Infant and Baby Needs

When my husband and I first announced to our friends and coworkers that we were expecting, the jokes began. 'Get some sleep now while you can. This may be your last chance', was one quip and Don't plan on getting a good night's sleep again until the baby gets married and leaves home!' Naturally, we assumed that the comments were all in good fun; that the stories about babies being up all night were simple exaggerations. However, it took us only two weeks after the baby's arrival to realize that the jokes were based upon experience.

Our baby usually fell asleep right away after being fed in the evening, but she seemed to have a sixth sense about the exact moment when I fell off to sleep before she began crying. At first, my motherly instincts kicked in, and I would jump out of bed to rescue my child from any discomfort. I would try to feed her, often to no avail, and I would rock her until she fell off to sleep. Once I was convinced that she was sound asleep, I'd place her gently back into her crib, and return to bed only to have the crying repeated as soon as I again fell asleep. By the end of the second week, my motherly instincts were replaced by thoughts of 'when is this ever going to end?' I decided that I needed a plan or I was destined to die from exhaustion before the baby began to walk. Here are some of the useful ways that I tried.

The Simulated Womb

While in the womb, the baby is as safe and secure as it ever will be again. Regardless of where a child is born or how elegant his living conditions, he enters a world fraught with dangers. Infancy is a period of transition for the infant from the comfort and security of the womb to the experience of a brave new world. When the baby cries, especially at night, it may be in response to the insecurity he feels. Many pediatricians recommend wrapping the baby securely in a blanket before placing him in the crib for the night. This simulates the closeness and security of the womb, relaxing the infant.

I used a standard baby blanket, readily available in any department store, and wrapped my daughter snugly. It had a positive effect, speeding up the time it took her to fall asleep as I rocked her.

Hungry Babies Don't Sleep Well

Parents don't function well on an empty stomach, and neither do infants. When a baby is hungry, day or night, you'll know it. Feed the baby just before putting her to bed. If she has a full stomach, she'll sleep longer. Oftentimes, simple formula doesn't have the staying power as a formula mixed with an appropriate baby cereal. The 'stick to your ribs' argument seems to work for babies as well as parents. You'll undoubtedly find that once babies move from plain formula to semi-solid foods, they'll feel hungry less often, and sleep longer.

The White Noise Machine

Noise machines are easy to find. There are dozens of different types available that are designed specifically for use with babies. All baby specialty stores have an assortment, and the internet search will give you an abundance of hits. The one that I purchased was called the Sounds of Silence machine. It generated a half dozen comforting sounds and as many Mozart melodies. It also came with a book on baby sleep, which was helpful. It is small; battery powered, and can be set to shut off in one hour. I can't say that it helped to keep the baby asleep, but it did shorten the time to quiet the baby when it did wake up crying. It wasn't a cure, but it was helpful.

Night Lights are for Parents, not Babies

Babies had no night lights in the womb. Parents put night lights on for their own safety not to comfort the child. Babies have been used to the dark nights since the beginning of time, until Edison invented the light bulb. Don't add light to the nursery during the night, eliminate it. Use window shades that are not translucent. Use opaque draw drapes on the windows to shut off any light from outside. You'll find that your baby sleeps better in total darkness.

Avoid Eye Contact

You may notice that between six and eight weeks your baby begins to make eye contact for the first time. To some content, it is a small milestone for him/her since it shows the baby’s brain development is on track. Although connecting with them can be much fun, it can also lead to trouble if you do it in the wrong time. In the nighttime, when the baby begins to look at your face or maybe even gaze into your eyes, their brain will wake up and the heart begins pumping. So it is better for you to put the baby straight back to bed after feeding or comforting and use the daytime to communicate.

Regardless of what tried-and-true or innovative methods you try, sometimes only mother's presence can soothe the distressed child. Sometimes it's food that's needed, and sometimes it's simple attention.

Christine Allen is a writer for www.livesnet.com, a site for baby products reviews and tips. She loves to make reviews on baby bestsellers and shares her parenting stories. She would like to connect with you on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/livesnet). Please read her latest review on davinci kalani convertible baby crib and find out why she loves it the best.