Getting a newborn to settle

[AF Removals]

Good tips on getting a new born to settle in 1st few nights. We all fear the sleepless nights of the new borns? What's your top tips???

[stereolab]

Go for a short drive

[andyofborg]

gin is the traditional cure

[aliceBB]

Be realistic. Newborns need to feed at least every three hours round the clock. Assuming you are doing that, I would also suggest

 

• having the baby in a comfy basket or cot next to your bed, not in his or her own room (they get frightened). Soft, cotton bedding.
  
• ensuring room and bed temperature are comfortable without being stuffy
  
• a bath and peaceful music or singing as part of bedtime routine (but don't expect the baby to understand that it isn't supposed to wake up once it's gone to bed for the night - it will do - see above re feeding)
  
• when baby does wake to feed, keep stimulation to a minimum, don't change disposable nappy unless smelly, don't be all jolly and cheerful, feed in low light and put baby straight back to bed afterwards
  

 

In the end you may have to accept that some babies just don't 'settle' for at least six months. Once they don't need feeding at night, there are things you cna do to ensure they sleep through. But some babies just catnap and need less sleep than others. It is claimed that such babies end up being more intelligent as they are awake for longer to receive stimulation.

 

The problem with getting your baby (especially a breastfed one) into a hard and fast routine from Day One (assuming it is possible, which I doubt!) is that you miss out on the pleasures of being able to take him or her everywhere with you (out to friends for dinnner, spontaneous day out, getting back late, etc).

 

Has this infant been born yet?

[Free loop]

All babies are different, what works for one may not for another; in time you'll know what settles him/her.

[Strix]

A muslin square is excellent for swaddling an overwrought baby to give the familiar confinement of the womb. Health visitors advise against routine swaddling, but when you've run out of ideas to calm an unhappy baby, it's not a problem

[medusa]

Swaddling can work wonders and I'd seriously recommend anybody who has an imminent wee one to have the appropriate fabric and knowledge to hand to chill them out when they get all overwrought for no reason.

 

I've also got a very good track record of making babies go to sleep as I seem to have some sort of zen vibe that the absorb through their skin when I cuddle them. I think that this is because I'm good at not getting stressed when they are crying, so I don't make them feel stressed because of my stress (it's a vicious cycle- you'll learn that one very early) and I specialise in lying babies on my chest and then singing very gently until they nod off.

 

Whilst I wouldn't recommend getting a baby used to being sung to sleep every night (you do want them to be able to self soothe and nod off without being snuggled constantly) it's the ability to let the stress go when dealing with a fractious baby that is the tip.

[pottedplant]

Good tips on getting a new born to settle in 1st few nights. We all fear the sleepless nights of the new borns? What's your top tips???

 

Non regarding how to settle (for the first few nights). Babies wake a lot, they cry a lot , they fed a lot- it is perfectly normal.

The best tip is to accept it as this and don't get stressed by it. Sleep when they do, eat well and get some fresh air each day.

[kirstyp86]

What has worked with all three of my children, is swaddling them for the first few weeks, also wearing a muslin cloth on your shoulder most of the day then putting it in their crib/moses basket at night so they can smell you. Try to get into a good bedtime routine as soon as you can as that will help.