How to Get Your Baby back to Sleep

You hear the baby over the monitor and do the zombie walk to the babies room. What you do next will determine how soon you get to go cuddle back up in your own bed!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. The best advice given to me at my baby shower regarding this was whatever you do, "DON'T MAKE IT INTERESTING".
2. Check on your baby and first, quietly and quickly see if you can comfort them without picking them up. Maybe they've worked themselves up into the corner of the crib or kicked off the blanket, or perhaps they are too hot. Check those things first and readjust them, and adjust the temperature of the room if needed.
3. Sometimes babies wake up crying because they have a little gas they are trying to work out. Without picking them up, *quietly* pump their legs a little to help them get those farts out a little better.
4. Most of the time, my baby needs to be held. Pick up baby, but remember "don't make it interesting"! Babies are easily stimulated so don't even sing or hum unless your baby is crying a lot and you need to use your voice to help them calm down. And in that case, as soon as they seem calmer, stop making any noise.
5. Keep it dark. If there is a night light in the room, have your back to it so your are blocking the light from your baby so they don't get interested in anything. Hold her/him in close and gently (VERY GENTLY-we don't want to make it fun or they wont want to go back to sleep) bounce or rock back and forth to help settle them.
6. If your baby usually wakes up for a night feeding, then go ahead and nurse or give them the bottle while in a dark quiet room in the rocking chair or have the baby lie in bed with you. Then gently transfer them back to their bed once they are finished. Just don't sing or talk or let them see any light unless it's absolutely necessary!
7. You can also try placing baby in a baby sling and gently sway back and forth and pat their bottom. For some reason, patting a babies bottom creates this rhythm that helps them fall asleep. It's worked on every baby I've ever taken care of along with my own. Just keep it gentle:)
8. Pretend sleep breathing! While your baby is snuggled in close to you, take deep lazy breaths as if you were asleep. This helps babies, toddlers and young children to fall asleep. My mom did this on us and it always worked and now I use it on my daughter and it helps put her right to sleep. It relaxes me too!
9. If your baby has really bad colic, I'm sorry! www.Babycenter.com has great advice for parents on any topic along with lots of stories from other parents as well on what worked for them. The above is what has worked for me but there many different techniques and sleep training methods out there. Every baby is different and you will figure out what works through trial and error, but just remember the most important tip..."Don't make it interesting!"

Tips & Warnings

• Baby wearing is an awesome way to calm your baby and put her to sleep!