Baby Sleep Myths – Facts & Fiction….

[Anonymous]

With so much baby sleep advice out there and friends and family
ever willing to offer ‘useful’ hints and tips, it can be a bit of an
information minefield out there – making it impossible to know
what’s best for your baby.

That’s why Pampers wants to help parents navigate their way through it all. So here are some baby FACTS to help get your little one settled for a good sleep –

Routines and Rituals:
Babies are creatures of habit – they like to know what’s coming next so a familiar nightly bedtime routine ending with cuddles in a quiet, calm,
environment helps them understand it’s time for bed.

Dream Feed:
Feeding your baby when you go to bed (around 11pm) means they will
have their longest stretch of sleep when you’re having yours, as they will have a full tummy and have reset their internal clock.

Avoid Red Alert:
Responding to your baby’s every squeak at night may actually teach
them to wake up more often. Instead wait up to 5 minutes to see if they
will resettle themselves back to sleep. Listening for quiet gaps and sleep
noises means that you don’t disturb them and wake them fully.

Climate Control:
Try to achieve an ideal room temperature of between 18 and 20 degrees
centigrade. Consider what your baby is wearing, making sure they have one more layer on than you. A warm bath before bed relaxes your baby and keeps them cosy at bedtime.

Swaddling
• Always have baby sleeping on their back.
• Always use a light/natural breathable material.
• Never cover the head.
• Never use a blanket or fleece material.
• Don’t swaddle the hips too firmly, the arms need to
be firm but not tight.

Black Out:
Darkness triggers the brain to release melatonin, a key sleep hormone. Black out blinds and lined curtains are ideal for keeping baby’s room dark during night time sleep. If baby wakes up during the night, don’t turn on the lights or carry her into a brightly lit room. The shift from dark to light tells her brain it’s time to rise and shine.

Less is More;
Whenever baby wakes in the middle of the night, for whatever reason,
avoid being playful or interactive. Being loving, dealing with the problem then withdrawing means baby doesn’t think it’s playtime and wakes up for some fun the following night.

Put Baby to Bed when she’s Drowsy, not Fast Asleep
Cuddling, feeding and rocking baby to sleep is very tempting – it’s comforting for mum and may help baby nod off quickly and calmly. But it’s always best to put them into their cot/crib awake so they learn valuable self-soothing skills and don’t wake when they leave mum’s warm arms. Babies who drift off on their own are ultimately more apt to fall asleep more quickly and learn how to soothe themselves to sleep
more easily both at bedtime and after any wake-ups during the night.

It’s Not Forever:
Time with your baby is precious and often goes quickly. So try not to worry too much as your baby will often go through different phases when they will wake more often. This doesn’t last long, so try to relax and enjoy each moment.

AND Here are some baby FICTIONS to avoid…..
Feed them up:
Bolster them up by putting baby rice, crushed rusk or baby porridge in their last bottle to keep them full and sleep longer. Firstly, solid foods
should only be introduced at an age appropriate time on the advice of your health practitioner. Secondly, even then, they should be consumed
in the manner they are designed to be consumed; adding food to a baby’s bottle will change the consistency of the milk which can
increase the likelihood of choking for a variety of reasons.

Driving you round the bend:
Regularly taking baby for a spin to get them off to sleep creates a rod for your own back in the long run as it’s not practical or convenient to drive them every night.

Wake baby every 2-3 hours to feed them:
Ever heard about the mum who called the paramedics because her baby was….umm asleep. As long as your baby has had a good feed before bedtime there is no need to wake them for any reason during the night unless they are low birth weight. And don’t change nappies either – unless dirty they are absorbent enough to last after the dream feed.

Keeping Baby up:
Keeping baby up all day will mean they sleep longer at night. Skipping daytime naps only leads to sleep sabotage. In fact little ones who nap more during the day will tend to be those who also sleep more at night. Babies who are overtired will often become stressed and the hormone associated with stress response, cortisol, is also associated with arousal. So, as well as having trouble falling asleep little ones may sleep more fitfully and wake up earlier (not later the next morning).

Help your baby learn to love sleep with Pampers Baby-Dry Pampers Baby-Dry helps your baby to love every night.
Featuring:
• Unique Double Dry-Zones that absorb moisture and lock it in better than the next leading nappy*.
• Pampers Baby-Dry nappies have new,fun designs.
• Soft, stretchy sides expand and contract for a snug, comfortable fit.
• Available in sizes 2, 3, 3+, 4, 4+, 5, 5+, and 6.
Pampers Baby-Dry has unique Double Dry-Zones which absorb moisture and lock it in better than the next leading nappy providing up to 12 hours of reliable dryness*.

So every ‘Good Morning’ will be a happy one after a night of Pampers dryness. The top layer absorbs liquid in quickly, while the inner layer
locks without releasing it – and the playful “Lion & friends” product graphics are perfect to inspire great story-telling from mum.

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