According to The Guardian, there are more than 130 million births in a year. Countries in Africa and Asia are big contributors to the amount of children born.
In the US, it was estimated that there were 3,788,235 babies born in 2018. The number of babies born in Canada in the same year was significantly less, with an estimated of 385,777 babies born.
Wherever in the world you are, how many children you've already had, and whoever you are, every parent sometimes needs a helping hand. Check out our 5 sleep through-the-night strategies that will ensure you and your baby get a good night's sleep.
5 sleep through-the-night strategies you need to try
A team of psychologists recently found that good sleep quality and good mood can lead to a better working memory as we get older. So it is important that both you and your baby get a better night's sleep.
Luckily, there are a number of ways you can combat the sleepless nights and ensure your baby sleeps through the night.
1. Stick to a routine
Establish an appropriate bedtime for your baby and make sure you stick to putting him or her to sleep at this time.
The routine that you create for your baby should also include some relaxing time. Some parents like to give their babies bath-time before bed and then they read or sing to them. Activities that help soothe your baby will ensure that they sleep better through the night.
2. Self-soothe
Naturally, when you hear your baby crying in the middle of the night, your first instinct is to go and soothe him or her.
However, allowing your baby to self-soothe will ensure that they have a better sleep association and in future are able to soothe themselves back to sleep without you.
3. Calming ambiance
Have calming ambiances in your baby's room will help him or her to sleep. These calming ambiances can be anything from ensuring the room is dark or keeping the room at a comfortable temperature.
Your baby's respiratory system is more sensitive to humidity in the air, so to ensure that the room temperature is kept between advised levels of 40% and 60%, you can install a baby humidifier. Baby humidifiers help to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses.
4. Follow your schedule
Newborn babies can't tell the difference between daytime and night time, so ensuring that you are following a good sleeping schedule is essential.
Make sure your baby isn't sleeping too much during the day, because this will prevent them from getting enough at night. As your baby grows, they will sleep for longer periods of time at night because they won't need feeding as often.
5. Comforting object
If your baby is older than 6 months old, then you could introduce a comforting object to their bed such as a baby blanket or their favorite stuffed animal.
At 6 months, your baby will know about separation from you so having an item that is familiar and comforting will help them sleep better at night.
