Secrets to help babies sleep well and deeply

SKĐS - Sleep plays an extremely important role for newborns, helping them adapt to their new living environment after birth. Therefore, how to help children sleep well is always a matter of concern for many parents.

Newborns up to about a month old sleep almost all day and night, waking only to feed (about every 2-3 hours). Because they cannot distinguish between day and night, they may sleep more during the day (8-9 hours) and wake more at night (about 8 hours).

When your baby is 3 months old or weighs about 6 kg, he or she can start sleeping through the night (6–8 hours) without waking up. At this point, parents do not need to wake the baby up to feed, but should still be careful not to let the baby sleep more than 3 hours without feeding.

For special cases such as premature babies, low birth weight babies, or babies with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), parents need to breastfeed more frequently.

Methods to help babies sleep well and deeply

1. Practice good sleeping habits for children

Recognize signs of sleepiness in babies: In the first 8 weeks after birth, babies usually cannot stay awake for more than 2 hours continuously. If they stay awake for more than this time, they will be tired and have difficulty sleeping. Signs that your baby is sleepy include: blinking constantly, squinting, yawning, dark circles under the eyes, or slow movements. Parents should pay attention to these signals to put their baby to bed on time, ensuring quality sleep.

Teaching children to distinguish between day and night:

Some babies develop a habit of staying up at night in the womb and continue it after birth. It can be difficult to change this habit in the first few days after birth, but parents can start to guide their babies when they are about 2 weeks old.

During the day: Parents should play and talk to their children a lot, sing lullabies or play soft music during daytime feedings. Keep the room bright and airy and do not need to completely eliminate common noises such as television, radio... You can gently wake the child when he sleeps too long during the day. At night: Keep the space quiet, with soft light, speak softly when feeding the child so that the child knows this is the time to rest.

Teaching your baby to fall asleep on their own: When your baby is 6–8 weeks old, you can start teaching him or her to fall asleep on their own. Put your baby in the crib or bed when he or she is drowsy but still awake.

How to put your baby to sleep in the first 8 weeks after birth is very important because it will form a long-term habit. Parents should choose the appropriate method such as: singing lullabies, playing soft music, patting or scratching the baby's head. Do not hold the baby to sleep in your arms and then put him to bed, because this can easily create a bad habit, making it difficult for the baby to sleep on his own later.

Limit bright lights and loud noises to help children sleep better.

2. Secrets to help babies sleep well

• Feed your baby well before bed: Make sure your baby is well fed to eliminate the "hunger" factor that causes him to wake up at night.
• Create a peaceful atmosphere to help your baby sleep: A quiet space, soft light, and light scent will help your baby feel safe and relaxed.
• Put your child to bed early: Your child should sleep around 8pm to form good habits, which will be convenient for their daily activities when they are older.
• Age-appropriate sleep training: Depending on age, the time and method of putting the child to sleep may vary; parents need to be flexible in adjusting.
• Avoid over-stimulation of the senses: Limit bright lights, loud noises, and colorful toys before bedtime to stabilize your child's nervous system.
• Arrange a safe, comfortable bed: Use soft blankets and pillows, keep warm enough so that the baby feels comfortable and safe like in the womb.
• Create a relaxing feeling before bed: Reduce lights, turn off the TV, limit phones and loud sounds; adjust the room temperature to help your baby fall asleep easily.

When children have trouble sleeping, what should be noted?

If your baby often has trouble sleeping or sleeping soundly, it is possible that there is a medical condition involved. Parents need to carefully observe other unusual symptoms to promptly take their baby to see a doctor.

Newborns need to be provided with enough nutrients every day to help them eat well, develop height and weight properly... Therefore, mothers need to eat enough nutrients to help breast milk have enough minerals to help children have a healthy immune system, increase resistance and get sick less often.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/bi-quyet-giup-tre-so-sinh-ngu-ngon-va-sau-giac-169251031225417014.htm