Beautiful baby gril sleeping in light pink sleepsuit

The importance of establishing a sleep routine in infancy

Sleep is essential for a healthy life and harmonious development, but what to do if your baby refuses to fall asleep and no method seems to work?

The biggest challenge for every new parent is to get their baby to sleep well and get the amount of sleep they need. But what are the methods that really work? Why can't most babies fall asleep on their own?

How much sleep does a baby need?

Newborns and infants sleep a total of 13-18 hours a day, but they wake up frequently to eat. This is due to their small stomachs, which cannot store much milk. Breastfed babies usually eat every 2-3 hours, and bottle-fed babies eat every 3-4 hours.

The amount of sleep varies by age, and generally goes like this:

  • 0-2 months: 16-18 hours/day
  • 2-4 months: 14-16 hours/day
  • 4-6 months: 14-15 hours/day
  • 6-12 months: 14 hours/day

Babies don't know the difference between day and night at first. As your baby grows, he will sleep more at night and less during the day. The expected change comes around 2-3 months of age, when daytime sleep may be reduced to just 4-5 hours.

Little boy sleeping in LiaaBaby Shark Toddler Sleeping Bag on the bed

Why are newborns "fussy" in their sleep?

Who doesn't know the phrase "sleeps like a baby"? However, the reality is often different, and many parents are concerned that their little one is not as quiet and calm as they imagined. Fortunately, this "restlessness" is normal and usually indicates that their sleep routine has not yet been established.

Tricks for establishing a bedtime routine for your baby

  1. Lullabies

Baby lullabies reduce stress, stabilize emotional states, and help you fall asleep faster. Plus, nothing soothes your baby better than your voice, which can work wonders even if you're not the best singer. Be careful, though, and only sing softly before bed, as you want to put your baby to sleep, not entertain them.

  1. Rocking the baby

When it comes to rocking your baby, there are pros and cons. Obviously, the rocking motion is soothing, but once your baby gets used to it, it can be hard to wean them off it. There is also the risk of injury that can occur if your little one is moved too forcefully. However, a rocker can be beneficial for the first 3-4 months of their life, just remember not to move them too quickly.

  1. Breastfeeding your baby before bed

Breastfeeding is usually done on demand, day and night. However, breast milk contains different concentrations of hormones depending on the time of day. For example, in the evening it is richer in an amino acid that helps produce melatonin. The role of melatonin is to regulate the internal clock and help you sleep better.

  1. Those certain white noises

Before birth, your baby was used to certain sounds, such as your heartbeat, inside your body. Once born, these sounds were lost, replaced by music, TV shows, the cat meowing, or worse, the neighbor's drill.

White noise is effective for adults, children, and infants. It refers to sounds whose frequency neutralizes other background noise, and can even help to relax and induce sleep. A study published in 1990 showed that 80% of newborns fell asleep within 5 minutes of hearing white noise.

You can buy a special device to help your little one fall asleep, but you can also find white noise on YouTube or other mobile apps. It's usually the sounds of nature: rain, ocean waves, birds chirping, crickets, etc.

A little girl and a baby boy lie on the bed in identical cute bamboo overalls
  1. Creating a cool environment

Finally, the last aspect, a topic that is often debated: the temperature of the room. Experts recommend keeping the temperature in the child's room at 18-22 ºC, and dressing the little one in a comfortable and soft sleeping bag according to the weather. This becomes important when he starts to roll around and cover himself, which causes him to either catch a cold or wake up. The ideal temperature of the room and the use of a sleeping bag, on the other hand, ensure a calm and relaxing sleep for the baby, but also for the parent. You will definitely find the most suitable one for your child in our Toddler Sleeping Bag range. We wish your baby and the whole family beautiful and peaceful dreams!

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