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10 Ways to Help Newborns Sleep Better

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Part 2 of “Parents of Newborns Say. . . ” Series

“How can I get enough sleep . . .” You will not get enough sleep for the first few months after bringing a newborn home. But these tips will help baby  sleep better and at better times. These are excerpts from Lauren Tamm at The Military Wife and Mom .com

  1. Swaddle – Firmly wrapping baby keeps their startle reflex from wakening them frequently.
  2. Dreamfeed -this is a feeding right before you go to bed, to help prevent the baby from waking up just after you finally drift off to sleep.
  3. Limit the length of naps during the day. If the baby sleeps past the 2 – 2.5 hour mark, wake the baby up, feed him, keep him a wake for a bit, and then lay him down for another nap. Think: More daytime feeds = less nighttime feeds.
  4. Use white noise – Baby will hear a soft regular sound nearby and will be less disturbed by noises from another part of the house.
  5. Follow the eat, wake, sleep cycle. The baby wakes from sleep and immediately eats. Then the baby is awake for a while to play. Then the baby goes back to sleep….

This cycle has several purposes. First, it encourages full feedings by allowing the baby to eat immediately after waking. The baby will have the most energy immediately after waking, making him more inclined to take a full feeding and go longer between feedings. Also, by feeding the baby after sleep rather than before sleep, the cycle prevents the baby from associating food with sleep or using food as a sleep prop. When using this cycle, a feeding before bedtime is typically the only feeding before sleep.

  1. Use a pre-nap and bedtime routines. It is well known that babies thrive on routine, structure, and predictability. Creating consistent routines for your baby will help bring order to a very chaotic world. Choose a pre-nap routine that works for you. A pre-nap routine may include taking the baby to his room, close the blinds or curtains, place the baby in his sleep sack or wearable blanket, turn on the white noise, sing a quick song (e.g. Twinkle, twinkle), give a few cuddles, and say your sleepy words “I love you. I hope you have a good sleep.”

A bedtime routine would typically be a little longer and may include a bath, a massage, reading a story, offering a feeding, placing the baby in a wearable blanket or swaddle, turning on the white noise, a few cuddles, and saying your sleepy words. Following the same exact routine as consistently as possible cues the baby for sleep, and over time the baby will learn that sleep immediately follows the nap and bedtime routines.

  1. Change your baby’s diaper strategically – Changing the diaper before a middle of the night feeding prevents the baby from waking up too much after a feeding is finished.
  2. Understand how a baby sleeps. Encourage lots of naps AND feedings during the day following the eat, wake, sleep cycle. Keeping a baby awake in hopes of tiring him out will actually result in over-stimulation, and he will experience both difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. It is very likely an over-tired baby will sleep shorter, not longer.
  3. Don’t rush in… Give the baby some time and see if he will resettle himself. Avoid rushing in and disturbing this process in order to help your newborn baby sleep better.
  4. Lay the baby down awake, but drowsy.

The most important way to encourage your baby to sleep well in the long run is to teach him to fall asleep independently, which is essentially the beginnings of teaching independent sleep.

To read the entire article and follow some additional links, click: The Military Wife and Mom .com

What Dads Bring to Parenting

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Children who grow up with mom and dad parenting together have the advantages of two different ways of responding to the world they live in. They are much more likely to complete high school, not get involved in drugs and other risky behaviors, and be ready to be productive citizens than children with absent or ineffective parents.

So what are dads particularly good at teaching their children?

Exploring with enthusiasm. Dads encourage their kids to explore their environment with excitement and curiosity and less fear.

Healthy self-confidence. Dads urge their children to expand their strength, skill, and endurance. Kids find out what they are capable of doing. Dads seldom tell their child what won’t work. They let their kids try to master a skill before stepping in to help.

Real-life consequences. Dads allow real-life consequences to teach right and wrong behavior.  “If you don’t share your toys with your friend, he won’t want to play with you again.”

Bigger, better vocabulary. Dads use more ‘grown-up’ language early and challenge their kids to build their vocabulary.

Image of real manhood. Dads affirm the masculinity of their sons and show them how to use their strength and masculinity in positive ways. They show their daughters how to respond to boys and men and what to expect from them.

Kids need both a mom and dad. Dads, your input and influence in your children’s lives bring about a huge decrease in juvenile delinquency, school drop-out, and other unhealthy behavior choices. Be present and active in your kids’ lives. You make a huge difference!

Read more in: How Important is Dad?

Kid-Easy Cinnamon Toast

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Does you preschooler love cinnamon toast but you hate the mess they make? Here’s a great solution.

Blend cinnamon and sugar into a tub with soft spread margarine. The kids can spread it themselves without so much mess.

Do you have other ideas for simple things like this that will make mealtimes easier and more fun? Write your idea in a comment below.

Tortilla ‘Cigars’

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Prep: 10 minutes   *   Total: 15 minutes   *    Serves 6   *    Packable

Ingredients:

1 cup (240cc) sauteed or roasted chicken or turkey cubed or pureed 1/2 cup (120cc) cheese1/2 cup (120cc) each of yellow squash and carrot purees 4 ounces (110gm) cream cheese 6 large whole wheat tortillas. (Note: if tortillas are not readily available in your area, there is a recipe at Peter’s Wife . Whole wheat flour can be substituted for white flour for more nutrition.)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Line baking sheets with foil or parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together the chicken or turkey, cheese, squash and carrot purees, cream cheese, and garlic powder and salt to taste. Cut the tortillas in half. Place one half on the work surface with the straight edge facing you. Spread about 2 Tablespoons (30cc) of the filling along that edge from one side to the other. Starting at the edge, roll the tortilla into a cigar shape, completely enclosing the filling. Place seam-side down on the baking sheet. Stuff and roll the rest of the tortillas the same way. Bake until the tortillas begin to brown, 4-5 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

French Toast

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Prep: 3 minutes    *    Total: 10 minutes    *   Serves 4

Ingredients

4 large eggs
2 Tablespoons (30cc) of puree. Choose from banana, pineapple, sweet potato, carrot, butternut squash or pumpkin
4 slices of whole-wheat bread
Ground Cinnamon
Oil or non-stick cooking spray
2 teaspoons (10cc) of soft margarine

Directions:

Whisk the eggs, puree, and ground cinnamon to taste.
Add the bread slices and turn them over in the mixture to soak for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Spray or very lightly oil a griddle or skillet and set over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the soft margarine. When the margarine sizzles, add the soaked bread slices and cook until golden brown on the outside, 2-3 minutes per side.

Serve warm with syrup, confectioners’ sugar or fruit.