Healthy Sleep Habits Between 0 And 3 Months – You Are Parents
The well-being of your child does not only depend on the fact of protecting him from dangers, breastfeeding him, or washing him… but also on transmitting him healthy sleep habits which guarantee a restorative rest.
This not only involves the hours the newborn baby spends sleeping, but also the rituals before and during sleep, which you will create from birth.
Baby’s sleeping hours
Although a baby usually sleeps more than 15 hours a day, his sleep is distributed throughout the day at different times ranging from half an hour to four hours.
There are infants who confuse day and night because they are awake in the early morning and sleep in the morning. Over the weeks, they usually begin to increase their daytime sleep cycle and shorten it at night.
It is often thought that the baby needs to be tired in order for him to exhaust himself and sleep better. Even this will not be necessary in the first few weeks, as the baby will follow practically the same patterns that he had in the womb, over time it is essential to increase the activity during the day so that he sleeps longer at night.
While it is true that a 0 to 3 month old baby is unable to integrate habits, it is important that in order to acclimatize them and educate their sleep, mothers begin to establish a routine at this age.
Healthy sleep habits from the first months
To help your 0 to 3 month old baby sleep better, we have suggested some sleep habits you can set up.
Establish a sleep routine
Before going to bed at night, put on your baby’s specific outfit, sing the same song, turn off the light and say “good night”. The baby will not understand your words, but gradually he will associate the sentence with falling asleep.
During the day, you can make him listen to music , put him to bed in a room with the windows open, and say “it’s time to sleep”.
Never change the sleep schedule
You should always put your baby to bed at the same times, even if he or she does not seem sleepy when it comes time to sleep.
Always put it down in the same place
If you prefer to put your baby to bed in a bassinet during the day and in a larger crib at night, don’t change a thing. It is essential that the newborn make the difference between daytime sleep and nighttime sleep.
Never lay the baby in your bed
There are many dangers that babies face when sleeping with their parents. The fact that he is lying between the two of you every night can also hurt the romantic relationship between you and your partner.
Avoid making him sleep in your arms
While it is extremely pleasant to hold a child in your arms while they sleep, it is a bad habit.
Place the baby in his crib, sing and cuddle softly, but get out of the room before he is completely asleep. This will teach him to sleep through the night.
Don’t wait until your baby is too tired to go to bed
A baby who is very tired may get angry and cry uncontrollably. This will prevent him from falling asleep and will negatively influence his rest.
Differentiate between day and night
During the day, put him to bed in a different bedroom and bed, and keep the room bright. Do not avoid morning noises and clean everyday.
During the night, do just the opposite. Don’t turn on lights or make noise. Don’t talk to him a lot, don’t smile at him or stimulate him too much.
Remember, there are things you learn only when you’re a mom. Finding and establishing healthy sleep habits for your baby is definitely part of it.