You have brought your adorable baby home, changed, fed, and finally soothed them to sleep. As you carefully set them in their bassinet, hoping to get some sleep too, they start to squirm as you slowly back away.
It doesn’t matter how many times you try to get them to sleep in the bassinet, their eyes pop wide and the whole process starts again.
Even when your baby has the finest bassinet, he or she won’t put it to use. What comes next? How do you start the process of getting them to use it? You know it’s crucial to do so for both their safety and your sleep cycle.
Don’t give up! We have a few tips.
But before that let us consider some of the possible causes of this.
CAUSES
- Your baby needs food.
Little stomachs need to be refreshed since they empty rapidly. Your infant could prefer to nurse than sleep, especially during times of growth and cluster feeding.
- Your baby is bloated.
Young child finds it challenging to stay asleep when they have to burp or let the gas out.
- Your toddler has a filthy diaper.
Babies that are uncomfortable find it difficult to go asleep and stay asleep, just like when they have a gassy stomach.
- Your baby is too warm or too cold.
Make sure your infant is not shivering or sweating. Their room should be between 68 and 72°F (20 and 22°C) at all times.
- Your infant is unable to distinguish between day and night.
Some newborns struggle to distinguish between day and night. You can help teach their internal clock by keeping lights on during the day, slightly lengthening awake times, and establishing bedtime sleep habits.
- The startle reflex in your baby is waking them.
For newborns, swaddling is a fine alternative, but once your baby starts to roll over, it’s no longer safe.
SOLUTIONS
Once you’ve ensured that everything is in place to provide your newborn with the best chance of settling and sleeping well, here’s how you may begin to acclimate them to sleeping in their bassinet:
- Temperature
Check both their and the surrounding environment’s temperatures. If your baby is excessively hot or cold, they could have trouble sleeping.
- Feeding
To make sure your baby is satisfied and at ease, feed and wind them. When lying down, wind ache frequently gets worse.
- Daylight
Consider using blackout drapes or other methods to make the space extremely dark. Since they are used to being in relatively dark environments, lights might be stimulating for your baby.
- Sounds
Look for a sound machine that both you and your kid will enjoy. This sound can make a bassinet more reminiscent of the womb, which was filled with murmured heartbeats, water murmurs, and outside voices.
- Swaddling
Swaddling your infant can make them feel safer until they are about two months old. They may be startled awake by reflexes and the sensation of being in an open area.
- Positioning
Keep your child upright for 20 to 30 minutes after feedings if extra burping during feeds doesn’t help your child’s gas or reflux symptoms.
Try to keep in mind that your newborn baby is still getting used to this vast, unfamiliar environment! They may need some time to adjust to sleeping in their bassinet without you since they spent nine months with you there, but you will both get there.
