Lack of sleep is a form of torture, right?

Mothers – are you surviving on chocolate brownies and your coffee fix these days?
Feel like you can’t get anything done?

You may wonder why you have become so focused on getting your baby to sleep, and would do ANYTHING for a good night’s rest.
Surely a baby shouldn’t find sleep so hard? Here’s a few tips to help you out…

Baby Massage improves baby sleep

A recent client gave this feedback about baby massage training from Tiny Touch…

“Sleeping improved immediately! After our first massage class my six month old slept through the night. And day time sleeps greatly improved. Highly recommend it! So many benefits & a lovely daily ritual to share with your baby. Thank you, Marilyn for this beautiful gift.” – Cindy

Babies’s sleep differs to adults

Newborn babies haven’t developed mature circadian rhythms. Their sleep patterns haven’t adapted to the cycle of day and night. Also their sleep cycles are much shorter than adults therefore they don’t “settle” for as long a period as we would like. It may take up to 3 months or longer for this to happen.

There are many different strategies that can help babies settle off to sleep.

10 tips to a better sleeping baby

1. Natural light in the morning

Be sure to expose babies to natural light first thing in the morning and go outside for a walk in the
mid afternoon. It helps to program your baby’s natural clock.

2. Reduce stimulation in the evening

Reduce stimulation in the evening. Use quiet music and low lighting.

3. Relaxing massage techniques

Give baby a relaxing massage using only relaxing strokes as some massage techniques can stimulate babies and wake them up if done in the evening. Massage increases the release of melatonin and oxytocin the relaxing hormones that promote sleep. You can learn these baby massage techniques from Tiny Touch.

4. Look for tired cues – and act fast!

Look for tired cues from baby like pulling ears, rubbing eyes, yawning or fluttering eyelids. Respond immediately when you see these signs but don’t try to put babies down too early when they are active and engaging with you.

5. Consistency

Be consistent. Follow a nightly routine that is calm and relaxing.

6. Swaddling

Swaddling helps baby feel secure and they are less likely to startle themselves awake. Tuck arms in but leave room for the legs to move.

7. Don’t be too quick to intervene

Don’t be too quick to intervene. Put baby down to sleep and leave them to self-settle for up to 5 min as it takes your baby’s brain about 5 mins to fully register and respond to a settling strategy. For example with swaddling- baby wriggles and squirms, leave them for a time to give the nervous system time to process this strategy and settle before you try a different strategy such as patting.

8. No eye contact

During night feeds don’t make eye contact and keep lights dim. Change their nappy part way through the feed so they can settle down again during the rest of the feed.

9. Rest during the day

Try to get rest when you can during the day so that you can be as relaxed and calm as possible while helping them relax to sleep.

10. Your baby’s unique personality

Remember every baby is different. They all have their different personalities and likes and dislikes. As they grow and you spend time together you will learn their cues and what makes them relax and settle. Until then try these tips. I hope you have success and enjoy the adventure of parenting!

Please get in touch for more information or if you would like to learn how to massage your baby.

Sleep well,
Marilyn