Any parent will tell you that babies and sleeping do not go hand-in-hand. This may come as a surprise to many expecting parents but it is true. We commonly think that all little babies do is sleep, eat and soil diapers. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Good Advice To Start With

It may seem as if the 18 hours of sleep that the newborn is getting slips right through your fingers. That is because it does. There are two major components to babies and sleeping. There is, of course, the infant’s rest. There is also your rest as well. It is important to approach these two separate entities as a whole.

When you approach babies and sleeping as a paired activity you look at the entire situation differently. If you can, try to sleep when the baby rests. This is much more difficult than it seems considering the little one’s unique patterns. However, it is worth the effort.

When I gave birth to my daughter I thought that I knew everything there was to know about babies and sleeping. I was terribly wrong. After reading everything I could about the subject there was no preparing me for the obstacle of trying to rest with a newborn.

Not Everything Went To Plan

I was thrilled that my daughter was born in the afternoon. I thought that I would get a lot of sleep in the hospital during my overnight stay. This did not happen the way that I planned. The nurse brought my little girl to me for feedings every two hours.

Of course, I expected this because I had read every article about babies and sleeping that I could before the big day. What I didn’t expect was that I could not get to sleep. I wanted my daughter in the room with me at all times and when she was taken back to the nursery I was left tossing and turning and crying.

Plenty of Crying - But Not From the Baby!

There was lots of crying because I had post partum depression. This obstacle makes babies and sleeping two very difficult challenges. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t stop crying. I also could not get to sleep. I didn’t feel like the happy new mother that I expected to be.

Sometimes, baby wakes up crying and for no apparent reason. They are dry, just been fed and you can’t think what could be wrong. At other times, the reason may be that they are teething or have colic. If you have exhausted all possibilities, they may be satisfied with a hug. Unfortunately, babies and sleeping don’t always go together.

Things got better after we got home but I did not sleep for a few days. There is a balance between babies and sleeping that I could not seem to grasp. The suggestion that I sleep when the baby naps was wonderful. I highly recommend that any new mom does the same.

Sleep Deprivation

Being parents is a hard enough job without having sleep deprivation. Most parents find that they have to survive on less sleep. The glorious day when baby sleeps right through the night can never come too soon. Babies who nap through the day and then cry at night wreak havoc with parent’s sleeping patterns. There are strategies to try to cope with babies and sleeping habits.

If you are able to, it’s a good idea to sleep when the baby does. Unplug the phone, put a do not disturb sign on the door and snooze along with junior. At nighttime, a warm bath can help to make baby sleepy, so time bath time just before putting baby down. Babies and sleeping routines are important, so bedtime needs to be about the same time every night, but don’t be a slave to it.

The Environment Can Make All The Difference

Babies need a quite environment and not be cold or too warm. There are things that may calm them if they are anxious, such as a lullaby or a mobile above the cot. Some parents have found that placing baby next to a tumble drier soothes them into sleep! As a last resort in solving the babies and sleeping problem, some parents take baby out for a car ride. Baby falls asleep and then is carried gingerly to bed. Some babies will not fall asleep in their cot at any time and parents have to wait for them to nod off wherever they happen to be and than carry them to bed.

Teething - Yet More Sleepless Nights

Teething and illnesses make the problem worse. Make sure that you have something from the doctor to rub on to sore gums when those teeth start to push through. Colic often interrupts babies and sleeping through. There are medicines to give for this too.

Final Thought

If you are despairing parents with a wakeful child, just remember that it won’t always be like this. The first six months will fly by, albeit in a sleepless haze. Soon, they’ll be teenagers and you’ll be losing sleep because they haven’t come home yet!