How to Establish Healthy Sleep Habits for Your Baby
Most of us are creatures of habit and rely heavily on a good night’s rest. The same can be said for your baby. When we first began to think about getting Evie started on a sleep routine, we were overwhelmed, to say the least. So much of my thoughts drifted between wondering if she got enough fulfillment from feedings or if she needed more nutrients as she grew. I was continually doing research online, looking up sleep methods, and asking friends with children how they got their babies into a routine. I won’t say my research wasn’t worth the effort, but I will say that even the most successful methods differ from baby to baby. What worked for us above all else is consistency! In this post, I’ll share which daytime sleep habits have worked to create a system for a restful bedtime routine for baby (and us!).
Sleep, Eat, Play, Repeat!
If I sound like a broken record saying, “consistency is key,” it’s because it is! Without it, you may find yourself in an uphill battle to get into a routine. The sleep, eat, play method begins as soon as our little one wakes up in the morning and continues until she goes to sleep at night. Our feeding schedule relies on a combination of formula and probiotics that help satisfy her appetite and aid in her getting rest. We’ve used Enfamil™ NeuroPro Formula from the get-go and have never had any issues with her finishing her bottles. The 31.40 oz size is always on our buybuy BABY shopping list and will continue to be until she turns 1!
Another critical component of this cycle is playtime. During this time, Kevin and I both make sure to engage with Evie. We do a combination of mat time play and encourage her to take the lead by selecting toys. Jumpers, activity centers, and walkers are all great methods for encouraging exploration. Another great tool for fun and learning are board books with sounds or puppets.
The Crib is the Designated Place for Sleeping
When we first had Evie, she would often fall asleep on us. This kind of sleep is completely common, especially in newborns, and is often encouraged when skin time is needed. Generally, this is a phase that your little will grow out of—especially if they’re sleeping in their own room. When we transitioned Evie from bassinet (in our room) to her nursery, we also made a substantial effort to have her nap in there as well. Creating the connection between her nursery and sleep helped ease her into a consistent nap routine. If you allow your little one to fall asleep in your arms, they may not be able to develop the necessary skills to fall asleep on their own.
As hard as the habit may be to break, creating this association is key! So much of this routine takes time and patience (on all sides.) Creating an environment that is both comforting and familiar frequently means turning to sleep tools - and let me tell you, they DO work!
Sleep Aids Are Your Friend
You need sleep just as much as your baby does, so don’t be nervous to introduce sleep aids to help soothe her to sleep. Evie never cared much to be swaddled, but we do find that she loves wearing a sleep sack. Much like swaddles, sleep sacks keep your baby warm and eliminate the need for any blankets. We utilize the sleep sack each time we put her down to sleep, which we find helps her sleep longer than if we hadn’t used one. If you are currently using a swaddle, a sleep sack is a great transitional sleep aid for your baby.
Kickee Pants Pajamas - I’ve shared a LOT about these pajamas! They are by far the best sleepers we’ve tired. The stretchy fabric and zippered fronts make them breathable and very easy to put-on.
Wubbanub - Any sleep aid that helps Evie relax if she’s upset or crying is her Wubbanub. The soft stuffed-animal lets her hold on and give her comfort, commonly easing her into sleep.
Nighttime Diapers -Once your baby hits a (size 3) diaper, you can begin to use Nighttime diapers. These make all the difference in keeping your baby dry throughout the night.
Crane Humidifier - This incredibly quiet humidifier last through the night and puts off quite a bit of moisture. We swore by this when Evie was stuffed up or had signs of a cold.
Comotomo Bottles - As part of our routine, we will commonly feed Evie before a nap. We’ve used these since the newborn days and can’t recommend them enough!
Nighttime Stories/Songs - We’ve talked about the benefits of our nighttime routine here. We suggest choosing a book or song to sing before bedtime!
Yogasleep Dohm Elite - Sound machines are also a total game changer! We ended up loving the Yogasleep Dohm Elite so much that we also purchased one for ourselves.
Baby Shusher - This is another sound machine that helps relax your little one. It’s small size also makes it convenient for travel.
Glider - When it comes time to purchase furniture, investing in a glider is a must! Aside from being a spot to snuggle and rock your little one, it’s something you’ll continue to use as they grow.
Nighttime Lotion - Nighttime lotions often contain ingredients or scents to relax your little one further. We utilize this during our nighttime changing session and give Evie a little massage before putting her in the crib.
Sleep Sack - Halo, Burt’s Bees, and Aden + Anais, all make great sleep sacks. With different fabrics and styles (sleeveless or long sleeve), you can find one that suits the current season.
12. Nightlight - I can’t tell you how many times we’ve stubbed a toe or stepped on something when going into the nursery at night. Wall lights are discrete and disperse the perfect amount of light to guide a path in the middle of the night. They also not typically bright enough to distract your little one at night.
13. Baby Monitor - Peace of mind is everything when your little one is sleeping. Wifi-enabled monitors with screens are the best for keeping an eye (and ear) on your sleeping baby. Safety 1st makes a great alternative that allows you to use your phone to monitor.
Utilize Pick-Up Services!
You may be thinking, what do deliveries or pick-ups have to do with my baby’s nap routine? Well, let me tell you! As parents, we’ve all experienced that moment of panic when we realize we forgot to purchase something during a recent shopping trip. It’s a mistake that’s bound to happen, and rather than panicking, turn to delivery services! buybuy BABY offers free in-store or curbside pick-ups and always has competitive prices on a vast number of baby items. We’re lucky to have a store right around the corner, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve placed online orders and found them ready for pick-up sooner than expected!
Read the Signs
In a perfect world, babies would nap several times a day and sleep restfully through the night. That is NOT the case. We are lucky that Evie naps as well as she does, but every day is not the same. Some days, she naps for 25 mins, other times, she’s down for her scheduled hour. This sleeping style isn’t something that should come as a surprise.
Babies grow and develop so rapidly that they’re bound to have some change when it comes to their sleep cycles. Due to these frequent growth spurts and general development, it’s essential to know the signs that your baby is tired. Aside from the physical actions, including rubbing eyes, yawning, etc., changes in behavior are also signs of sleepiness. Irritability and general fussiness are a clear indicator that our little one has passed her wake time. Another tip of advice that is easier said than done is to be able to roll with the changes.
As frustrating as it can be, know that you’re doing your best, and things will get better! Perhaps the best way to establish healthy sleep habits is to see what works best for your baby and maintain a consistency of repeating these habits daily. Many of our go-to practices have started with what we knew found to work with our lifestyle. You may find that an alternative bedtime routine works better than the one suggested here. My advice, try different practices until you find something that works and caters to your schedule.
Afterall when my baby is happy—the family is happy!
