Tools for Your Babe’s Sleep You Can Find on Amazon
Let’s be honest, we all need sleep. Especially when bringing a newborn home those first weeks and they are on their own sleep schedule!
For our family, I already knew that sleep was going to be a journey. After we got back home from the hospital, I knew my husband would not be available during the night due to his training schedule. After researching all I could about sleep, there was no time to waste.. We started implementing all the tips and tricks the day our babe came home from the hospital.
The best source that provided majority of the learning we received was by Cara from Taking Cara Babies. She really is an expert in what she teaches! Cara is a mom and a licensed nurse who has dedicated her life to helping families with the sleep of babies and toddlers. If you are interested in more of what Cara provides you can find her on Instagram @Takingcarababies or https://takingcarababies.com.
The first thing I learned through my research was that sleep is a learned behavior. I had no idea! For as long as I could remember sleep felt natural, but only because we have taught ourselves how to go to sleep. As a parent it is our job to help our own littles to learn this behavior and I wanted to share a few of my favorite and useful tips and tools I learned along the way.
Sound Machines are NOT Overrated.
Did you know that when your little was in the womb there was a lot of sounds going on? Of course your baby is going to hear mommy or daddy’s voice, but they also can hear blood flow around them which is very soothing. After being born, babies are no longer hearing that noise. Having a familiar sound of white noise is soothing and comforting. Sound machines are a must with how helpful they can be.
It’s common to be worried if your little could be hooked on the sound machine. Cara also covers this fear on her page. Parent’s don’t have to use the sound machine forever. Everything is suggested.
For us, we still use a sound machine for our little one, because it drowns out any outside noises that could become distracting. There are occasions where she will sleep without a sound machine due to traveling! My favorite sound machine can be found on Amazon as a Portable White Noise Sound Machine. I love that it can be taken any where and is rechargeable. You wont regret it!
Swaddling is Key
Ever heard of baby’s 4th trimester? It’s the 12 week period immediately after you have your baby. During that time your baby is wishing they could be back in the womb while they continue growing. As your babe was in the womb they are bunched up tight. That is why swaddling is so helpful to getting your baby to sleep within the first few months.. There are many different types of swaddles to choose from.
I could never get our little one tightly wrapped in the swaddle blankets. Instead I went for zipped swaddles. Our little one always slept with her hands close to her head, so we really loved the Love to Dream swaddle. This same swaddle comes in transitional sizes. When it’s time to transition out of the swaddle they make it easy! Swaddling is only a short term season for your babe until they are starting to roll over. Take advantage of the swaddling method.. your body will be grateful with the sleep you’ll be able to get.
Lights Out!
At about 10-12 weeks your little one is starting to become more aware of the world around them. They are stimulated by more things every day. One of those being light. For your little one, having a dark room can help their naps. Ideally, you want the room to be completely dark that you won’t be able see your hand if you put it out in front of you. If you can do this with just a blackout curtain, that’s great! If you need that little extra covering over your windows, then getting blackout shades or blinds is ideal. Our favorite is the Portable Travel Window Blackout Curtain Shades with Suction Cups. It’s easy to put up, take down and if you need to take it on the go.
If you’re worried that your baby might get addicted to the dark environment you are able to wean them after they have become a great sleeper by taking that blind and then use just the blackout curtain. Once you see how they do then you don’t have to be as worried about it. Again, Cara has amazing pointers on this topic if you want to check them out!
Wake Windows
Have you ever been around an overtired baby that may have had the hardest time getting to sleep? Or maybe your baby is only taking short naps because they can’t seem to stay asleep? It’s never easy being on the other side as you become flustered, tested in patience and heart broken that your little one is just needing good sleep.
Implementing wake windows are a great tool to help you as a parent become aware of how much sleep your little one needs. Cara explains, “A wake window is the amount of time your baby or toddler is awake between one nap and the next. Wake windows include everything that happens while your baby or toddler is out of the bassinet or crib, including feeding, spending time outside, playing with toys, singing songs, reading books, and even the nap time routine and bedtime routine.“ When you are aware of the wake windows your little one has between naps, it will support their sleep and yours as well! Check out the Wake Window by Age table provided by Taking Cara Babies!
In conclusion, as you go through the trials of sleep you learn different things that your little one needs. The suggestions provided aren’t guarantees as everyone’s little is different. Often times there are great sleepers, but sometimes there are those that need a little more guidance within their sleep learning. Finding what works for you and your babe is what is most important. We support you mama!