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Finding out we are expecting was very exciting and at the same time led immediately to the thought of having a disturbed sleeping schedule, crazy nights, and all the other stories we have all heard over and over when it comes to baby sleep. With that in mind, I started my own research of how to avoid falling into the upside-down routine and stressing over sleep.
Being a first time mom, I needed as many people's opinions as possible to establish what will actually help both my husband and I to get good restful sleep in the long run, and to ensure baby has a healthy sleeping pattern (which is so important in establishing a routine, the baby's development and overall health and sanity of the entire family).
Consulting with my mom and mother-in-law (who both have 4 children), and some close friends who are also moms - I eagerly gathered all the tips and advice to share with all of you who are either struggling in your current routine or are preparing for baby's arrival and the hopefully restful nights along with it.
Just remember that each baby is different - and these suggestions may work better for some than others. This is no way an exhaustive list of all the options, just the tips and items that I am gathering in anticipation of baby's due date. Be patient with yourself, your partner, and with your baby, since this is new for everyone involved.
Guess what? All the products mentioned below are conveniently available online at GiantTiger.com
In generous partnership with Giant Tiger
Good Night Story Time
Starting a night time routine early on is key in how calm your baby will be. There are so many great books out there; some just funny, some educational, others uplifting and encouraging. Pick your favourite and just start reading to your little one. This is a routine that can start as early as a few days old and go into school-age for most children.
Your "reading voice" is calming and relaxing for baby and also for you. Allow this time to be as long or short as you feel is good for you both. I am told that some parents also fall asleep during - which just goes to show how therapeutic reading can be.
Book Suggestion: Snuggle Puppy by Sandra Boynton
BABY MASSAGE
I don't know about you, but what is better than a relaxing massage - and possibly a nap right after!? Well, not many things! A big tip from my mom is that a baby massage with a clean massage oil or lotion right before bedtime is the best recipe for a relaxed baby. There is so much growth happening, with a lot of laying and potentially some cramping, so that massage can really help for baby's circulation and proper flow of fluids. This short video has helped me to already learn some techniques for baby massage to ensure a restful sleep.
Shop Online: Live Clean Baby Lotion
Bottle Warmer
Whether you or your partner is feeding the baby, an abundance of bottles is key. Things may get a little more crazy because of tiredness, lack of time for cleaning, and simply wanting to spend time with little baby. So having many bottles is another bit of advice I got from a lot of experienced mothers! And along with that, having a bottle warmer is key! My mother-in-law said a bottle warmer was a "life saver" and she used it for all four of her babies (including my husband, the father of my baby!) to ensure a restful sleep.
You can use the warmer in the nursery, on your bed side table, or take it along when travelling. This bottle warmer heats the contents of the bottle within 3 minutes!! Wow! So this is absolutely perfect for nighttime feedings of formula or pumped breast milk. Timing is absolutely everything when it comes to a hungry baby - so win win!
Shop Online: Philips Avent Air-Free Vent Bottle All-in-One Gift Set
*this set comes with multiple air-free vent bottles, a sterilizer, bottle warmer and cleaner!
Swaddle Sleep Sack
Saddling could make or break a great night's rest. Some baby's love it, others don't. Based on the advice I have gotten, it is really the baby's preference to swaddle or not. Friends who are moms have suggested using a sleep sack with swaddle ability if your baby loves being swaddled, or just a simple sleep sack if the baby isn't feeling that.
If you are not sure what swaddling is, it is a way of wrapping the baby tightly, resembling the coziness in the mom's womb. Some babies like to stretch a lot and will unravel the swaddle. Get to know your baby and see what will work best for your situation. Either way, sleep sacks are amazing because you should never use a blanket for your baby because of the risk of suffocation. A sleep sack will keep the little one cozy all the time, even if you don't swaddle.
Shop Online: Easy Swaddle Blanket
Enough Food Supply
When is comes to babies crying at night, there are usually only a few options for the reason of the uneasiness. Besides dirty diapers and just simply wanting some skin-to-skin contact, it will probably be hunger when your baby wakes from their restful sleep at night. If you are breastfeeding, you can make use of a breast pump to build your milk supply and have your partner take a turn at night and take on a feed. Breast pumps are amazing to boost your production milk in general because you can just pump the milk when your breasts get full - rather than when your baby is hungry.
Some women are blessed with so much milk that they can donate breast milk to a milk bank for other women who do not have any milk themselves. Using a breast pump to ensure you always have enough milk will give you peace of mind and also allow your partner to be very involved in the feeding process - which for many parents is a huge bonding moment.
Shop Online: Philips Avent Natural Double Electric Breast Pump Set
Mittens
Mittens indoors? This might seem very strange - especially if your little one is born in the middle of summer. However, this is a huge tip from friends who are moms! Baby's nails are very sharp and they easily scratch themselves. Imaging having your baby wake up from a scratch, crying with tears, and you have no idea how or why because you can barely open your eyes at 3:00 am.
This should truly be the last thing interrupting your sleep. Try the cute mittens because clipping your baby's nails can be a very scary thing!
Shop Online: Anti-Scratch Mittens
Security Toy
Providing a sense of security is generally done through touch, smell, and a lot of skin to skin contact. Some babies and older children love having a toy around that adds to this sense of security. My husband and I both notoriously had security toys, as both of our mom's fondly recall. Avent has created a very cute snuggle toy that is a soft plushie with a removable pacifier - the perfect combination to sooth little baby and also very easy to find in the middle of the night when the last thing you want to do is turn the light on to find the pac-y!
Shop Online: Snuggle Giraffe
Baby Monitor
After reading a lot of literature, one common theme is that some new parents have a lot of anxiety about the different things that can happen to the baby in the early stages of their live. Things like SIDS or the sudden stop of breathing in a child are ones that can cause sleepless nights. Thankfully, technology has evolved so much that there are amazing tools to help monitor and make us aware of these type of events in babies. Anxious and worried moms may loose sleep over the thought that something may happen to the child in their sleep and this can cause serious sleep deprivation.
A baby monitor that also tracks the baby's heart rate breathing might just be the answer to your prayers; they also come with LED night lights to make sure you have a perfect view of your little one in the dark - the answer to a restful sleep without worries! It also easily connects to your smartphone, so no extra clutter around.
Shop Online: Baby Video and Breathing Monitor
Good sleep, healthy food and tons of love are the most essential components in a baby's development. So knowing that we are meeting and even exceeding these expectations with the help of the above mentioned advice and tips is just the best feeling. Having a well rested baby and parents can be a determining factor in everyone's wellbeing and happiness. I am so proud that with the help of the amazing women in my life who have had the privilege of being mothers, I was able to soak in and then compile these important points and share them with all of you.
Have you heard of these tips? Do you have any other suggestions or tips or advice for ensuring baby has a calm and restful sleep?
