For the fussy baby that will just not go to sleep, consider the reasons why. Check your baby’s diaper again to make sure it is still clean and dry. Clean diaper conditions can change drastically in just a matter of minutes. Hold your baby upright and pat their back to see if any more burps need to come up.  Uncomfortable gas will cause your baby to pull their legs up over and over again in a painful gesture.

If your baby cries and cries for hours on end, they could be over stimulated or have colic.  Over stimulation is when they have been overloaded with too much noise and sound.  Try swaddling, cuddling and rocking to get your baby to quietly settle down.  If you suspect colic, talk to your doctor about over the counter baby gas drops or other pediatric recommendations.  Remember it may take a few hours of cry time, but eventually your baby will wear out and go to sleep.

Once your baby is asleep, be careful of the transition period when you lay them down.  A slight movement could stimulate your baby to jerk awake with a “startle reflex.”  This is where baby will move an arm and/or leg suddenly to jerk themselves awake.   Swaddling has been known to help babies sleep longer and prevent the startle reflex.  *The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends laying a sleeping baby on their back to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS.

Some babies will prefer the crib while others will want a snuggly place to snooze.   If your baby can’t stand the crib, try one of these sleep space alternatives; a comfortable car seat, bassinet, cradle or a smaller sized crib.  However, never, ever leave a baby alone in a sitting car.  Garage fumes can build up and cause irritation to a baby’s sensitive lungs.  Heat could cause the baby to die of heat exposure and cold can cause death from hypothermia.  It is always better to take your baby in the house and let them sleep in a safe, climate comfortable, stimulus free room.  Never justify leaving a baby in the car just so you can avoid the risk of having them wake up when you take them out of the car.

For the first eight weeks to three months, your baby will wake up at night for one to three feedings based on how much they ate and slept during the day.   Before a growth spurt, babies will eat more and then finally get to a stage where they eat less and sleep more.  Prior to a growth spurt, your baby may wake up at night for an extra feeding.  After you feed a baby at night, you may be so tired that you just want to go back to sleep, but baby may have different ideas.

Baby may stay awake to digest all of the food and then have a bowl movement. Baby may also want to play.  It is important during these early months that you gradually adjust your baby to their new environment. If you are so exhausted that you can’t think straight, try getting some relief by night shift trading with a spouse, aunt, sister, grandmother, mother or mother-in-law.  Chances are they will jump at the chance to get some hands-on-experience with your new little bundle of joy.

My nephew and his wife were expecting their first baby.  As I shared with them some of my “old foggy” memories of having my first child, I vividly recalled my parenting shock when I realized that my baby daughter had a mind of her own.  She wanted to sleep and eat when she wanted to, and it certainly had nothing to do with my perfectly planned pre-arranged schedule. It was an eye-opening experience and it took me several post-partum weeks to make the necessary mental adjustments.

To prepare my nephew and his wife for their own remarkable parenting experience, I recommended that they fill up a water balloon and practice carrying it up and down the living room floor every three to four hours during the night.  I also told him to be sure and change the pretend baby by replacing the water every two to three hours.    We laughed together and enjoyed this joke about the water balloon baby training method.  Even though this is a funny way to psych yourself up for some sleepless nights, the sleep deprivation that most parents experience is no laughing matter. Fortunately, there are many sleepy time techniques that will help your newborn to develop a healthy sleep pattern

Develop a Healthy Sleep Pattern:  Newborn to Three Months

Do not be alarmed when your newborn baby sleeps around the clock.  When you think about it, being born into a new environment is a big deal and it takes a tremendous amount of energy out of both you and your baby.   You will feel exhausted after the birthing experience and so will your newborn.   For the first eight weeks, your newborn will sleep between *sixteen to eighteen hours a day.  Newborns usually have their days and nights mixed up and, for the first few weeks, you may pull more than a few all nighters trying to get baby straightened out.  Use your baby’s wakeful periods to observe their developing personality.  Observe what sounds and signs your baby gives you when they are hungry, messy, sleepy or just fussy.   After the initial eight weeks, you can start incorporating some basic sleep training techniques so that your growing baby will eventually sleep through the night.

Your baby will grow a great deal in the first three months.   Growing takes a tremendous amount of time and energy.   Your baby will need a balanced schedule of sleep, food and stimulating wakeful periods. *As your baby grows, so will their capability to sleep for longer periods.  Gently directing your baby into a balanced schedule will enable your baby to develop a healthy sleep pattern.

Gently Build a Healthy Sleep Schedule

Gently direct your baby into a healthy schedule by keeping them more awake when you want them awake so that they will sleep when you want them to sleep.  From eight weeks to three months, your baby will start to develop a general sleeping, feeding and changing pattern. Try to keep your baby more awake during the day so that they will eventually learn to sleep through the night.  After eight weeks, if your baby is still sleeping a great deal during the day, try waking s/he up by washing their face with a soft, warm cloth.  Put them in an upright position in their car seat and give them a chance to look around while you do the dishes or dust the piano.  You baby will start to learn that day time is for waking and night time is for sleeping.

At three months, your baby will have developed the natural habit of waking up early to eat.  Often, after they have gained weight at three months, they usually will wake up at the more reasonable time of 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.  After feeding, wash your baby’s face and get him or her changed and dressed for the day.  Plan to keep your baby up for one to two hours of stimulating wakeful time.

During wakeful times, play with your baby and lay them on a soft blanket on their back with some baby-safe toys to look at.  Your baby may not enjoy this at first, but eventually they will learn the difference between day and night activities.  Do not be too alarmed if your baby gets fussy about being on the blanket. s/he may feel scared, miss mommy and get a little fussy about such a big open space, but a five to ten minute fuss without being picked up is actually good for your baby.  Crying allows them to expand, exercise and develop their lungs.  Kicking their legs is good exercise to keep all the food and gas moving.  At about forty- five minutes to a half-hour before their scheduled nap-time, feed, change and burp them thoroughly.

A Three Month Old Daily Schedule

A three month old infant’s daily schedule will gradually evolve into a general schedule of two morning feedings, a morning nap, two afternoon feedings, an afternoon nap, one evening and one late night feeding and then a general bed time, usually between 8:00 and 10:00 p.m.  They key word in this schedule is general.  Just like you, babies have appetites that fluctuate based on their growing needs.  One day they may eat a whole bunch, and on other days, they just want to sleep or stay awake and play.  Keep an open general schedule of anticipated wake and sleepy times.  Do not plan too many outside activities. You may get cabin fever, but keeping up with your baby’s schedule is very important in establishing a regular routine.

The “Sleepy Time” Routine

One of the most important things you can do is to establish a regular sleepy time routine.  Sleepy time routines will help your baby understand that it is time to go to sleep.  Start by creating a soft environment with a twilight room, rocking-chair and some soft sounds.  Make sure that the crib/nursery area is safe, soft and comfortable, free from any unnecessary noise and distraction.  Never try putting a baby to bed while watching T.V.  The loud noise, flashing light and distraction can over stimulate, causing baby to associate both naptime and bedtime with noise time.  Loud music is also not a great way to help your baby find the path to sleepy time land.

Before naptime or bedtime, feed your baby, burp them thoroughly and make sure their diaper is clean and dry.  Before bed time you will want to give them a warm bath, about every other night.  Bathing daily can be hard on baby’s skin and you will need to spend extra money on expensive lotions. Bathing every other day will protect your baby’s skin and put more money in your wallet.

Dress your baby to climate temperature, making sure they are neither too hot nor too cold. *An eight week to three month old baby will have difficulty regulating their body temperature so that they conserve heat.   Making sure your little one is warm with a beanie on the head will help your baby sleep better.  As your baby grows, s/he will be better able to regulate their body temperature and feel hot or cold to the climate as you feel hot or cold. Make sure to dress your baby appropriately so that they are neither too hot, nor too cold.  Being too hot or cold will cause any baby to wake up with a fuss.

Let Brother and Sister Help

Brothers and sisters can help put the baby to bed by getting the baby’s blankets and nursery ready.  After that, let them know that it is quiet time so that you can put the baby to bed.  Have brothers and sisters go into a separate room to play and/or read books while you put the baby to bed.  If they are overly eager to help, turn it into a bonding experience by having them sit on your lap, hold the baby and
help rock-a-bye the baby to sleep. Put a sign on your door to discourage callers from ringing the door-bell and/or knocking too loudly.  Take the phone off the hook and let the world go on its merry way while you do the most important mothering job of getting your baby to bed.

A baby may start sleeping through the night as young as three months.  If your baby is still waking up during the night, don’t panic, especially if they are younger than six months.  Younger babies that are growing and developing may still need a nightly feeding.  If your infant of six months or older is regularly waking up during the night, try one of these proven sleep training techniques :

The Ferber Method

Developed by Dr. Richard Ferber, Director of the Pediatric Sleep Disorder Center at Children’s Hospital in Boston, this technique known as “Feberizing” teaches  an infant to soothe themselves to sleep.

Better Infant Sleep Through Ferberizing Follows These Important Steps:

1. Set a regular time for your infant’s bedtime.  Most babies will fall asleep between 7:30 and 10:00 p.m.  After a soothing bed time routine, put your infant in bed and leave the room.  Stay in close proximity to the room to listen for your child’s cry.  If he or she is crying wait five minutes and then go in the room and comfort them with the sound of your voice and some gentle pats.  Do not pick your infant up!
2. Leave the room again and wait ten minutes before going in to comfort your child.  Keep extending the time in five minutes increments until your infant child falls asleep.
3. On the second night repeat the soothing bed time routine and put your child to bed at the set time.  Let your child cry five minutes longer than the beginning interval of the first night starting with ten minutes and increasing the time again in five minute increments.
4. Repeat the method every night, extending the beginning cry time in five minute increments for a week.  By then, hopefully, your child will be sleeping through the night.

The Ferber Method stands on the concept that your infant will eventually learn how to comfort themselves to sleep.  The child will learn coping skills to help them get to sleep with the secure understanding that you are there for periodic comfort.

In May 2006, Dr. Ferber released an update of his book, “Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems.”  The book contains more information about children’s sleep schedules, common sleep problems and the Ferber method.

Crying Options from Dr. Marc Weissbluth

Dr. Marc Weissbluth, pediatrician and the author of “Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child” suggests in his book that a baby as young as four months is ready for some type of sleep training.  Dr. Weisbluth points out that being overtired can cause significant sleep issues for infants.  He gives parents crying options to help them decide when and if they should let their baby cry. You can learn more about Dr. Weissbluth’s sleep training methods and his book.

Day to day, it is important to remember to slow down and be mindful of your infant child’s sleep schedule.  Taking naps on the run, in the car and in the stroller may not be restful in the long run.  Irregular bed times can cause confusion and lead to bed time battles.  Making sure that your child gets adequate time to sleep will help you get some sleep too.

In todays world there is so much that can get in the way of your dream for your child.  Any number of things can happen that will affect the way your relationship with your child will grow, change or die.  It is up to you, as the parent, to make every effort to not let the relationship suffer or die.  Here is when whatever you do will influence the relationship you have with your child.

One of the most important things is to never make empty promises.  Never promise or threaten to do something that you do not plan to follow through on.  This goes for everything from punishments to rewards.  It also includes everything that you might tell your child you will or will not do.  If you tell your child that a particular action will result in a particular reaction you need to be perfectly certain that you can, and will, do as you say.  Failure to do so will result in your child doubting you and your words.  Simply put, be honest and follow through.

The next thing you can do is always do your best.  No matter what you try, what task you tackle, don’t give up until you have given it every bit of effort you can muster.  It doesn’t matter if it is a new recipe, a new hobby or a repair.  It also doesn’t matter if you succeed or not.  What does matter is that your child will see you doing everything you can to accomplish what you started.  This will also have a hand in how they handle things in their life as they grow up.

Thirdly, spend time with your child.  Your life if full of things that have to be done on deadlines: get to work, get to appointments, feed the pet, cook dinner, wash laundry, cut the grass, etc.  Consider your child one of those deadline-based tasks.  Let your child help with any number of the tasks.  Ask them to color a picture for you while you finish a chore and chat with them about whatever they want to talk about.  If your child is too young for this simply have your child near you and talk to them as if they understand every word you say.  Include them in your life even in little ways.

The fourth tip is to be honest with your child.  Share your feelings: your fears, what makes you happy, what makes you sad, etc.  When your child asks you if you have ever done or felt something, be honest.  Granted there are certain topics where you will only give as much information as your childs age requires.  These are the times that you tell them what you can, without lying, without going too far.  This includes topics such as sexual intercourse, where absent parents are and why a family member may have bruises.  You have to remember that your child is young, not stupid.

Lastly, never make them think that you know everything.  As a parent you may very well know a lot of things.  The key is to be human enough to admit when you are not sure, you do not know or have never done something.  It may be possible for both of you to learn something new, possibly exciting bit of information.  On top of that it would be something you can do with your child to show them that learning still has its uses even as a parent.

Eventually, however, the trials of the first few months ease up and the chaos settles down. That’s when you realize there are some important facts none of your friends or family members ever mentioned.  And why not?  Because they never thought to bring up the subjects—or thought it wise not to.

Here you’ll find some of the deep, dark secrets about babies and young baby care that you wish you’d known ahead of time.

He’s so…helpless.

Ack!  Your baby can’t talk!  Well, OK, that’s no big surprise, but it hits you like a two-ton rattle the first night at home as you watch him sleeping in his bassinet.  Your baby can’t even run around and avoid falling objects like a puppy could.  He can’t control his arms at will or roll over anytime he wants or even in some circumstances cry out for help.  Without you, he’s in trouble.  Of course, he has ways of making sure you help him.  But to be in charge of somebody so helpless…what a frightening and awesome responsibility that is.

Babies start from scratch.

From rolling over to pooping, you find your baby practicing the oddest skills—skills you take for granted.

With the dedication of an artist, she practices sucking her thumb, suffering many self-inflicted wounds as her flailing fist hits her skull, eyes and ears instead of her mouth.  You wince as you watch her, hoping she survives and praying she applies such focus and perseverance to cleaning her room when she gets older.

Similarly, the first time you see baby turn purple trying to fill her diaper, you panic.  Then you learn that some babies go through a stage where they gain conscious control of their bowels and have to re-learn what they used to be able to do by instinct.  Soon you start to encourage her.  That’s fine—just be sure you break yourself of the habit of saying, “Pooping? Nice work!” by the time she reaches junior high.

Exhausted. Must. Get.  Sleep.

All right, it’s true; they warned you about sleep deprivation.  Everyone warns you about sleep deprivation—the books, the Internet, your family and friends, strangers on the street.  You’d been told to arrange for a grandmother or somebody to help you with meals and shopping once the baby is born.  You’ve done that.

But you weren’t really stressed about the idea of losing sleep.  After all, you’d pulled all-nighters before, hadn’t you?  How bad can a little sleep deprivation be?

What you didn’t know—and what no merciful parent will reveal before you have the baby—was what all those weeks, or maybe even months, of sleep deprivation are really like.

Other parents won’t tell you to banish any hope of doing chores, meeting social engagements, or working on personal projects.  They won’t warn you that to have to drag yourself out of bed and change the baby’s diaper in the middle of the night will use up your last reserve…and your second-to-last, plus every bit of reserve you’ve got stored in your little toe.  They naturally don’t want to scare you.

Just remember, you’re not alone.  And your baby isn’t trying to drive you insane with lack of sleep.  He simply never got the memo telling him to eat and sleep on cue ….

Burping isn’t just an encore to a meal of breast milk or formula; it’s the main event.

Yes, for your baby, burping is a regular opening-night theater performance—and she’s the star who must be encouraged to perform.  You hold her up, turn her about, pat her on the back, and egg her on—and when she finally emits a belch to rival the mightiest bear’s, you cry, “Excellent burp!” and applaud.

For remember, if the performance is delayed or never happens, then you’ll be up all night regretting it.  (Think colic.  Think stomach upset.  Think baby crying for hours.)

Living day to day?  More like hour to hour.

Your baby’s moods seem to go one way, then the other.   Your baby is happy and content one minute, crying the next.  His physical needs come upon him more suddenly than a sprinkler system at a lawn party; he’s content, then in pain, then happy, then hungry, then asleep.  Now you understand why parents of newborns are always late.  Planned events become unplannable when a baby enters the scene.

Not a non-person.  A character from the start.

From the moment your baby leaves Placenta World with a shattering cry that does not admit to her size, your baby has a personality.  She might do all the typical baby things.  Yet each baby comes with her own virtual personals ad: “Good communicator, squirmy when held, ravenous for life, moody, prefers thumb to pacifier, is a confirmed chewer.”

You expected to learn to distinguish your baby’s cries.  But did anyone tell you how mobile your baby’s face would be, and that you’d learn her expressions by heart?  In one afternoon you count 32 separate facial expressions, including “Trying to Poop,”  “Cry is Imminent,” and “Out Cold.”  But your favorite is “Blast You, Give Me the Milk!”

And each day, her personality evolves and you notice something new, so you feel like you’re at a circus.  Step right up!  Watch a personality form as you wait!  It’s the show of a lifetime!

Hard work?  You’re not the only one.

No matter how much work you were prepared to do in caring for your baby, you didn’t consider that maybe the really hard work would be done by the baby, himself.

Poor baby has to stay where he’s put, grow faster than you can say “we’re out of laundry detergent again,” stew in dirty diapers until someone happens to sniff him, and wonder why, when he sobs, “Hey, my elbow is itching like nobody’s business!” everybody just looks at him helplessly.

Plus he’s not altogether sure what he’s doing here, where “here” even is, what that scary thing rushing past him is, what those scary sounds are, and where he’s going next.

Poopalogue.

To put it frankly, you’ve now discovered that a good eighty percent of your conversations about the baby centers on the subject of…well…poop.   Poop is, quite simply, fascinating stuff to new parents.  Where it would once have yucked you out, now few things engross you more than describing your little darling’s fecal texture, consistency, color, odor, and frequency…which is why you find it a breath of fresh air to visit the pediatrician, who is about the only other person on earth who talks about the taboo subject with equal relish.

Supercry!

A baby’s way of assuring he gets help is simple.  He cries.  And he cries.  And if that doesn’t work…he cries.   It’s actually a very powerful and effective mode of communication, considering it consists of one word, bwah.

The
thing about the baby’s cry is that it must be obeyed.  That is all.

Superlaugh!

Once you have a baby, you learn that most powerful force on earth, besides a baby’s cry, is a baby’s laugh.  No matter how much you swore you wouldn’t “iggle-wiggle” with your baby or make funny faces or do silly dances like all those undignified parents, all that changes when she learns to laugh.  Now you’ll do anything to hear that hiccupping heh-heh-heh again – juggle pie plates, make rude noises with your mouth, and “oopsie-poopsie-woopsie” till you’re hoarse.

Is that what’s under my diaper?

At first, your baby seemed not to realize that there was anything more of himself underneath his diaper.  Suddenly, around the time he gains control of his arms and hands, his little hands go wandering and discover…all of himself.

You panic.  Then you realize the whole thing is entirely natural.  Feeling proud of yourself for recognizing your baby’s innocent need for self-discovery, you decide to let him go ahead and explore this part of himself, too.  After all, how can it hurt?

It’s about then that you notice that you haven’t yet wiped him up and that his wandering hand has gotten full of the same stuff soiling his diaper.  At which time, self-discovery takes on a whole new meaning.  Luckily, from here on in you’re prepared…until the first time he pees on you.

You feel so…unwashed.

And finally, the deepest, darkest secret of parenthood .  You’re so busy and tired, so swamped and frantic, so overworked and overwhelmed, you just haven’t managed to take a shower in….well…some things are better left unsaid, right?

A Soothing Swaddle

Swaddling is very soothing to a newborn since it re-creates the warm, snuggly feeling that they had in the womb. A soft blanket wrapped properly and gently around the baby’s body can be soothing and give a fussing baby a sensation of womb familiarity. Swaddling also creates pressure points around the baby’s body giving the baby a sensation of being gently held.

Swaddling is used by many parents to combat general fussiness and promote healthy baby sleep patterns. In a remarkable study titled “Swaddling: A Systematic Review” published by The Official Journal of the American Pediatrics, Vol. 120, No. 4, October 2007, pp.e1097-e1106, experts found that “In a study in which swaddling was compared with a free condition, swaddling resulted in less arousal, less alert activity and more drowsiness and more sleep.” Confirming that swaddled babies will nap longer and that the swaddle prevents the startle reflex (uncontrolled movements from their arms and legs) from waking them up.

Swaddling as a Baby Sleep Aid

As a baby sleep aid, swaddling is most commonly used between the ages of two to four months. Parents should realize that a little swaddling can go a long way. Your baby should never be swaddled for excessive hours and certainly not for an entire day. Babies also need movement and play time to develop muscle tone and encourage coordination skills. Watch your baby’s disposition to determine appropriate times when they would enjoy a swaddle as well as times when they would enjoy the sensation of movement and play.

Swaddling with the arms tucked in is highly discouraged after four months, so that your baby can further develop necessary motor and coordination skills. Older babies, from five to nine months, who still enjoy being swaddled, can be swaddled loosely from the waist down so that the arms are free and the legs have a bit more movement.

Swaddling Your Baby Safely

Swaddling is most commonly used during cuddling and sleeping times as well as during fussy times when feeding, burping and changing have all failed to promote calm and comfort. Wrapping style, tightness and temperature are very important as too much constriction and heat can cause a baby to develop hyperthermia, a dangerous condition where the body is overwhelmed by heat.

If the climate is warm or hot, swaddle your baby just wearing an undershirt or diaper. Usually this is enough to keep them swaddled and comfortably cool. During naptime, check on your baby periodically. Should you find your baby warm or sweaty, unwrap them from the swaddle immediately!

If your baby seems overly hot, seek emergency medical attention immediately. Careful wrapping and monitoring of your baby’s temperature will help you give your baby soothing swaddle.

Do It Yourself!

Swaddling works best with a quality blanket. If your budget conscious with basic sewing skills, you can make your own. The standard department store receiving blanket is 30 inches wide and 30 inches long. For ideal swaddling, Jackie Hatch of Hancock Fabrics recommends making a bigger swaddling blanket at 42 X 42.

Jackie recommends using a quality material of flannel, grand-flannel or cotton. Grand flannel is a high quality material with flame retardant properties. Parents should be aware that regular cotton and flannel materials do not have flame retardant properties. Hypoallergenic baby materials are also available, but they are expensive and often require a special order.

If buying cotton or sewing one side cotton and one side flannel, be sure to buy the cotton a little bigger and prewash it so that any shrinking will occur before the two sides are sewn together. Jackie recommends buying a quality fabric about 42 inches wide and 45 inches long. You can then “square it up” by hemming around the material until it forms a square or triangular shape, customizing the blanket to fit the baby’s unique shape and size.

Buy a Quality Blanket

For moms who need to save both time and money, there are special, ready-made swaddling blankets available for purchase online. B.B. (Burrito Baby) Sleep Solutions offers a “premium quality 100% cotton flannel, multifunctional swaddle blanket” designed to give your baby ultimate comfort in swaddling care. The “extra large 40 inch blanket” is well designed, and creates a swaddle without using any “snaps, ties, velcro or unnatural fasteners.”

Jamie Kent, owner and founder, started B.B. Sleep Solutions when she found a lack of quality blankets available in the retail market. She also developed a DVD training curriculum that goes with the blanket to help parents learn how to get their babies to sleep. “We talk about the importance of sleep and we go through several studies and just teach parents how to sleep their babies. I think a lot of people are unaware of how much sleep newborns actually require.”

One mother and customer, agrees that the B.B. Sleep Solutions blanket with training program is a quality product that really works! “The thing that is great about Jami’s Sleep Solution Program is that she basically shows you how to do it. Everything she said worked! Every bit of advice she offered, 100% of the time it worked!”

Jami also offers “Sleep Parties” to help parents learn more about the helpful B.B. Sleep Solutions products. One customer emphasizes how important it is to learn about the baby sleep program and start early! “We started the program when my second baby was five days old and she slept 100% better than my first baby.”

Jami’s unique blanket is made of a high quality material that breathes to help keep the baby from becoming overheated. When asked about the quality of the B.B. Sleep Solutions blanket, Jami’s customer gives the product high praise: “There is something different about the B.B. Sleep Solutions Blanket. I don’t know why it works better, but it does and we just laugh and say that the blanket is made with love.” To learn more about quality B.B. Sleep Solutions Products, check out their link below!

Swaddling and SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS occurs when a baby under the age of one year suddenly and unexplainably dies. Most SIDS related deaths occur when the baby is between two and four months. In 1990, there were 5, 417 recorded infant deaths caused by SIDS according to the National Sudden Infant Death Resource Center or NSIDRC.

In 1994, based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or NICHD instituted a “Back to Sleep” campaign to educate parents about putting babies to sleep on their backs which is the supine position. Suppor
tive evidence as to the relation of swaddling and back sleeping is mentioned in the Journal of Pediatrics article cited. Researchers “indicated that firm tucking, wrapping or swaddling contributes to a reduced risk of SIDS.” They go on to explain that babies who are swaddled and put to sleep on their backs actually have a much lower risk of dying from SIDS.

The NICHD statistics show that from 1992 to 2000 the mortality rate from SIDS has decreased by 50% indicating that babies who are put to sleep on their backs have a much lower risk of dying from SIDS. Mothers, who have used swaddling and the back sleeping position, agree that safe swaddling and back sleeping go hand in hand to prevent SIDS.

The cause of SIDS is yet unknown. Theories range from poor health at birth to difficulty breathing due to excess blankets and bedding. Swaddling prevents SIDS, and helps a parent feel more secure about their baby’s naptime. One mother agrees, “There was never a time when I was concerned about the safety of my baby when she was swaddled. I really think that swaddling is the best thing for a baby and it’s absolutely the best thing because the baby is going to sleep better and you are going to sleep better.”

Learn more about swaddling and the B.B. Sleep Solutions products, with the links below!

The history of swaddling.

B.B. Sleep Solutions DVD training video and their unique swaddling blanket .

Step by step process on how to swaddle your baby .

Safe baby sleeping tips and baby sleep positions to protect your baby from SIDS.

More parenting help for naptime

Establish Routine Sleep Patterns for Your Newborn

Newborns generally develop sleep patterns on their own as they adjust to their new environment.  For the first four months of life, a baby will sleep thirteen to fifteen hours during the day and night, usually three to four hours at a time. You can establish healthy routine sleep patterns for your newborn with these sleepy time techniques:

For the first two to four months of life, keep a sleep diary of your baby’s sleep cycles.  Keeping a daily sleep diary will help you determine how much and at what times your baby likes to sleep.  You can also jot down important facts about their behavior before bed time.  This will help you understand times when your baby might be suffering from over tiredness, over stimulation or gas.  It will also help you find those comforting bedtime routines to sooth your baby to sleep. Soon, you will see a sleep pattern develop and be able to establish more definite times for naps and bed time.

Avoid over stimulation just before a recorded sleep time.  Babies generally do not go to sleep when they are over stimulated from the sights and sounds of their environment.  A fussy baby is an indication of over tiredness, overstimulation and/or gas. Prevent overstimulation with quiet time just before a recorded sleep time.  Prevent gas by making sure your baby is well-burped.

Make sure your baby’s sleeping area is safe, clean and comfortable.  Newborn babies might miss the tight familiarity of the womb.  Instead of starting with a big crib, consider using a bassinet, cradle or a small crib that you can attach directly to your bed.  The smaller bed helps your baby feel more snug and feeding your baby during the night is a cinch if he or she is right there beside you.

Some parents choose to co-sleep with their baby and have the baby sleep in their bed.  Although this can be a very effective technique for promoting overall sleep and feeding patterns, exercise caution and follow the safety measures for co-sleeping at The Natural Child Project .

Just before a recorded sleep time, make sure your baby is changed, well-fed, burped and comfortable.  Babies enjoy sucking and some babies like to fall asleep while nursing or having a bottle.  However, do not make this an ongoing habit as your baby will start to associate feeding with going to sleep.  Instead, use a pacifier and train you baby to go to sleep after being fed, burped, changed and cuddled.

As your baby grows into their fourth month and the sleep patterns become more apparent, establish more regular naptime and bedtime routines.   Start by waking your child up and putting them to bed at set times every day.  Small babies need both a morning and afternoon nap during the day.  Once bed time and wake times are established try and set times for both morning and the afternoon naps.   Keep in mind that all babies have their own developmental sleep patterns and what will soothe one baby to sleep may not work for another. Try these different soothing techniques before bed time or naptime to see what combination works best for your baby;

Rocking
Singing
Cuddling
Gentle Bouncing
Soft music
Soft Sounds
A Soft Nightlight
A warm bath
Swaddling
Gentle Back Rub or Patting

Keep in mind that a baby has sleep cycles similar to that of an adult with a shorter amount of time spent both in deep and light sleep.  In light sleep a baby will demonstrate slight movements while deep sleep is characterized by relaxation and deep breathing.  Light sleep is the time when your baby is most likely to wake up due to hunger, wetness, environmental noise or by movement from their own arms and legs.  Swaddling your baby and protecting their sleep environment from unexpected noise during light sleep cycles will train them to fall back to sleep and sleep longer.

Supporting your baby’s sleep patterns will help them learn healthy sleep habits that will prepare them to sleep through the night.  It will also create some wonderful bed-time bonding experiences for you and your baby.

For a baby sleep chart to track your baby’s sleep patterns visit the Baby Center .

How to stop nightmares: Design your child’s sleep area

If your child is afraid to sleep at night due to the fear of having a nightmare, make his or her sleep area as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Simple things like providing your child with a small night light or leaving the bedroom door open can go a long ways towards allaying your child’s fears. You may also want to consider playing some soft music in the background at bedtime to help calm your child before he falls asleep.

How to stop nightmares: Discuss anything that might be troubling your child

Sometimes childhood nightmares can be precipitated by underlying anxiety or stressors in your child’s life. Spend some time talking to your child and determine whether there are underlying issues bothering him. Consider any changes that have occurred in your child’s life recently. Did he start school or pre-school? Maybe he’s having a problem adjusting to the new environment. Has there been family related stress that could be affected your child? If so, these issues need to be discussed with your child.

How to stop nightmares: Consider your child’s medications

Has your child been placed on a new medication recently? There are a variety of medications that can cause vivid dreams and nightmares. If your child is having nightmares, this is a good time to review your child’s medications with his doctor. Also keep in mind that caffeine is a stimulant drug that can contribute to scary dreams. Reassess how much soft drinks your child is drinking on a daily basis as well as his chocolate consumption. Sometimes discontinuing all caffeine can reduce the incidence of nightmares.

How to stop nightmares: Consider your child’s diet

A diet high in sugars and simple carbohydrates particularly when eaten before bedtime can contribute to childhood nightmares. The best bedtime snack to promote healthy sleep patterns is a glass of warm milk without added sugar or chocolate. Limit your chlid’s consumption of carbohydrate rich foods, particularly within a few hours of bedtime.

How to stop nightmares: Allow your child to talk about his fears

If your child awakens from sleep with a nightmare, allow him to talk about what scared him without being overly indulgent. The simple act of expressing his fears can be enough to loosen the hold the bad dream has on him. Emphasize that what he experienced was only a dream and the bad characters have no ability to harm him.

Childhood nightmares generally clear up as your child gets older. Until then, making your child’s sleeping environment as comfortable as possible and encouraging him to talk about his dreams can help to reduce the impact of childhood nightmares.

Parenting Tips for Home Learning

Everyone in your family should have a household responsibility, at least one chore that must be done on time. Have regular times to eat, sleep, play and work. This helps to establish routine and work habits that will help your child in the classroom.

Limit your family’s television time. Instead, spend time reading books, drawing, and learning together. Visit parks, children’s museums, libraries, zoos, historical sites and other places of interest to help your child gain a love of exploring new places and ideas.

Attend story or music time at your local library to help your child learn to sit still for short periods of time, take turns, and focus on a speaker in front of a group. A classroom atmosphere is much different from the one-on-one attention your child is used to at home.

Provide your children a chance to speak and be listened to. Encourage them to use good speech habits, using correct words and phrases and learning new ones. You may know what the cute baby words and phrases mean, but his teacher and peers won’t.

Encourage Reading at Home

Create a reading and writing nook at home. Provide somewhere comfy to sit, with eye level access to several books. Have your child browse through and choose one herself.

There are many pre-reading skills that can be started from birth-up to set your child on the path to becoming a great reader. Provide a low table where it is comfortable for your child to sit and color or write. Have on hand plenty of paper, paper clips, pencils and crayons. Encourage your child to use them to “write notes” and in dramatic play as signs for a store, tickets, invitations, menus and more.

Long before a child learns to form letters she has taken many steps toward learning to write. Children need activities using their hands to develop motor skills and eye hand coordination. Molding with clay, playing with knobbed puzzles, building with Legos®, and playing with beads all help your preschooler learn to control his hands.

Writing has many developmental stages. Children move from random scribbling to controlled scribbling to random alphabet letters, and on through to consonants representing words. Each step is important, so don’t push your child too fast.

Help Your Child Learn at Home

Most important, read to your child every day. Make book time a special time when you cuddle and read. Let them turn the pages and set the pace for the story. If your child loses interest or gets upset, stop for a while and try again later. Reading time should be fun time.

Talk to your child. Ask questions and answer them yourself if your child can’t answer. Use short sentences and repeat yourself. Talk about what is going on around you. This helps build vocabulary. Children with bigger vocabularies are better readers.

Ask your children to tell you what has happened in a story or to describe a picture. Ask open-ended questions. Being able to tell and retell a story helps children understand what they read. Point out letters anywhere you see them. Write your child’s name for him. Write other words that interest him like truck or dinosaur.

Sing songs and say nursery rhymes. Being able to hear the sounds that make up words, helps children when they are learning to read. When learning is part of home life, it can ease anxieties about starting school for kids and parents, giving them the confidence and tools to succeed in kindergarten.

For more information on early literacy, visit getreadytoread.org .

For a list of skills your child should know before kindergarten, talk to your local elementary school or visit familyeducation.com .

Parenting tips for choosing a preschool.

Choosing the right preschool can be a long and difficult process that involves many important factors. Once you feel that your child is ready to start a preschool program, it is important to decide what you are looking for in a preschool.

We interviewed several mothers to find out what was at the top of their list when looking for a preschool for their child to attend. Their answers varied widely. One mother was looking for a preschool that provided mostly a social atmosphere for her child who did not have any siblings at home. Another was looking for a full time preschool that was close to her office. Other parents were looking for the preschool activities and preschool theme that would offer challenge for their child. A large number of mothers were looking for an accelerated school that would help their child be very prepared for kindergarten, or possibly help them to skip a grade in the future.

One thing all of the mothers polled agreed on is that finding a school that met all of their needs was not as easy as they had hoped, not to mention that some schools had waiting lists of up to three years and price tags of up to $800+ per month.

We have listed some advice from mothers who recently found the perfect preschool in hopes that your search will be simplified.

Start with friends and neighbors
You will be surprised to hear all of the positive and negative experiences that your friends and neighbors have had with their child’s preschools. Ask around to find a few highly recommended schools that you may want to look into, and those to stay away from.

Contact the Elementary School
Many Elementary Schools will be able to give you a list of preschools that they recommend. Getting in touch with a Kindergarten teacher is always very helpful, as they generally have seen the results of many schools.

Visit the schools that you are interested in
Take you child and visit different preschools. Ask questions about the school’s curriculum, and pay attention to how the staff interacts with your child. Tour the school to see what the classrooms are like and pay special attention to how your child responds to the atmosphere.

Parents find that once they do their homework they are very likely to find a preschool that is perfect for the needs of their child. Remember that all children are different, they have unique ways of learning, and finding a preschool program that they get the most value from, will put them on the right track for their education.