After being introduced into the world, babies would sleep most of the time. Sleeping helps them develop cognitive skills and physical growth. Babies could fall asleep quickly when they are in your arms or while lying in their strollers or even when they are in their car seats. However, why is it difficult for them to fall asleep in their crib?
Why babies would not sleep in cribs
Before they came into this world, babies were always feeling warm and safe inside their mom's womb for nine months. Then suddenly, they have to sleep somewhere cold without knowing what could be lurking in the dark. For a parent, some things can be done to help babies transition from being inside the womb to sleeping in their crib in no time.
Tips to get your baby to sleep in a Crib
The first thing that you have to do is to create a conducive environment in the crib. There should be no loose cloths or anything that might endanger your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that cribs be placed inside your room for the first six months of your baby's life, but preferably up to 12 months of age.
Here are the things that you have to consider for creating the optimal environment for your baby's crib.
Use dim lights
Just like adults, babies would also fall asleep easier with dim lights or dark surroundings. Use blackout curtains to help your baby doze off during the daytime and use dim lights or lamps with low wattage when you need to change your baby's diapers.
Cool temperature
Ensure that the room temperature is cool enough to avoid overheating but not too cold to make your baby shiver. If possible, use a fan or air conditioning unit for ventilation.
Dress baby appropriately
Let your baby wear something comfortable that has a snug fit and no loose threads that could cause entangling of toes. A swaddle gives babies warmth and calmness to promote sleep, but this applies for the first few months only. Parents should stop swaddling their babies when they can roll-over as it might cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Leave your smell
Babies are used to the smell of their moms because it comforts them. Try sleeping with their swaddle blanket or bedsheet before letting them use it so that your baby would smell your scent.
Apply some noise
While inside the womb, babies could always hear a muffled noise that is similar to white noise. Trying to replicate the sounds that they used to hear in their nine months would help them fall into a deep sleep.
Feed your baby
Make sure that your baby is well-fed before you leave him to sleep in the crib. Newborns usually eat every two to three hours and are equivalent to eight to twelve times a day.
Follow a routine
Babies do not know how to make schedules, so their parents must help create a routine. For example, change your baby into sleeper when it is bedtime; this way, they would take the cue that whenever you are changing them into the sleeper, then it is time to sleep.
