As a mom who’s been through it with two little ones, I’m here to share some mom-tested sleep tricks to help your little one (and let’s be real, you too) catch some much-needed Zzz’s. By 4 weeks, both of my babies were sleeping 12 hours throughout the night. These were the exact things I did…
Create a Dark Room: We invested in blackout shades AND curtains. This way the room was completely dark for our babies to sleep. No matter the time of day. Here are the exact ones that worked wonders for us.
Get a Sound Machine: A noise machine is important for babies as it creates a soothing environment by masking disruptive noises or outside sounds. I’m a firm believer that the sound machine helps babies sleep as well because inside the womb, they constantly hear “whooshing” noises. So sound machine can help soothe them outside the womb by reminding them of the noises inside the womb. These two were the best for us! No joke, our babies slept 12 hour straight with these.
Master the Art of Swaddling: Oh the swaddle… a true game-changer in the world of baby sleep. Admittedly, it took me a while to jump on board because I thought my baby hated it. She would try to pop her arms out, but I learned it was better for her startle relief to keep her swaddled and eventually she loved it. Lots of swaddles available, choose one that you feel comfortable with.
Find Your Baby’s Sleep Cue: Every baby is different, so it’s essential to tune in to your little one’s unique sleep cues. Whether it’s rubbing their eyes, yawning, or getting a bit fussy, learning to recognize when your baby is tired can help you swoop in and swoop them off to sleep before things escalate into full-blown meltdown mode.
Learn About Wake Windows: This was SO important and before becoming a mom I had no idea about wake window for baby’s different ages. I used Taking Cara Babies as a reference. I’m in no way getting commission of any sorts but just wanted to pass the info along to other moms because it helped me tremendously (her blog information is free).
Try Different Soothing Techniques: When it comes to soothing a fussy baby, variety is key. Experiment with different techniques like gentle rocking, rhythmic bouncing, or a cozy baby swing until you find what works best for your little one. Or take laps around the house. I definitely did!
Having a Special Song: I started singing the Barney song “I love you” over and over as I was getting my baby to sleep right away when she was a newborn. Having the same song made it recognizable after a while to her (and soothed her). And months later, when she was having a crying spell, I would sing that song and when she would recognize it, she would calm down. I highly suggest picking a song to sing on repeat!
Learn the 5’s: This book, The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Sleep Longer, helped me a ton! I know, I know, you are a new mom with no time to read. The book recognizes that and offers a “just read this chapter/section” to get the nitty-gritty details without having to read the whole thing.
Found on Amazon
Don’t be Afraid to “be “SHUSH” Loud: Ok, hear me out… When your baby is crying at the top of his/her lungs, she won’t hear anything. I would say Shushhhhh, Shushhhh, Shusssh, very loudly to eventually calm her down. You may think you are being rude, but trust me, baby needs to hear the Shushing over the loud crying.
Pacifiers: The sucking really helped and soothed our baby. Yes, it would fall out of her mouth sometimes during the night (it’s common) but we used pacifiers religiously for for months. Here were the exact ones we used:
Embrace the Power of Routine: Okay, I know this one gets thrown around a lot, but trust me, it works. Establishing a consistent bedtime routine signals to your baby that it’s time to wind down and get ready for sleep. Whether it’s bath time followed by a story or a soothing lullaby session, find a routine that works for you and stick to it like glue.
Remember, You’re Not Alone: Last but certainly not least, remember that you’re not alone in this sleep-deprived journey. Reach out to fellow mom friends for support, swap sleep horror stories, and talk together – it’s all part of the wild ride that is motherhood.
Welcome to Joyful Parenting, your go-to destination for all things mom-related! Whether you’re a new mom navigating the early days of parenthood or a seasoned pro juggling the demands of raising kids, I’ve got you covered. As a mom of two under two, I understand the crazy journey and hope to bond with other like-minded moms. Let’s embrace this beautiful chaos of mom life together! Commission earned on affiliate links. Thank you for supporting my links that support this blog.
