Getting Your Baby to Sleep, Tonight
When my kids were newborns I could set my clock by them. They would wake every 2-3 hours. The oldest would wake each morning at 5:30am and be awake for a few hours before being ready for sleep once more. For a mom who is NOT a morning person, this was an absolute nightmare.
I had no clue to how put them back to sleep so I just sucked up the sleep deprivation and would rock them for what felt like hours trying to get them back to sleep. That is until I discovered Dr. Harvey Karp’s book The Happiest Baby on the Block.
It was heaven! My baby was falling asleep in fifteen minutes instead of the usual forty-five, and she was sleeping more soundly. This meant mom and dad were also getting better sleep. We were happier all around.
Without going too in depth, Here are the 5 things to know about getting your baby to sleep, tonight. These are the concepts associated with Karp’s sleep ideology.
Swaddling
Babies are used to being curled up in a cramped space. Swaddling mimics that feeling. However, it is becoming increasingly recommended to practice safe swaddling techniques so please consult with your primary care physician or your doula for how to get that perfect swaddle.
Side
It is easiest to get a baby to sleep when they are on their side or stomach. That’s why babies enjoy being rocked in someone’s arms and they clam down when placed on their stomach over someone’s arm. By holding the baby stomach to stomach, you are putting them in a position that is most comfortable for them.
Shhhhhhhh
It is incredibly loud in the womb. Between the swooshing sound of your heart, the sounds of food digesting in the stomach, and outside noises it is almost deafening. When a baby is born we try to keep everyone quiet whereas adding some white noise will actually help getting baby to sleep a lot easier.
Swinging
We naturally bounce babies in our arms or on our shoulder when trying to soothe them. This movement mimics the womb and is comforting to your baby. A baby’s enjoyment of this particular movement is the exact reason many babies sleep better while in the swing.
Sucking
Babies do a lot of sucking in the womb- on their fingers, practicing breathing, practicing drinking, etc. When they are born they are only given a bottle, breast, or pacifier to suck when they are upset and not at will like they’re used to. By giving a baby something to suck on while getting your baby to sleep, it will make the process go much smoother.
Getting a baby to sleep can seem like a daunting task, especially for new parents. There are lots of ways to help get a baby to sleep, but this is the method that I have, personally, found to be most successful. Best of luck!
Author: Christine Santos, Sun State Doulas
Christine Santos is a labor and postpartum doula, placenta encapsulation specialist, and photographer serving Central Florida. She knows a thing or two about getting your baby to sleep!
Christine owns Sun State Doulas in Lakeland, Florida. She is a passionate leader, but also loves working as a cohesive part of a team that provides unwavering support to families in the Tampa area. She also loves playing on a roller derby team and is known as the “Derby Doula”
