. Nathan has and continues to have such an impact on people’s live’s. We were so blessed that God sent us such a beautiful angel. We are also blessed that our son continues to bring people closer to Christ even in his absense. I recall the verse Isaiah 11:6 “…and a child will lead them.” Nathan, of Hebrew origin, meaning “God has Given”, the son of King David, and prophet of God. What an honor, God gave us, to care for Nathan, present him to others, so that they may see God’s strength, power, mercy and grace through us. (All images and video can only be used at the sole permission from the King family. All music belongs to it’s artist and/or affiliates)

A brief video promoting widespread knowledge of SIDS and the steps to take to prevent the fatal syndrome. Features links to various sites with SIDS information, including SIDS Educational Services, created and run by South of Nowhere star Gabrielle Christian’s mother, Joani Nelson Horchler

Technorati Tags: baby health, sleep patterns, sleep safety

How to Survive Baby Not Sleeping Through the Night: Nap Time for Mommy

It is often said regarding newborn babies that a parent can say goodbye to getting a good night’s sleep ever again. Although this is an exaggeration, it is true to say that things change literally overnight when a baby is born. Babies do not lie down to sleep for eight hours like adults are supposed to, but wake at least every three hours in order to feed. As the keen-eyed among us will have noticed, this means that a parent’s sleeping pattern will be disturbed at least twice, on average, by a new baby and, even if parents take it in turns to get up and feed the baby there will still be no little disruption.

Add to this the fact that the mother probably has not been sleeping well with her large belly before the baby is born, and you might find yourself in a very stressful situation.

The lack of sleep can get to parents.

Frayed nerves are an almost inevitable effect of having a new baby in the house, and anyone living with a new parent will be well-advised to learn how to tread carefully so that they do not aggravate an already emotional person. Sleep is important, and there are ways that a sleeping pattern can be protected to an extent if not completely in the early days of having a new child. As anyone who has tried to wake someone else up will know, there are stages of awakeness. It is possible to feed a baby while still half-awake, although this is easier for the mother. With a baby bottle warmer it is, however, not impossible for a father or other family member to do the same – it just requires collaboration.

How to survive baby sleep patterns: Tip 1

Nap time for Mommy

With our five children we have experienced a few different challenges with our infants and thier nightly sleep patterns. Over time, I look forward to sharing with you some of our struggles and triumphs. My main tip for you today is to take your chances to sleep when you get them. Is the baby napping during the day? Consider taking a nap yourself. A rested mother is a more relaxed mother and more prepared to engage with her young baby.

Technorati Tags: napping, sleep patterns