“I would sleep next to the cot from Sunday to Thursday because my partner went at work early. If your partner goes back to work and needs to sleep well during the week, perhaps they can take the baby downstairs for a few hours in the morning at weekends or for a couple of hours in the afternoon, so you can catch up on your sleep. If you’re formula feeding you may even decide to sleep separately to your partner every now and again if you have the space, so one of you can have a full night’s uninterrupted sleep. If you’re breastfeeding during the night, they may be able to wind the baby and put them down again so you can go straight back to sleep. They can boost your energy temporarily but can disrupt your sleep patterns even further in the long term. An occasional cup of coffee may help, but don’t rely on caffeine energy drinks to pick you up. Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, water ideally. This will give you a rush of energy, but it’ll wear off quickly. Try to avoid sugary foods such as sweets, cakes and biscuits. Don’t skip breakfast and try to eat at least 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day. When you can, try to eat a healthy, balanced diet, which will help keep your energy levels up. You may find yourself getting caught out and making unhealthy food choices. You may feel hungrier than usual if you’re tired, plus you may not have a lot of time to think about what to eat. Even half an hour with your feet up can help. You may be tempted to spend this time cleaning up, but try to get some sleep too. You may have to try and catch up on sleep as and when you can, and the best time will be while your baby is sleeping too. It would be great to have at least 8 hours uninterrupted sleep, but that may be impossible right now, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Your health visitor will also be able to tell you more about safer sleeping. Never sleep on a sofa or armchair with your baby, this can increase the risk of SIDS by 50 times. Following this advice can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is commonly known as cot death. If you want to do this, try to follow the advice provided by The Lullaby Trust. Some parents choose to share a bed with their babies. The safest place for your baby to sleep is in a separate cot or moses basket in the same room as you for the first 6 months, even during the day. This may help give you peace of mind that you’re doing the best you can to get a good night’s sleep in the safest environment possible for you and your baby. If you’re not sleeping well, this can increase your anxiety levels.įind out more about safe sleep for babies. If you’re a first-time parent, you may be anxious about the best way for you and your baby to sleep safely. There’s no one answer for how to get a baby to sleep, but your health visitor will be able to tell you about things you can try and reassure you about your baby’s sleep habits.įind out more about your health visitor and how they can help you. Your health visitor will probably ask you about sleep during their first few visits. As well as checking your baby’s development after birth, they can also help you get your baby into a bedtime routine. Talk to your health visitorĪfter your baby is born, your midwife will hand over your care to a health visitor. They may even have a few useful tips of their own that may help. Most parents will have reassuring stories to tell about sleepless nights. Although it may feel like it in the middle of night, you’re not alone. There will be some new parents whose babies sleep through the night but if this is not you, don’t worry. But there are things you can do to make it a little easier. Having a good night’s sleep may seem impossible right now.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |