New Parent Tip-of-the-Week: Helping Newborns Sleep Better

Does baby sleep like an angel while in your arms or lying your chest but not in bed? We have three tips to help baby sleep like an angel in bed, too.

• First, baby is lulled by the sound of your heart because this is a comforting sound. This sound lulled baby to sleep for 9 months and baby came to rely on it. Today's technology has made it very easy for you to offer baby this same comfort outside of the womb with modern soothers like Cloud b's Sleep Sheep. The sounds produced by Sleep Sheep replicate those of mommy's heartbeat and offer baby the same comfort as mommy's tummy.
• Secondly, baby's sense of smell is very keen, even early in life. The smell of mommy and daddy are also comforting to baby because these are the first smells baby experienced and they quickly become very familiar to baby. Baby knows these smells offer security and comfort. To help baby know you are still close by, place a shirt mommy or daddy has worn near baby but out of reach (over the railing of the bed or at least a foot away from baby's body). Baby can still smell mommy or daddy and know comfort is close by, making baby more relaxed and apt to sleep. If placing a shirt near baby is not an option, sleep on baby's sheet one night and then place the sheet on baby's bed. This has the same effect as the shirt and is a good option for fidgety babies or babies which can roll. If you sleep on baby's sheet, be careful not to get lotions, colognes, perfumes, night creams, or other irritating substances on baby's sheet.
  
• Lastly, lay a heating pad in baby's bed while you are preparing baby for bed (i.e. feeding or bathing). Turn the heating pad on the lowest setting. This will gently warm the spot in which you will place baby. A cold bed/sheet can be startling to baby, especially after being in warm arms. Never lay baby on the heating pad or overheat baby's bed! Always completely remove the heating pad and cord from the crib before placing baby in the bed. Make sure the heating pad is turned off immediately after using. If you are worried about leaving the heating pad on, you may want to plug it into a wall timer so it will automatically shut off or purchase a newer model which offers automatic shut off.

We hope these tips help baby and parents receive some much needed shut eye. Goodnight!