Comfortable Babies Sleep Better

It’s a common belief that having a humidifier in the bedroom is only necessary when a baby has a cold. They remember how their own parents would use a vaporizer to relieve their congestion and cold when they were young. The fact is that a humidifier can help a baby to sleep better all the time, not just when they are sick.

The air inside your home can become dry during the winter, uncomfortably so. The air outside of your home is less humid and the heat from your heating system saps moisture from the air inside the home.

This creates a lack of moisture that leaves you feeling uncomfortable. It makes your skin itchy and can cause dry patches. You might notice your lips become chapped easier too. Not to mention dry nasal passages that lead to congestion and a stuffy nose, and possibly even nose bleeds.

These discomforts make it much more difficult to get to sleep at night, and that’s as an adult. So you know you can do something to help relieve the situation. Imagine what it must be like for a baby or infant to sleep at night when they don’t understand what is happening, why it’s happening, and have no way to do anything about it.

Dry air can also be cooler. Have you ever found yourself thinking that the heat of summer wouldn’t be all that bad if it wasn’t so humid? Well, the reverse is true for winter. You’d feel warmer – and better – if there was some extra humidity in your home. As an adult, you could grab an extra sweater and warm up a little. For babies though, the only thing they can do is cry and hope you can tell what they want.

An added benefit of using humidifiers for babies could be the white noise they generate. There has been some evidence that this white noise can help little ones to sleep better. Pediatricians believe that children actually sleep better when the room isn’t completely quiet. Babies can hear noises in the womb, and they can be amplified to over twice as loud as a vacuum cleaner. As such, babies can feel more comfortable in a nursery where there’s some noise going on.

If your baby gets fussy or congested a lot but doesn’t show any symptoms of illness, you should consider using a humidifier. Now that that’s out of the way, it’s on to the obvious next question;

What Type of Humidifier is Best for a Baby’s Nursery?

• Cold Mist Humidifiers

  A cool mist humidifier works by pressurizing water, breaking it down into tiny particles, and then forcing it back out into the air. As the water doesn’t get heated, there is some concern that these humidifiers just rotate germs back into the nursery air. However, there are plenty of options when it comes to choosing a cold mist humidifier. Some humidifiers will use ultrasonic sounds to break apart water particles, while others use chemicals. As with any kind of humidifier, the key is to always keep it clean and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Warm Mist Humidifiers

  A warm mist humidifier – or a vaporizer – converts water into steam by heating it before dispersing it throughout a room. As the process does involve heat, viruses and germs are eliminated during this process. However, make sure that the unit is kept out of the reach of children for safety’s sake. A warm mist humidifier can cost more than a cold mist one, and it will take a little electricity to use.

• Filter or Non-Filter

  Most modern humidifiers on the market have filters that ensure the water vapor released by the machine is as clean and germ-free as possible. Filters should be changed regularly anywhere between twice a week or once a month, depending on how often the humidifier is used. This can add a significant cost to owning a humidifier. Some humidifiers come with removable filters that can be taken out, washed, and re-used. These come with a higher up-front cost but can save money across the long run.

Best-Use Suggestions

When it comes to humidifiers for babies, pediatricians recommend using one with a built-in humidistat. That will allow you to track the humidity levels for the nursery. The ideal humidity level is 50%.

Whether using a cool-mist or warm-mist humidifier in the room, it’s important to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions about the type of water you should use and whether it’s safe to add chemicals or not. It’s also vital to follow the advice for cleaning the humidifier. Lots of parents who use humidifiers in the winter report they get the best results when they take time to clean it each day, which should only take about three or four minutes.

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If there was something you could do to improve your baby’s sleep, would you do it? Of course! Then again, there are no guarantees that your little one will be sleeping through the night at six months of age even if you do “everything right”. Some people, babies included, miraculously thrive on less sleep than what the experts say is ideal.

However, there are two factors that you have control over when it comes to encouraging your baby to sleep better at night. These two things are creating a sleep routine (also known as a sleep ritual), and putting your child in the right kind of diaper.

Sleep Rituals

One of the most important things you can do for your baby is to create a sleep ritual. A ritual is a series of events you do, in a specific order, that will help your child prepare for the night. In order for it to work, you need to practice the ritual consistently.

A part of your sleep ritual will include putting a clean, fresh diaper and pajamas on your baby. Whether or not you bathe, read a story, and sing a song is up to you.

The other important part of sleep includes creating an ideal environment for your baby. Ideally, the room should be quiet, dark, and a comfortable temperature. White noise, such as a fan, can be useful to muffle outside sounds and circulate air.

Wet Diapers Equal Bad Sleep

It’s pretty obvious to think that a wet diaper can wake up your baby in the middle of the night. You can imagine how uncomfortable it would be to lie in a soaking wet diaper, wet pajamas, and a wet bed.

Beyond ruining a good night’s sleep, a wet diaper also promotes the development of rashes. Even if your child manages to sleep through a soaked diaper, lying in a urine-soaked diaper can cause major skin irritation for baby’s sensitive skin. And rashes and irritation can make for a grumpy baby.

Sleeping in Diapers

There are the usual suggestions you can follow in an attempt to avoid a dripping diaper.

First, start with putting your child to bed in a fresh, dry diaper. This may seem obvious but sometimes if baby falls asleep earlier than normal, it’s easy to let them be, rather than waking them up to go through their regular sleep ritual and putting on a clean diaper.

You can buy the best fitting, most absorbent diaper you can find for your baby. You may need to experiment to find the best diaper. What works for your friend’s daughter may not work for your son.

You may even need to go up one diaper size in order to gain extra absorbency. Of course, you’ll have to ensure that a bigger diaper still fits properly. Although it may offer more absorbency, it can still leak if it’s too loose at the leg or waist openings.

Improve Cloth Diaper Absorbency for Night

If your child is in cloth diapers, you can double up on diapers or add an extra liner. If that doesn’t work, try a disposable diaper just for the night. Again, experiment with different brands and sizes until you find what works. GroVia makes soaker pads and boosters for cloth diapers.

Diapers at Night

During the night, only change your baby’s diaper if absolutely necessary.

Use the touch test. If the diaper feels like play dough at the front for boys or between the legs for girls, you will need to change it. When you get skilled at using the touch test, you won’t even have to remove pajamas to know what a wet diaper feels like.

By about 4 months of age, most children should be able to go through the night without a diaper change unless they’re waking frequently to eat. Follow the sleep rituals before bedtime and keep the lights off or as low as possible when you need to be up during the night.

The less stimulated your baby gets by bright lights and routines that should be saved for daylight, the quicker your baby’s body will adjust to nighttime routines which signals the body to produce less urine.

Controversial Advice

If your baby is still young and only on breastmilk or formula, withholding liquids after a certain time of day isn’t a good idea.

However, if your two-year old’s diaper keeps leaking and waking her up at 3 in the morning and she’s otherwise healthy and eating well, it may be time to eliminate unnecessary liquids an hour or two before bedtime. Sometimes switching to water is enough to limit the amount of liquids they consume.

Conclusion

If you’re struggling with getting your baby to sleep, there are a few things you can do to improve your baby’s sleep.

Firstly, make sure your baby is not bothered by an uncomfortable, ill-fitting, and soggy diaper. Yes, a poor diaper can very well affect your child’s sleep.

The next thing you can do is create and consistently enforce a predicable set of sleep rituals which includes putting on a dry diaper. Only change your child’s diaper during the night if they are very wet or dirty.

What is one thing you can do tonight to help your baby have a better night’s sleep?

_______________________________________________

Sophia Nguyen is the founder of “Healthy Baby Happy Earth” website. She is a blogger, and she loves writing about babies and helping the parents by providing only the most useful information. Follow Healthy Baby Happy Earth on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.

The post How Diapers Affect Your Baby’s Sleep appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

But expectations can also backfire on us, can’t they? Unhealthy expectations can turn what is a perfectly normal, reasonable situation or event into something that feels disappointing or sad. For instance, if you are expecting a big surprise party for your birthday, and instead get “just” flowers and a quiet dinner with your partner, you may feel disappointed, even though flowers + dinner add up to a pretty nice birthday! The expectation, however, was unreasonable and ended up ruining what could have been a great evening.

In the same way, the expectations we bring to parenting can help us or hurt us. And here’s one example of a hotly-debated expectation that, according to some, end up hurting families: self-soothing. There are some who argue that it is unreasonable to expect babies to self-soothe from infanthood, and that by doing so, we are setting ourselves and our babies up for failure and distress.

But is this true? Is expecting self-soothing expecting too much, or is it a healthy and productive expectation that gets us to sleeping through the night and consistent naps much faster?

Keep reading to hear Nicole’s take on this topic. She’ll be completing the rest of this article, sharing her insights and expertise on this topic. Scroll down to read Nicole’s expert opinions on self-soothing expectations!

Do We Expect Too Much When We Expect Babies To Self-Soothe? Expert Insights from Nicole Johnson

I recently came across an article about this topic when a mom writes about her 6 year old who is afraid of many things and needs her mom to lay with her to fall asleep (and you thought they outgrew it didn’t you?). I relate well to this age because older son’s fears and nightmares have definitely led to several night wakings in the past. Unfortunately, even after we tackle our baby’s sleep problems, toddler sleep problems aren’t too far behind (and he’s technically school-age, now).

My son’s sleep challenges have been a HUGE part of our lives since he was born (as evidenced by a whole website that came from them) and his nightmares have been no different in learning the best way to handle them. Just as the mom in the article feels, it is extremely important to me that my son always feels he can call me, come to me, count on me, and not be afraid. But, practically speaking, if I were to do everything he asks of me (when it comes to sleep, I mean), well we’d still be co-sleeping, and that just wasn’t going to happen (not that there is anything wrong with it, just didn’t work for us).

When I first read the article (which was very well-written), I found myself nodding my head “yes.” But, then I read some of the comments and thought, “But, at what point do we teach our kids to face their fears? Are we reinforcing the fear if we “give in” to it? If we don’t have them face fears, does it mean they will linger around even longer, unnecessarily, because we are reinforcing there is, in fact, something to be afraid of? Is there a middle ground?”

So, then I ask you this: “If your child ‘needs’ you to lay down with him to fall asleep every night, do you teach him that he will always ‘need’ someone to sleep with?” Will this be the same person who jumps from one relationship to another for fear or dislike of being alone? Or, will it be someone like my son who wasn’t allowed to sleep with his parents when he wanted to (and he will vow to do differently with his kids) or the author of the article because her mom didn’t lay down with her? It is SO complicated and confusing and there is only one answer I can come up with and that is no matter what we do, our kids will vow to do something different than we did just like we vowed to do something different than our parents.

But What About Babies? Can Babies Self-Soothe, Or Is That Expecting Too Much?

Are we expecting too much to have babies learn how to self-soothe at an early age? Do we under-estimate our children or over-estimate them? When, then, is it the right time to teach our babies to self-soothe? 4 months? 6 years? Or, let them do it when they feel ready?

The point at which I decided my son wanted me to rock or nurse him to sleep (as opposed to needing me to), was when I decided he had abilities even he didn’t know he had. Once I realized he was doing what he LEARNED to do rather than what he NEEDED to do (his sleep problems were my fault, after all), that’s when I decided to help him learn how to self-soothe. He has gone through similar points in potty training (didn’t show too much interest, but was potty trained for pee in one week and poop in one month, including all night and never had a nighttime accident and we did it very gently!), reading on his own (learned when he was four), and riding his bike without training wheels (still working on that one and taking it slow).

The day YOU teach YOUR baby how to self-soothe may be different from everyone else. And, the day you decide not to lay with your toddler while she falls asleep may be another. There is no set age and they go through so many different phases. What I have found, with my son anyway, is that he needs a very balanced approach in parenting. If I give him too much help than what he THINKS he needs, it really keeps him from achieving what I know that he can. When my son is scared at bedtime, you bet I do hug and talk to him about it. If he has a nightmare, he can always come to me, we leave a light on, and I cuddle him in bed. But, do I lay down with him while he falls asleep or sleep in his bed? Absolutely not.

We need to know and empower our children, and teach them it is okay to express themselves and their feelings. We need to teach them when we feel confident they are ready, not necessarily when they think they are ready. We have the wisdom to help guide them. And, we should neither ignore their fears or coddle them. We should talk to them. Talk about their fears. And, let them face and conquer them.

What do you think? Is self-soothing something that should be taught or should we let our babies learn when they’re ready? Are you expecting too much if you expect self-soothing? Scroll down to ask questions, to share tips, and to hear from other parents just like you!

The post Is Expecting Self-Soothing Expecting Too Much? appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Occasionally, we have clients email us with what they think is a “silly” question.

What should my baby sleep in and wear to bed?

They want to know what we recommend by way of pajamas, sleep sacks, etc. for babies and toddlers. This is a great question!

We, new parents, tend to be overly worried our babies will be cold. So, it is probably rare that babies are not dressed warmly enough. Consider that babies can be dressed TOO warmly just the same as not warmly enough.

Here are a few general guidelines as to what babies sleep in at various ages. Do use your best judgment, though. Decide on what your baby should sleep in based on where you live, how hot/cold you keep the temperature in your house when your baby sleeps, and your baby’s preference. There may also be other unique factors you need to consider as well.

These are just guidelines and you know your baby best!

What Should Swaddled Newborns Sleep In and Wear To Bed?

Do not want to dress your newborn in too-warm pajamas because she will be swaddled, too. This is an added layer that may make her too warm. And, if your baby may fall asleep in a car seat, this may also add a bit of heat.

Not only could being too warm make your baby uncomfortable, but it also increases the risk of SIDS (note that using a fan can decrease the risk by 72%).

Think about layers at every age, because if he or she feels too warm, you can simply remove one layer at night. If she spits up on the outer layer, depending on severity, you can simply replace the outer layer, too.

For newborns who are swaddled, I recommend a onesie underneath a light sleep-and-play outfit (long-sleeve in the winter and short-sleeve in the summer). Then, swaddle your baby.

In the summer, you can probably skip the footed outfit or socks, but in the winter, you may want to keep them on.

If your newborn is not swaddled, read on.

What Do Babies Sleep In and Wear To Bed?

Once your newborn has grown up a bit and you are trying to stop swaddling your baby, you can dress your baby the same as a newborn. But, instead of a swaddle, consider a sleep sack.

A sleep sack is a wearable blanket and is safer than putting a loose, thick blanket in the crib with your baby. Babies don’t have the fine motor skills she needs to keep it off her head.

This transition swaddle is another good choice, so you can gradually get your baby used to being unswaddled.

In the summer, depending on the temperature of your house, you may want to skip the sleep sack or blanket all together. Babies sleep better in a cooler temperature, approximately 68-70 degrees as do adults. For most people (though not me), body temperature drops at night in order to lead to a better night’s sleep. If your baby’s body temperature doesn’t drop, you should dress him even lighter.

What Do Toddlers Sleep In and Wear To Bed?

One important thing with toddlers is that when they are TOO warm when they sleep, they are more prone to night terrors and nightmares.

So, you do want to make sure your toddler is warm enough at night, but not too warm, just like your baby.

Your toddler’s skin should be comfortable to the touch and even a little cool, but not cold/frigid.

Even when your toddler can talk, it isn’t always something they can express as to why they are waking at night. Sometimes we have to be detectives (at least I’ve felt that way!)

Many people continue to use sleep sacks into the toddler years, so this is still a good option. They make wearable blankets that allow your toddler to walk in them. And, then you don’t have to worry about him keeping the covers on at night.

The Merino Kids Baby Sleep Bag is a good choice. It is made from Merino Wool, which regulates your toddler’s body heat. And, they make a baby’s sleep bag, too, that helps to regulate your baby’s temperature.

There are also toddler sleep sacks that have legs for your toddler’s feet to go through, so he can walk while wearing the blanket.

What if Your Baby or Toddler Doesn’t Like Sleep Sacks?

If you and/or your baby or toddler do not like a wearable blanket or sleep sack, most people use a regular blanket. However, don’t expect your toddler to keep the covers on all night until sometime after three or four years old, usually.

There are probably a few two-year-olds who will keep them on, learn to replace them on their own early, or simply don’t move too much at night, but generally, we expect 3 and 4 year olds to continue to call for you at night to replace the covers.

Therefore, if your toddler is repeatedly calling for you in the middle of the night to be covered up, we recommend simply dressing her more warmly. This way, she doesn’t need the covers on at all. That way, once the covers come off, it won’t matter.

In the Winter, and if your toddler is prone to being cold, consider fleece pajamas or putting a t-shirt on underneath cotton pajamas plus socks.

What does/did your baby or toddler wear to bed? Did your baby or toddler prefer to sleep in certain kinds of pajamas? Share below!

The post What Pajamas Do Babies and Toddlers Sleep In? appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Let’s be honest here – we’ve all done this. When your baby is crying at 2 a.m., and you know that offering a quick feed would silence those cries and put that baby right back to sleep, what do you do?

Simple…you feed that baby to sleep!

Feeding a baby to sleep is one of the quickest and easiest ways to help your baby relax and fall asleep, to be sure…but it’s not without its drawbacks. There’s a “dark side” to feeding your baby to sleep.

And this is just what we’re studying in today’s blog article! We’ll take a look at “the good”, “the bad”, and “the ugly” of feeding your baby to sleep.

Nursing Baby To Sleep: The Good

Let’s start with “the good” of nursing your baby to sleep. This one is pretty simple – as any mama who’s nursed her baby to sleep can tell you, feeding a baby to sleep is fast, simple, and incredibly effective – even the fussiest, most overtired baby will relax and drift off after mom puts him to the breast. Why? Well, for starters, sucking itself is incredibly relaxing for babies. Additionally, being held securely against mom’s body is pretty relaxing as well.

But there’s more at work here than mere sucking and cuddling. There’s evidence that evening breastmilk actually has a sedating effect on babies. A group of Spanish researchers discovered that breastmilk produced in the evening and over the course of the night contains noticeably higher levels of the nucleotides that are associated with sleep. (By contrast, breastmilk produced in the morning has a stimulating effect; this is one reason why it’s best not to pump your milk first thing in the morning and then feed it to baby at bedtime!)

So there you go – not only does the very act of feeding your baby make her drowsy and relaxed, thanks to the sucking and cuddling that’s involved; if you’re breastfeeding, your evening breastmilk actually acts as a sedative!

Nursing Baby To Sleep: The Bad

Nursing your baby to sleep has some downsides, however. For starters, while many of us sooooooo enjoy nursing our newborns to sleep in those early weeks and months after birth, feeding your baby to sleep before EVERY sleep time can become exhausting and burdensome after a while.

Here’s why: if your baby doesn’t sleep well at night or wakes early from naps, you may be looking at needing to feed your baby to sleep after every interrupted waking. This can mean you’re bringing your baby to the breast, or offering a bottle, every hour or so at night (or possibly even more frequently, depending on your situation)! Same with naps – if your baby takes short naps, you may end up feeding your baby to sleep at the start of a nap, and then having to nurse your baby back to sleep after she wakes too early, then you may be spending A LOT of time feeding or nursing to sleep during the day.

Additionally, while parents who use formula can take shifts feeding baby to sleep (which means you get a break each time your partner feeds baby to sleep), moms who are exclusively breastfeeding are basically stuck – if your baby is used to falling asleep “at the source” (i.e. at the breast), then YOU have to be the one feeding baby to sleep before each nap, and at bedtime, and after each night waking. Talk about exhausting! Even the strongest, most resilient moms find that exhausting after awhile.

Nursing Baby To Sleep: The Ugly

As much as I hate to say it…there’s an ugly side of routinely feeding your baby to sleep. If you nurse or feed your baby to sleep all the time, or almost all the time, then it’s almost certain that feeding is a sleep association for your baby. Simply put, your baby has come to associate feeding with falling asleep, which means that your baby needs you to feed her in order to fall asleep – she doesn’t know she can fall asleep any other way. The longer you feed your baby to sleep, the more you reinforce this association.

This explains why so, so many moms are still nursing their older babies and toddlers to sleep every two or three hours at night. See, even though their little ones are old enough to sleep through the night, they aren’t; every time they wake between sleep cycles, they don’t know how to put themselves back to sleep without help from mom or dad, in the form of a feed.

Helping Baby Learn To Sleep WITHOUT Nursing and Feeding

Fortunately, all hope is not lost – even if your baby has to feed to sleep 100% of the time, you CAN gently wean your baby from needing to breastfeed to sleep, and teach him to fall asleep without help. This is what sleep training does – it gently and gradually helps your baby learn to fall asleep independently, without any help from you in the form of feeding or rocking or holding to sleep.

Why bother with teaching your baby to fall asleep without nursing or feeding? Simple – it’ll lead to sleeping through the night and longer naps for your child! The truth is, we all wake briefly between sleep cycles – you do it, and your baby does, too. But you are able to roll over, fluff your pillow, reposition yourself, and go right back to sleep. Your baby, on the other hand, doesn’t know how to fall asleep without your help, so he needs YOU in order to fall back asleep. But through the process of sleep coaching, your baby comes to learn how to fall back to sleep quickly between sleep cycles without help…and THIS is how you get from multiple nighttime wakings to sleeping through the night.

Sleep Training Help That Works – Guaranteed!

The process of sleep training your baby, and gently helping her to learn healthier sleeping habits, can be overwhelming for many families…fortunately, we’re here to help! We’ve been helping families just like yours “find their” sleep for years – and we can help you, too! Our consultants at The Baby Sleep Site^® specialize in creating Personalized Sleep Plans™ that are customized to your own parenting philosophy, and that will NEVER make you feel guilty or pressured. Even better, once you have your Personalized Sleep Plan™, your consultant will walk you through each step of implementing it at home.

Browse our list of consultation package options here.

Once you make your choice and purchase, you will immediately receive an e-mail with your Helpdesk login information. You’ll be able to login and start your Family Sleep History form right away – it’s that simple!

Want more information about how personalized help works? Check out our FAQ page here, and get answers.

Why does your baby fight sleep? Share your experiences and tips with us!

 
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Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep is THE newborn sleep book that will help you to not only improve your newborn’s sleep using gentle, sleep-inducing routines – it will also answer your feeding and newborn care questions. You can even buy a bundle package that includes the e-book AND a Personalized Sleep Plan™ PLUS a follow-up email to use for further support!
 
For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
 
 
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.
 
For those persistent toddler sleep struggles, check out The 5 Step System to Help Your Toddler Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your toddler sleep through the night and enjoy a better daytime schedule.
 

Need help knowing where to start? Visit our Help Me Choose page for helping choosing the Baby Sleep Site^® resources that are right for you.

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If you’re a parent in the 21st century, then you’ve no doubt heard the recommendations about safe sleeping for babies, right? By now, just about every new parent understands that the safest way for a baby to sleep is on her back, and not on her stomach. Why? Because back sleeping reduces the risk of SIDS (presumably because it reduces the risk of baby re-breathing carbon dioxide and therefore not getting enough oxygen).

This recommendation was the cornerstone of the 1994 Back to Sleep campaign, and at that time, it was fairly earth-shattering. Up until 1994, parents were urged to place their babies on their tummies to sleep, since it reduced the risk that baby would spit up and then choke during the night.

But here’s what’s tricky: in our experience, some babies seem to prefer sleeping on their stomachs. And typically, once a baby can roll onto his stomach, he’ll roll mid-nap, or in the middle of the night, and end up sleeping on his stomach.

This is what we’re discussing today. If your baby just won’t sleep on her back, can you put her to bed on her stomach? And what should you do when your baby is able to roll from her back to her stomach during sleep? Should you leave her on her stomach, or should you roll her back the other way?

Baby Sleeping On Stomach: What If My Baby Prefers To Sleep That Way

Oh, this is tricky. First off, it’s important to remember that we are not in the business of dispensing medical advice here at The Baby Sleep Site^®, so when it comes to determining the safest sleeping arrangements for your baby, you should absolutely talk to your healthcare provider.

That said – we’d first advise that you try to get your baby used to laying on his back. While many babies seem to prefer to sleep on their stomachs, a baby can get used to lying on his back, and will eventually grow more comfortable sleeping that way. So try this as a first step: have your baby spend time on his back, during his awake time, and try to start off each nap and bedtime with your baby on his back.

If your baby is still fussing like crazy, then you may want to try swaddling your baby for sleep. Many babies object to back sleeping because they can’t curl up tightly into their snug fetal positions, the way they can when they’re on their stomachs. But if you swaddle your baby snugly, you can re-create that cozy, womb-like feel while still placing your child on her back. Just be sure to follow safe swaddling recommendations.

If your baby just will not settle and sleep on his back, however – even when swaddled – then you may need to talk to your healthcare provider about whether or not it’s safe for your baby to sleep on his stomach. No one other than your healthcare provider is qualified to comment on the safety of putting your baby to sleep on his stomach, so it’s important that you have this conversation.

Now, if your healthcare provider clears it, then you can try placing your baby on his stomach for sleeping. As many SIDS researchers point out, most babies will naturally assume the sleeping position that will allow them to breathe freely and comfortably, so provided your baby is healthy and full-term, and that your healthcare provider is on board, it is probably okay to allow your baby to sleep on his stomach, if he just won’t sleep on his back.

Baby Sleeping On Stomach: If My Baby Rolls, Can I Just Leave Her On Her Stomach?

This is a question that our consultants hear quite often in the Helpdesk, so we thought we’d take some time to answer it for you here. The fact is, while it may be relatively easy to place your baby on her back for sleep when she’s a newborn, that newborn will quickly become mobile: by about 3-4 months of age, many babies are learning to roll, and while rolling is an important milestone that paves the way for even greater mobility in the coming months, it concerns many parents when they check in on their babies and find them sleeping on their stomachs.

So what’s a safety-focused parent to do? Do you leave your baby on her stomach, or do you roll your baby over again onto her back, and risk waking her up?

Again, it’s important that you talk to your healthcare provider about your baby’s sleeping position, particularly if your baby is premature or has health problems. That said, it’s widely accepted that if your baby has the ability to roll from her back onto her stomach, she likely also has the muscle control and neurological maturity to regulate her breathing well, and to shift her position if she is not getting enough oxygen. In other words, a baby who can roll onto her stomach can no doubt sleep safely that way. It is recommended that you start each sleep time by putting your baby down on her back, but then, if she rolls onto her stomach, you can leave her to sleep that way.

Baby Sleeping On Stomach: As Always, Follow Safe Sleep Guidelines

It is always important that you follow safe sleeping guidelines with your baby – but if your baby will be spending any time sleeping on her stomach, then it’s downright crucial.

Here’s a quick overview of safe sleeping recommendations that you’ll want to follow in your home:

• Your baby should sleep on a firm surface that’s covered by a tight-fitting sheet.
• There should be no loose bedding, soft pillows, or stuffed toys in your baby’s sleeping area.
• It’s safest if your baby is sleeping near your bed (so that you can keep an eye on her), but not sleeping in your bed, which carries risks of suffocation. (That said, we pass no judgment on parents who make informed decisions to bed-share, and who do so safely.)
• Try running a fan in your baby’s room – there’s evidence that it can reduce SIDS risks by up to 72%.
• Speaking of fans – overheating is linked to SIDS, so dress your baby in light layers for sleep, and keep the bedroom temperature on the cool side.

Need Help With Your Newborn’s Sleep? Download our Free e-Book!

FREE: 15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Need to Know
This is the perfect guide for new and expectant parents! It highlights the basics that every new parent needs to know about baby sleep, and it explains them in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way. Even better, the e-Book leaves plenty of room for parents to follow their instincts, and to create their own philosophy of parenting and sleep – no one-size-fits-all approaches here! This e-Book also comes with a blank sample sleep plan; this sample plan will give you a great overview of exactly what our signature Personalized Sleep Plans^® contain.

Learn More & Download

Share your back vs. stomach sleeping tips and experiences with us in the comments below!

The post Baby Sleeping On Stomach? Here’s What You Need To Know appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

It’s so exciting to watch your young infant grow and develop and learn new skills, isn’t it? For most parents, the first major mobility milestone we squeal over is watching our babies learn to roll over. You know what I mean, right? That first time you see your baby arch her back, lift her head, lean to one side, and then suddenly – FLOP! She’s rolling over!

So cute and exciting! Unless… it’s happening during sleep. Then, it’s frustrating and exhausting. Why? Because (as I know many of you can attest) a baby who’s rolling is a baby who’s NOT sleeping.

So how can you manage your little baby’s rolling during sleep, and keep her safe, while also ensuring that she’s getting enough sleep?

Read on for details!

Baby Rolling Over In Sleep: Why It Happens

Simple – your baby is rolling over during sleep because he can! You’ll find, as your child grows, and practices his new skills, that he doesn’t really discriminate between awake time and asleep time (or, rather, ought-to-be-asleep time!). When your baby learns to pull to a standing position, for example, it is very, very likely that instead of napping or falling asleep quickly at bedtime, your baby is way more interested in standing!

The same is true for rolling. While he’s awake in the crib, your baby may practice rolling over – and that may mean that he doesn’t fall asleep quickly, or that he ends up spending long periods awake at night, rolling. You will probably also find that your baby rolls while asleep and that the act of rolling wakes him up. This can REALLY be a frustrating, vicious circle, as your baby can’t seem to help to roll over, which means lots of nighttime and mid-nap waking. In fact, many babies may tolerate tummy time while awake but do not enjoy being on their tummy to sleep.

Baby Rolling Over In Sleep: Safety First!

First and foremost, it’s crucial to ensure that your baby’s newfound rolling mobility isn’t creating an unsafe sleep situation. If your baby is still swaddled for sleep, you’ll want stop swaddling once she can rollover. A swaddled baby should never sleep face-down on her stomach. Plus, all that rolling will no doubt loosen your swaddle blankets, which can be a big suffocation risk. Instead of swaddling, try a sleep sack. We love the Zipadee-Zip! Its custom design provides enough resistance to still be nice and cozy, just like the swaddle.

You’ll also want to be sure that your baby’s sleep surface is flat and free of any loose blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or toys. Now that your baby can roll, her entire sleeping area is fair game, meaning that every inch of it absolutely has to be baby-proofed.

Finally, many parents feel like they need to turn their babies back over onto their backs when they roll onto their stomachs, as back sleeping is safer than tummy-sleeping. However, many medical experts advise that once your baby is able to roll over onto her stomach, it’s safe for her to sleep that way. Of course, be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider, and get their approval before you leave your baby to sleep on her tummy.

Baby Rolling Over In Sleep: How To Help

Now, as for how to help your baby through this stage, and maximize everyone’s sleep: first, remember that there is no “cure” for this. Your baby’s rolling is a totally natural part of his growth and development, so you can’t really fix this by stopping the rolling.

That said, some parents find that simply turning their children over each time they roll is a great way to help them through this phase. That’s especially true for babies who can roll one way (say, back to front), but can’t roll the other way, and who don’t really like being “stuck” in a different position. Since this phase is usually short-lived (generally 2-3 weeks), this is an easy, short-term solution.

You can also invest in a product like the Tranquilo Safe Sleep Swaddle (though it’s not a swaddle!) which helps keep babies positioned on their backs in the center of the crib. If your baby prefers to sleep on her back and gets upset when she rolls onto her belly and can’t roll back, one of these products can be a perfect solution. Note, though, that some babies may be frustrated by not being able to roll, and that frustration may cause other sleeping problems.

Is your baby rolling over in sleep onto his or her stomach? How did you handle it?

The post Baby Rolling Over In Sleep? Here’s How To Help. appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

As if sleep regressions, growth spurts, sleep associations, changing nap schedules, and feeding struggles aren’t enough – a parent has to deal with baby teething pain, too!

No wonder, then, that over the last 10 years we have gotten so many questions about baby teething symptoms, and how to manage a teething baby that causes sleep disturbances in our Helpdesk!

Not to worry, though – when baby teething starts, you don’t have to suffer through teething drama alone. In this post, we’re looking at 3 tips to help manage your baby’s teething discomfort and sleep disturbances, as well as info on how you can offer comfort without undoing any sleep training progress you’ve made up to this point.

Baby Teething Symptoms

First, let’s examine some common baby teething symptoms so that you can watch for signs of teething and be proactive. Baby teething symptoms include the following:

• Drooling which can also cause a teething rash, a chapped, red chin from the drool
• Red and sore gums
• Diaper rash due to watery stools from swallowing so much extra saliva
• Diarrhea (from swallowing extra saliva)
• Refusal to feed (tender and sore gums make it tough to nurse and eat comfortably)
• Biting (your baby may chew on hands, toys, or – if you’re breastfeeding – on you!)
• Ear-pulling and/or cheek-rubbing
• Waking frequently at night
• More fussing/crying and irritability than usual
• Low-grade fever (99-100 degrees)

You May Also Be Interested In…

• How Teething Impacts Appetite (for Milk and Solid Foods)
• Sleep Regressions: Everything You Need to Know (maybe it’s not teething at all!)

When Do Babies Start Teething? How Long Does Teething Last?

Babies start getting teeth between 5 and 10 months of age and according to the American Dental Association, babies will have a full set of 20 teeth by the age of 3 years old. The front teeth are usually first and when I work directly with parents, molars at one and two years old, and eye teeth or canines around 18 months old are the most difficult. So these symptoms will come and go with sleep being affected for 4-5 nights, on average, when a tooth is cutting through the gums.

When Should Your Baby See a Dentist?

You should see a pediatric dentist by 12 months old so they can show you how to clean your baby’s new teeth effectively and avoid cavities. However, some people wait until 18 months to two years old. In some cases, the dentist will seal the molars, so I recommend seeing a dentist sooner rather than later. It can help develop a good relationship from the beginning since many adults hate the dentist. Good oral hygiene helps your overall health.

Baby Teething and Sleep: 3 Tips To Soothe Your Baby and Promote Sleep

If your baby is teething and very uncomfortable, it will almost certainly mess with their sleep schedule, at least for a bit. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teething can disrupt sleep though some parents have reported their baby sleeps more than usual.

Fortunately, there are ways you can provide comfort while still preserving good sleep habits, and ensuring you don’t inadvertently help your baby form new sleep associations.

Teething Toys and Teething Rings

There are many teething toys and teething rings out there, that can help minimize some of your child’s pain. These baby teething tubes are hypoallergenic and easy to clean.

These teething devices are meant to massage baby gums to give some relief from the added pressure. And, many of them are designed to be refrigerated or frozen. The coldness can help numb your baby’s sore gums naturally.

But remember, you don’t have to be high-tech with your teething tools…a “homemade” option, like a cold washcloth, can work wonders, too! You can help your baby by gently rubbing a cold washcloth over their gums.

Use Pain Reliever

Teething toys won’t exactly work during times when your child is sleeping (or, rather, is supposed to be sleeping!). If the pain is bad and is keeping your child awake, then try offering pain reliever such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help alleviate your baby’s pain. Just be sure to check with your healthcare provider before offering any medication to make sure it’s right for your baby.

You may want to time when you offer pain reliever with when you know your baby or toddler will need to feed. So, for example, try offering a dose right after the bedtime feeding. The medication will last 4-6 hours, and that will maximize the chances that your baby will give you a good, long stretch of sleep at the start of the night. Also, you will want to avoid products containing benzocaine! That’s the ingredient proven unsafe for children younger than two years by the Food and Drug Administration in 2018.

Here are a few other medications or treatments (all Benzocaine-free) with your doctor’s approval to consider rather than Ibuprofen or Tylenol:

• Camilia – Homeopathic drops to relieve teething and minor stomach upset
• Hyland’s – Homeopathic oral pain relief

I had my babies quite some time ago, but you will want to experiment with the proper teething remedy for your baby. My second son did well with Ibuprofen but not Tylenol. He would go to sleep pretty quickly after getting some when a tooth was cutting through, but again, be sure to get the green light from your pediatrician before giving any pain relievers.

Baby Teething and Sleep Training

So, what should you do if your child suddenly starts teething during sleep training? We recommend that you keep on sleep training. Now, this is a general recommendation – there are times when teething discomfort may be so intense that you have to just suspend your efforts for a night or two. But in general, we recommend that you don’t stop sleep training due to teething. There will ALWAYS be “issues” that crop up, which will impact your baby’s sleep, and if you were to stop for all of them, you may never get around to teaching your baby better sleep habits! While you might need to moderate your sleep training efforts a bit, and will definitely need to adjust your expectations during teething, it’s usually best to stick with sleep coaching.

We’d also recommend that you don’t make teething an excuse for putting off sleep training, or for suffering through interrupted sleep. Remember, your child will teethe for a 2-3 years on and off – so if you wait until teething is over to start working on sleep, you’ll be waiting for a long time!! That translates to a lot of lost sleep for all of you. You will no doubt always be able to find a reason to avoid or delay sleep coaching, but if your little one’s sleep is truly problematic, then it’s usually best to just start sleep training, and deal with any speed bumps like teething as they crop up. We know that when it comes to sleep training, the first step is usually the hardest to take – but once you take it, you’ll be well on your way to better sleep!

Provide Comfort Without Undoing Progress With Sleep Training

Figure out how you can provide comfort without creating new “bad” sleep habits, or undoing sleep training progress. For instance, if you want to reinforce the habit of sleeping in the crib, avoid bringing your baby into bed with you during bouts of teething pain – instead, hold your baby until she’s calm, but put her back down in her crib to fall back to sleep. You will definitely want to comfort your baby during teething pain, and when the pain is at its worst, you may need to have a night or two when you break all your “rules” but do try to avoid doing anything that you don’t want to do long-term. One night of co-sleeping for comfort won’t hurt, but if you do it every night for two weeks, then you’ve most likely just created a brand-new expectation for your baby.

My plan with my first son was that if he was extra fussy during the day, I’d give him Ibuprofen at bedtime. If he had any night wakings 6+ hours (give or take 1 hour) after the medication, I’d tend to him with another dose and then stay with him for 30 minutes until it kicked in and he was calm, then I’d put him back down. It was usually only about 2-4 days of super fussy times that he needed extra soothing until the tooth popped through. Other times, I’d have to be more stringent on my nighttime visits, because of the problems it would create.

Need more sleep training tips while teething? Become a VIP and unlock more teething and sleep training tips along with access to all our e-Books, recordings, workbooks, live chat with a sleep consultant, and more!

The post Baby Teething and Sleep: 3 Proven Tips appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

]]> https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-comfort/baby-teething-sleep/feed/ 25 https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-comfort/baby-shots-vaccines-immunizations-sleep-plus-schedule/ https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-comfort/baby-shots-vaccines-immunizations-sleep-plus-schedule/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:00:59 +0000 http://www.babysleepsite.com/?p=15914   2019 Baby Shot/Immunization Chart from the CDC: Shots. Vaccines. Immunizations. Whatever you call them, they’re part of raising a child in today’s world. As those of you with babies at home can attest, most children (at least, those in America and in many other developed nations) receive a LOT of shots in the first […]

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2019 Baby Shot/Immunization Chart from the CDC:

Shots. Vaccines. Immunizations. Whatever you call them, they’re part of raising a child in today’s world. As those of you with babies at home can attest, most children (at least, those in America and in many other developed nations) receive a LOT of shots in the first 5 or 6 years of life. These vaccinations are key to preventing life-threatening disease, and are for many, are considered an important part of preventative health care, but they can also stress a parent out!

Now, there are loads of medical questions that you may have about baby immunizations, and how they will affect your little one. We won’t be tackling all of those in today’s article, but we WILL be addressing a few questions in particular:

• How do baby shots (or vaccines, or immunizations, depending on your preference) affect sleep?
• How can parents comfort their babies after vaccinations?
• Are there steps moms and dads should take to prepare for vaccines?

All good questions – and questions that we answer in today’s article!

How Do Baby Shots Affect Sleep?

This question is pretty easy to answer, actually. In general, vaccines and immunizations will affect your baby’s sleep the same way that illness does. In short, right after getting shots, your baby will more than likely be extra sleepy, and sleep more than he usually does. However, your baby may also wake more often than normal. You may see lots of night-wakings the evening after shots, for example. Or you may notice more interrupted naps (even though your baby is actually getting more nap sleep than typically). Generally, babies wake more frequently after shots due to common side effects like soreness at the injection site, or a low-grade fever.

Why is the reaction to shots similar to the reaction to illness? Well, it makes sense, if you think about it. When your baby gets an immunization, it impacts her immune system the same way that a virus or infection would. Granted, the viral components of vaccinations are much weaker than the full-fledged virus (that’s why getting a polio shot doesn’t cause actual polio), but even so, the immunizations do impact your baby’s immune system.

But this impact, while it can make us moms and dads worry, is actually a good sign. You want your baby’s immune system to respond to the shot. Ultimately, you want her immune system to develop a resistance to the diseases against which she’s being vaccinated.

Baby Vaccines: Keeping Baby Comfortable After Shots

Of course, your first thought after your baby gets vaccinated is probably, “How can I help my baby feel better and stay comfortable?” Good question!

First off, it’s important to remember that, according to a 2009 study, it is best if you DON’T offer your baby acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) after shots. Doing so may actually cause your baby’s body to produce fewer disease-fighting antibodies. This means the vaccinations end up being less effective. This is pretty ground-breaking news since prior to the study, giving a baby a dose of Tylenol right after a shot was pretty much standard practice. Now, however, most healthcare practices warn against doing so.

Miriam Chickering, Registered Nurse, Sleep Consultant, and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, shares this advice:

“My biggest tip to moms is to avoid Tylenol before or after vaccines and to only give a fever reducer if the fever is dangerously high or it has been recommended by their healthcare provider, because Tylenol use before and immediately after vaccines have been linked to reduced effectiveness.”

But if you can’t offer pain-relieving medication, what CAN you do to help your baby feel better? Try some of these tips to soothe and comfort your baby after immunizations:

• Use Dr. Karp’s 5 S’s! That’s right – The Happiest Baby on the Block techniques aren’t just for sleep! you can shush, swaddle, and swing your baby to being calmer and happier after any stressful occasions – like getting shots. In fact, utilizing the 5 S techniques can stop crying an average of 45 seconds after their immunizations – pretty impressive!
• If you nurse, breastfeed often after your baby’s shots. Breastfeeding is soothing in and of itself, so if your baby is fussy and waking more than usual, offer plenty of feedings.
• Try skin-to-skin contact. Skin-to-skin contact is one of the best ways to soothe a worked-up baby, particularly for newborns or young infants.
• Wear your baby. Again, this works great for newborns or young infants – being worn snugly against mom goes a long way towards soothing an inconsolable baby.
• Schedule your shots for the afternoon. As odd as this may sound, a 2011 study found that 2 month old babies who received their shots in the afternoon slept noticeably better than 2 month old babies who received their immunizations in the morning. You can read more about the findings here. So try scheduling vaccinations for 1:00 or later, as a step towards promoting better sleep.

Immunization Schedule: An Easy-To-Read Schedule For Parents

We’re including this as a little bonus – we love this easy-to-read baby immunization schedule from the Center for Disease Control! We’ve included it below, as well:


*Chart courtesy of www.cdc.gov

This immunization schedule makes it easy to see at-a-glance which vaccinations your baby needs at what age.

Altered Immunization Schedules, and Preparing for Baby Shots: Tips From Dr. Sears

Baby vaccines have become a controversial topic over the past 15 years or so – but we don’t want to dive into that controversy here. In our opinion, how you choose to handle your baby’s vaccinations and immunization schedule is between you and your healthcare provider. You should know, however, that there are lots of options between following the CDC schedule exactly and never, ever immunizing your child. Some parents choose to use delayed vaccination schedules; provided you work alongside a healthcare provider, this can be a good middle ground. Dr. Sears offers his own delayed vaccination schedule in his book, The Vaccine Book, and asserts that it’s key for healthcare providers to work with parents, and to take their vaccination concerns into account. Doing so, says Sears, will likely result in higher rates of immunizations overall.

How vaccinations impacted your baby’s sleep before? Any tips for other parents about dealing with immunization aftermath? General opinions on vaccinations? Let’s get the conversation started!

For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
 
 
 
If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.

 

Or, join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.

 
If you are looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation, and want plenty support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations. Your consultation package will provide you with the chance to interact one-on-one with a trained sleep consultant. She’ll create a Personalized Sleep Plan™ for your family and then work to help you implement it at home.
 

Can’t decide which product or service is right for you? Visit our Getting Started Page for help.

 
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Want FREE sleep help that you can put to use right away? Download a copy of our free guide, 5 Ways To Help Your Child Sleep Through The Night! The guide is available to download instantly, which means you can start using the techniques in it as early as tonight. So download now, and learn why your baby is waking at night – and what you can do about it.
 
 
Click here to learn more about how to get your free guide.

A better night’s sleep could be just a few clicks away. So don’t wait – download now, and start your journey to better sleep tonight!
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]]> https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-comfort/baby-shots-vaccines-immunizations-sleep-plus-schedule/feed/ 20 https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-comfort/massage-helps-baby-sleep/ https://www.babysleepsite.com/baby-sleep-comfort/massage-helps-baby-sleep/#comments Tue, 01 Oct 2013 11:00:00 +0000 http://www.babysleepsite.com/?p=12253 You are probably always on the lookout for ideas or products that will help your baby sleep better, right? Most of our readers are. I was the same way when my kids were babies – I would try anything (within reason) if there was even a chance that doing so could result in better sleep […]

The post Can Infant Massage Help Your Baby Sleep? appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

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You are probably always on the lookout for ideas or products that will help your baby sleep better, right? Most of our readers are. I was the same way when my kids were babies – I would try anything (within reason) if there was even a chance that doing so could result in better sleep for my baby!

If you are the same way, then the topic of today’s blog article may interest you. We’re talking about infant massage today. What is it? Why try it? And (most importantly, in our readers’ opinions), will it help your baby sleep?

What Is Infant and Baby Massage?

In truth, infant massage is nothing new. The practice of gently massaging babies has been around for centuries, in many cultures (in Indian culture, for example). However, infant massage is a relatively new practice in the West. That’s due largely to the work of a woman named Vimala Schneider McClure.

While working at an orphanage in India, Vimala watched as a 12-year-old girl routinely massaged all the children. Although the children lacked proper nutrition, they all thrived; McClure came to believe this was thanks to the regular massages they received. Returning to the United States in the mid-70’s, McClure set out to spread the word about infant massage. Her message received attention, and now, infant massage is widely recognized as a beneficial practice.

McClure’s approach to infant massage includes the Indian massage strokes she learned while working there; it also includes Swedish massage strokes and reflexology techniques.

The Benefits of Infant Massage – For You And Your Baby

According to moms and dads who’ve used infant massage, the benefits are numerous. And here’s the thing: infant massage is good for both you and your baby!

Some of those benefits include:

• …improved digestion. Believe it or not, infant massage can actually aid a baby’s digestion, thereby reducing gas and bloating. So if your baby suffers from gas, this could be a way to help him feel comfortable.
• …relief of stress and tension. This works for both you and your baby. Gently massaging your baby can help calm and relax her, and it will help calm and relax you in the process. This may be especially welcome information for parents of babies who are especially fussy, or who are suffering from colic.
• …increased bonding. Nurturing touch conveys love to a baby in a way that nothing else can. So massaging your baby is a great way to strengthen the bond between you both. This, in turn, will promote healthy emotional development in your baby.
• …improved growth and development. Studies have indicated that babies who are routinely massaged by their parents show increased weight gain and improved development. They also tend to have improved immune function, meaning they don’t get sick as often! That alone may be a good reason to try infant massage. 😉
• …improved sleep! That’s right, parents – infant massage really does help babies sleep well! Studies show that infants who are massaged by their parents before bed tend to fall asleep faster, sleep more deeply, and stay asleep longer. In fact, this study showed an increase of approximately 1.3 hours a day in sleep quantity for 3 to 6 month olds. Good news indeed, for all you tired moms and dads out there!

How to Massage Your Baby

We cannot teach you all the ins-and-outs of infant massage in a blog article. Infant massage is not a complicated process, but it does require that specific techniques be applied in specific ways to specific points on your infant’s body.

We can, however, give you an overview of how infant massage works. This video demonstrates the basics:

Interested in massaging your baby? Here are a few tips from one of our own sleep consultants, Elaine, who’s trained in infant massage:

• Always use an edible oil. Organic coconut oil makes a good choice.
• Don’t try to massage your infant when he is fussy; wait until he is calm and relaxed.
• If, at the start of the massage, your baby fusses and doesn’t seem to want it, stop. Massaging your baby when she does not want a massage will only make her fussier. Plus, this will help teach your baby, from an early age, that it’s always okay to say no if she doesn’t want to be touched.
• Before massaging your baby, remove any jewelry, and trim your nails, if they are long.
• Always start your massage with the “least invasive” body parts – the feet and the legs. From there, progress upwards.
• Do not massage your baby if he is ill with a fever, or if he has a skin rash or lesions. It’s also recommended that you avoid massaging your baby for 48-72 hours after he’s had an immunization.
• You can start infant massage early – even newborn babies can benefit from massage techniques!
• Massage is something that both parents can do, so be sure that dad gets the chance to offer a massage!

If you’d like to learn how to perform infant massage, visit the Infant Massage USA website, to see if there is a class in your area. Or, check with your local hospital to see if they can recommend a trained infant massage specialist.

If you would like to read more about the origins of infant massage and to learn more about Vimala McClure’s infant massage techniques, check out her book, Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents.

Baby Sleep Help – We Have The Resources You Need!

If you’re looking for ways to get your baby or toddler into a healthy sleeping routine during the day, I encourage you to explore Mastering Naps and Schedules, a comprehensive guide to napping routines, nap transitions, and all the other important “how-tos” of good baby sleep. With over 45 sample sleep schedules and planning worksheets, Mastering Naps and Schedules is a hands-on tool ideal for any parenting style.

 
For those persistent nighttime struggles, check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
 
 

Or, join our VIP Members Area packed with exclusive content and resources: e-Books, assessments, detailed case studies, expert advice, peer support, and more. It actually costs less to join than buying products separately! As a member, you’ll also enjoy a weekly chat with an expert sleep consultant.

 
If you are looking for a more customized solution for your unique situation, and want plenty of support along the way, please consider one-on-one baby and toddler sleep consultations. Your consultation package will provide you with the chance to interact one-on-one with a trained sleep consultant, who will create a Personalized Sleep Plan™ for your family and then work to help you implement it at home.
 

Can’t decide which product or service is right for you? Visit our Getting Started Page for help.

Have you tried infant massage with your baby? Has it worked well?

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