In the quest for a peaceful, sleep-filled night, some new parents turn to pacifiers for help; others don't. Whether you've never used a pacifier for your baby or you've used one religiously and just recently made the decision to take away the "binky" for good, your end goal is the same---for your little one to sleep soundly at night. Help your pacifier-free baby nod off more quickly and sleep more deeply at night by following these sleep strategies.
Develop a Bedtime Routine
A consistent, predictable bedtime routine gives your baby nonverbal signals that it's time to wind down and get ready for sleep. According to the Mayo Clinic, baths, special cuddle time, reading a bedtime story and singing a bedtime song are all commonly used activities in bedtime routines for babies.
Consider giving your little one a soothing massage with lavender-scented baby oil; according to Kathi Keville, director of the American Herb Association and co-author of "Aromatherapy," special compounds in lavender naturally promote relaxation and drowsiness while decreasing anxiety. Regardless of what activities you choose to include in your baby's bedtime routine, follow the routine exactly each night to encourage evening drowsiness for your binky-free baby. Until she's able to roll over on her own, remember to place your little one on her back to reduce chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Find a Comfort Object
A baby with a pacifier gets nighttime comfort by sucking on it, which may help your little one relax and become more likely to doze off. If your baby doesn't have access to a pacifier, you may want to provide another object that he can focus his attention on, especially as he enters the second half of his first year, when separation anxiety commonly develops.
Enter your baby's comfort object. It could be something as simple as a beloved blanket, a well-used burp cloth or a favorite stuffed animal, and it may help your baby self comfort and fall asleep on his own, according to Dr. Louis Borgenicht, board-certified pediatrician and co-author of "The Baby Owner's Manual." Avoid using comfort objects with babies who are unable to roll over on their own, because these items may increase chances of suffocation.
Promote Self Soothing
According to Dr. Jodi Mindell, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and co-author of "A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep," the majority of babies awaken two to six times each night as a natural part of their shorter sleep cycles. Encouraging your baby to self soothe makes it easier for her to fall back asleep during these times. Mindell recommends that you put her to bed while she's still drowsy; when she wakes up, she can replicate the exact conditions that were in place when she originally went to sleep, such as hugging a teddy, holding a blanket or sucking on a thumb.
When your baby does awaken and cry at night, give her a few minutes alone to see if she can get back to sleep on her own. Decide ahead of time how long you're willing to wait before comforting at night and stick to your plan. If you do have to soothe your baby in the middle of the night, always put her back down to bed before she falls completely asleep.
References
- Mayo Clinic: Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
- "Aromatherapy"; Kathi Keville & Mindy Green; 2009
- "The Baby Owner's Manual"; Dr. Louis Borgenicht & Joe Borgenicht; 2003
- "A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep"; Jodi Mindell & Judith Owens; 2009
