Many parents find themselves running on very little sleep when they have a baby in the house. Babies have to regulate their sleep-wake cycles once they are born and many parents have a hard time getting their infants to sleep well at night. Healthy Children says that this regulation doesn't usually occur until around 6 months of age. There are many natural approaches to help a baby sleep better that parents can try.
Touch
Babies are comforted by their caregiver's touch and it can often relax them enough to fall asleep and stay asleep. Families says that the feet and forehead are good places to massage as they contain stress points that, when rubbed help a baby calm down and get drowsy. Gently massaging the bottoms of the feet and right above a baby's eyebrows releases tension. Chamomile, lavender and mandarin are good essential oils that can be used for the massage, all of which contain relaxing properties.
Establish a Routine
A routine that occurs regularly when it is time to sleep can help a baby learn that it is time to go to bed and his body can prepare itself. This can include a warm bath, a story, rocking for several minutes or a light massage. Baby Center recommends placing a baby in his crib when he is still drowsy rather than waiting until he is asleep. This helps a baby learn to put himself to sleep. The routine should be quiet and non-stimulating to help a baby relax. Healthy Child also says that parents should not rush into the room at every sound. Waiting a couple of minutes allows an infant to go back to sleep on their own and helps break the cycle of waking up for attention from the parents.
Make Bedroom Comfortable
Parents who make their baby's bedroom a relaxing and ideal place to sleep have the best success at helping their child sleep better. Dr. Sears recommends lowering the lights and reducing the loud or sudden noises that often wake a baby. This includes avoiding creaky floors and furniture and teaching older children to be quiet and stay away from the baby's room. A noise machine or classical music CD can block out some of the normal household background noise reducing the chances of a baby getting woken up suddenly. A cool room in the summer and warm pajamas and blankets in the winter are also conducive to good sleep for babies.
