Creating a Sleep-Conducive Environment for Your Baby
A well-rested baby means a happier baby (and even happier parents)! But getting your baby to bed can be quite a task sometimes. Have you ever wondered why? Babies sleep peacefully when they have the right environment around them. With a sleep-conducive environment, you can promote good sleeping habits in babies and ensure your baby gets the right amount of sleep required for growth and development. If you are a first-time parent or a new parent, this article will tell you how to create an apt environment for your baby.
Creating An Optimal And Sleep-Conducive Environment For Your Baby
Babies are quite sensitive to their surroundings. They will only sleep when factors like temperature, noise, sound, and lighting are as per their comfort. It is why creating an ideal environment for them is crucial. Here is how you can do it:
1. Optimal Room Temperature
One of the first things to keep in mind is the temperature of your baby’s room. A baby will become fussy and restless if the room is too cold or too hot. The ideal room temperature for your baby ranges from 20 to 22 degrees Celsius, and you should try to maintain this throughout your baby’s sleep.
You can maintain the temperature by constantly checking it using a thermometer. During seasonal changes, adjust the temperature if it doesn’t fall in the required window. Apart from this, make sure your baby is dressed in lightweight and breathable baby sleepwear so that they don’t feel too hot.
2. Use The Right Sleeping Gear
The next important thing about a sleep-conducive environment for babies is the sleeping gear. Whether it is their crib, bassinet, blanket, or pillow, everything needs to be comfortable so that the baby can rest without any trouble.
Go for cribs and bassinets that are well-constructed and sturdy so that your baby doesn’t fall off. The baby crib mattress should be firm and fit snugly in the crib. Use a baby blanket that is lightweight and breathable to prevent overheating. During winter, you can go for wool blankets so that the baby doesn’t catch a cold. Use a mustard pillow to prevent flat heads in your babies.
By 2024, baby sleep gear is ahead in a different direction focusing more on the safety aspect and comfort. Specific to crib bassinets, manufactured ones should conform to international standards of safety and should have an ASTM certification. A firm, well-fitted crib mattress is still important in the prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
As per the current recommendations, it is recommended for the parents to use the weighted sleep sacks as it could reduce the startle reflex and give the child a feeling of security and thus improve the amount of sleep duration in children above 6 months. But, blankets are best not used with infants below 12 months of age as there is a high tendency of suffocation. However, there are specific temperature-controlled baby wraps easily found on the market today that are safer to use.
3. Keep The Lighting Dim
Do you know what’s the most powerful cue for sleep? It is light or lack of it. A dark room is a simple indication that it is time to sleep, even for babies. This is because our bodies are hard-wired to wake up in the light and sleep in the dark. You can use the same technique for your babies.
Use blackout curtains or shades to block sunlight from entering your baby’s room. Install a soft and warm nightlight for feeding and diaper changes in the middle of the night. Turn them on only when necessary. Finally, don’t use any electronic devices just before your baby’s naptime, as they emit blue rays that can disrupt a baby's sleep.
4. Installing The Sleeping Gear
The next factor for a baby’s comfortable sleep depends on the position of the crib or bassinet. This might look like a task, but we will simplify it for you with two pretty easy solutions.
First, place the crib or bassinet away from windows, electric appliances, doors, or any other areas that can be harmful. Second, ensure that the room your baby sleeps in is well-ventilated. The temperature should be maintained, and lights should be dim.
5. Create A Quiet Zone
Just like adults, babies can be easily startled by sudden noises. They can wake up in the middle of their nap and start crying. From a parent's point of view, we understand how it is difficult to control all sources of noise. You might be able to maintain pin-drop silence at home, but there is no guarantee of the outside world!
Once your baby is slowly transitioning into sleep, put on some soft lullabies on repeat at low volumes. Avoid using anything with sharp tempo changes, as they can wake up the baby. You can even try white noise machines for babies that mask the background noise and lull babies to sleep.
6. Have A Bedtime Routine
Babies cannot use words to communicate their feelings. You cannot be sure if they understand what you are saying. So, how do you tell your babies it is time to sleep? Simple, by following the same routine on a daily basis before sleep. This sends your baby a signal that it is time to wind down and sleep.
But the real question is, what routine should you follow? Start with a warm bath for your baby to help them relax their muscles. Once your baby is squeaky clean and fresh, massage their bodies with a baby-safe lotion. Finally, it is time to make the most of your singing skills and sing a lullaby to them. Don’t want to showcase your skills? Use a device and play a lullaby. The soothing nature of all these activities will help the baby to calm down and sleep.
New Research Findings on Baby Sleep
Professionals state that the sleep cycles of babies are different for every child. Though the standard amount of sleep range for newborns is between 14 to 17 hours daily and 12 to 15 hours for infants, the procedure of sleep training should be flexible based on the baby's cues. Further, research points out that sleeping in different cribs that are close to the parents raises safety while reducing sleep interference.
Parents with jobs and artificial baby monitors with features such as sleep tracking, breathing, and motion detection are now able to immediately know the quality of the baby’s sleep.
Conclusion
Every baby is different. The truth is, what might work for one might not work for another baby. As parents, you have to do hit and trial until you find the right environment for your baby to sleep in. Honestly, this will feel like a struggle at the moment, but if it makes you feel any better, the rewards will be sweeter in the form of good sleep for both you and your baby.