From HealthNewsDigest.com

Children's Health
5 Steps to Help Your Baby Sleep
By
Jan 2, 2014 - 3:27:20 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Bridgeport, CT -- Jan 02, 2014 / -- Parents who have difficulty getting their little ones to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night have plenty of options to help their babies get the rest they need. The environment that baby sleeps in plays an important role in how comfortable baby is as well as what sleep garment baby wears. Finding the right sleep routine for your baby and sticking to it every night will also have a great impact on your baby's sleep. Woombie founder, mom of five, and certified infant care specialist, Karen Barski, shares these five steps to helping your baby get a more restful sleep. 

1. Swaddling

Swaddling has been practiced for hundreds of years to help babies sleep longer and sounder. "When done properly, swaddling can be the single most important sleep tool a mother or daycare provider can master," says Karen Barski. Swaddling mimics touch and recreates the womb environment that baby is used to. It also prevents startle reflex and helps maintain the "back is best" sleep position. For an easy to use baby swaddle, the Woombie baby swaddle is loved by babies because it softly cocoons baby without restricting motion or mobility. The design requires no wrapping which makes swaddling easier for parents. The two-way zipper allows for quick and easy diaper and clothes changes too!

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2. Room temperature

It's suggested that baby's room be kept warmer during the day and cooler at night with an optimal temperature between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a thermostat, keep a thermometer in the room to track the temperature. Keep in mind that if the room is too hot or too cold for you, then it is too hot or too cold for baby. Also avoid over bundling baby so baby won't get so hot. The Woombie Air is the first breathable baby swaddle where excess heat escapes through a patented ventilation design; this will help to prevent overheating which is a risk factor for SIDS.

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3. White noise

Babies hear lots of loud noises while in the womb so they like hearing soothing, rhythmic noises to help them fall asleep. A white noise machine is a very effective way to help baby sleep. It reduces stress in babies, makes them cry less and helps them stay asleep longer while also blocking out other noises around the house.

4. Give baby a warm bath

Babies find warm water to be very relaxing and a soothing bath right before bedtime can be a good part of your nighttime ritual. A baby wash with a soothing scent can also promote relaxation and help baby fall asleep faster. It's also a great bonding time for baby and parent.

5. Determine what child sleep training method is best

There are a variety of effective child sleep training methods to choose from. According to child sleep consultant Dr. Rebecca Kempton, M.D., Family Sleep Institute Graduate and founder of Baby Sleep Pro, "The answer to what will work best depends on a variety of factors including your child's temperament, your goals, your tolerance levels, and the amount of involvement you would like to have in the process."

It may be a good idea to hire a child sleep consultant to get a customized sleep plan that will work for your family. The Baby Sleep Whisperer and the Family Sleep Institute are great resources for this.

Here are four child sleep training methods that Dr. Kempton discusses in detail here: Four Child Sleep Training Methods:

1. Cry it Out (CIO) aka Extinction
2. Check and Console aka "Ferberizing"
3. Fading aka "The Chair method"
4. Pick up/Put Down


Visit www.babysleepwhisperer.com for more baby sleep tips.
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