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Tips for Putting a Newborn/Infant to Sleep Without Waking Them

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in Newborn (0-3 month) by
There is already a question on this site about why children wake up and cry immediately after being put to bed, but it only partially addresses my concern. How can I put my newborn or infant to bed without waking them? Are there any specific techniques or moves that can help us preserve their sleep?
Artificial Intelligence Health Assistant's Answer

Putting a newborn or infant to bed without waking them can be challenging, but with the right techniques, you can increase your chances of preserving their sleep. Here are some tips to help you achieve this:

  • Create a calm and soothing bedtime routine: Establishing a consistent bedtime routine signals to your baby that it's time for sleep. This could include activities like giving them a warm bath, reading a book, or singing lullabies.

  • Set the stage for sleep: Ensure that the sleeping environment is conducive to restful sleep. Make sure the room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. Consider using white noise machines or soft music to drown out any disruptive sounds.

  • Swaddle your baby: Swaddling can provide comfort and security for newborns by mimicking the feeling of being in the womb. It helps prevent sudden movements that might startle them awake.

  • Use gentle movements: Some babies find rhythmic movements soothing and may fall asleep more easily when rocked gently in your arms or in a rocking chair. Experiment with different motions such as swaying from side to side or gentle bouncing.

  • Try motion-simulating devices: If you find it tiring to constantly rock your baby, consider using motion-simulating devices like baby swings or vibrating bassinets. These can mimic the sensation of being held and soothe your baby into slumber.

  • Use pacifiers strategically: Pacifiers can help satisfy your baby's need for sucking and provide comfort. If your baby wakes up when you remove the pacifier, try gently weaning them off it once they are in a deep sleep.

  • Practice safe co-sleeping: If you choose to co-sleep with your baby, ensure that you follow safe sleep guidelines. Use a firm mattress, avoid pillows or heavy blankets near the baby, and position them on their back to reduce the risk of suffocation.

  • Be responsive but calm: If your baby does wake up during the night, respond to their needs promptly but calmly. Avoid stimulating activities or bright lights that might make it harder for them to fall back asleep.

    Remember, every baby is different, so it may take some trial and error to find what works best for your little one. By implementing these techniques and being patient, you can increase the chances of putting your newborn or infant to bed without waking them.

    • 2 Answers

    0 votes
    by
    When a newborn falls asleep, he or she falls first into a light sleep. If you wait 15-30 minutes (20 minutes is a good guess usually), your newborn will transition to deep sleep. A good test to see if your newborn is in a deep sleep is the floppy arm test. Pick up an arm and see how floppy it is when you gently let go. The arm of a newborn in light sleep is stiffer. The arm of a newborn in deep sleep is floppy. I used this on my daughter into toddlerhood on the occasions when she needed helping to sleep.

    Once in deep sleep you can fairly easily transition even the lightest sleeping newborn. Now once that deep sleep phase ends and the newborn transitions back to light sleep, it might be game over. To handle the sleep cycle transition have you tried swaddling and incline sleep (a Fisher Price Rock 'n' Play, for example)?

    Around 3-4 months infants fall into deep sleep first, usually over the course of 5-10 minutes. However along with this change comes many other changes to sleep and memory which can cause the process of "helping a child to fall asleep, then placing that child in a crib" to backfire for many kids.
    0 votes
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    Try to maintain whatever posture or position she's in as you pick her up and put her down. Pay extra special attention to the head and neck -- our most sensitive orientation and motion sensors are in our ears. I've found that for the lighter sleeping sessions it's less likely to wake my own children.

    That said, ultimately it depends on the child. My oldest is such a deep sleeper that I could just grab her and throw her into her bed from across the room and she wouldn't twitch.
    by
    I believe in letting 10-15 mins pass then lay baby down to sleep
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