12 Hacks to Help Your Baby Sleep at Night

12 Baby Hacks To Helps Your Baby Sleep Through The Night — Source: Bing Commons

There’s no denying that babies are adorable little bundles of joy that change your life forever. That is, until you try to get them to sleep and they’re up all night crying. If that situation sounds familiar to you, then you aren’t alone. Many parents have to deal with fussy little ones that would rather do anything than sleep through the night. Here are 12 hacks to help your baby sleep at night to help baby and parents alike get some much-needed rest.

Extreme Swaddling

Swaddles are a great way to get kids to sleep, but they aren’t always effective. If you aren’t having much luck with a swaddle, then consider an extreme swaddle such as the Zen Swaddle. It’s got weighted pads on the sides and chest to simulate being held by a parent. There are also baby sleepsuits that are designed for weaning a child off of swaddles. They offer a snuggly sleeping sack complete with arms and legs. Think of it like some kind of Snuggie for babies. Just be warned that these are for uses in cribs and shouldn’t be used with rockers.

Leave the Diapers Alone

As tempted as you might be to change their diaper every time they wake up, you should resist the urge. Changing a baby’s diaper makes them more alert and awake and makes it harder for them to fall back to sleep. Use absorbent diapers and change them if they poop. Also warm baby wipes in your hands a little first so they aren’t jarring.

Use a White Noise Machine

Lots of parents swear by white noise machines. White noise can help soothe a baby to sleep and keep out the other noises from around the house. They’re also great for parents too! If you don’t have a white noise machine, then a hairdryer can get the job done in a pinch.

Try Sleepy Tunes

White noise machines aren’t the only sleep aids that help parent and child. Instrumental zen sounds can help too. If you have an Amazon Echo, then why not ask Alexa to play a lullaby or some classical music to help your baby sleep? Music is a great solution. While you’re dealing with Amazon, check out the Renee and Jeremy Amazon Music station, which plays music for naps.

Keep the Room Dark

If you have to change or feed your little one in the night, you should try to keep the room as dark as possible to avoid overstimulating them and waking them up more. There are smart LED bulbs you can buy that can be controlled from your phone. You can set it up so that the room is already little gently by the time you walk in. Another option to consider is blackout curtains, which stop light from outside getting in.

Rock ‘n Play

The Rock ‘n Play Sleeper is considered by many parents to be an absolute must have. It gently rocks your baby to sleep on an incline that keeps them comfortable (particularly helpful for kids with reflux) and gently vibrates to keep them calm. Even better, it’s completely portable and makes any time or place the right time and place for a nap.

Bounce Around

If you have an exercise ball and are familiar with how to use it, then you can consider gently bouncing your fussy little one to help them relax and get to sleep. Many parents swear by exercise balls. Much like the Rock n’ Play Sleeper, these are also completely portable and handy to have on you. Just be sure to follow the proper safety precautions with it, including ensuring that the ball is inflated properly.

Place Pacifiers

One reason that babies wake up in the night is that they lose their pacifier. If it falls out and they can’t find them, they could wake themselves up looking for it. Avoid this risk by placing some around the crib to make it easier for them to find one when they need one.

Nix the Naps

Try to avoid overdoing it with the naps. Don’t be afraid to make a little noise or have the lights on in the room they use for naps. It makes it easier for your baby to transition between day and night, ultimately making it easier for them to stay asleep through the whole night.

Consider Getting a Magical Doll

There are many great gadgets available for parents. One such gadget is a magical doll that plays recordings of an adult breathing and their heartbeat. These little things can work wonders for kids and they have straps for car seats and cribs to prevent having loose things around your sleeping baby.

Keep Them Warm

Putting your kid down on chilly sheets after feeding them isn’t likely to lull them to sleep. One solution is to put a hot-water bottle in their bed when taking them out for feeding. This keeps their sleeping spot warm ready for when you put them back down. Just be sure that the sheets are a safe temperature for kids before putting them back to bed.

Have a Chill Nightlight

Nightlights are a great parenting tool for children of all ages. There are some that go above and beyond the rest though, including ones that display stars and other shapes and images onto the ceiling.

These distract kids, but in a friendly and fun way that helps them to sleep. You can even make your own at home using a mason jar and some twinkly lights.

Better Sleep for All

Not getting enough sleep is bad for all involved. A sleep-deprived parent is more likely to make a mistake, and sleep deprived children can develop problems of their own. Use these tips and tricks to ensure everyone in your house has a great night’s sleep.
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April 16, 2018

Tips for a Happy Pregnancy

As women, we get to experience something that our men don’t. We get to have a human life grow inside of us. Now, of course, men don’t have to deal with the extra hormones, mood swings, cravings, backaches, and, you know, giving birth, but the mother-child bond is a profound and magical experience that is well worth those discomforts.

While pregnancy is truly magical, it’s only magical about 10% of the time. While the end result makes it worthwhile, most of it is, admittedly, a pain. It’s hard. It makes you cranky. Once you hold your newborn, however, you wouldn’t give up the pain for anything in the universe. Pregnancy is a difficult journey leading to a priceless gift, and there are some ways to make your pregnancy journey easier.

Choose Your Surprise As a new mother, you have the choice to find out your baby’s gender before or after birth. When you head into a radiology center to get your ultrasound, you can ask them to conceal your infant’s gender and keep it a secret. For you and your partner, deciding how to be surprised is a fun part of this process. Do you want the miracle of birth to come with that surprise? Or, do you want the joy of prepping their clothes, things, and nursery? When it comes to your pregnancy, you get to decide how you’re going to celebrate this discovery.

Sleep

The further along you get, the harder it’s going to be to sleep like you used to. You might want to invest in a giant pregnancy pillow. However, you should ask to borrow a friend’s old one first, since some women end up hating them. If you’ve been putting off switching your mattress, now’s the time to head to America’s Mattress of the Lowcountry and get a new one. A new mattress will help ensure that you spend those pregnant nights in comfort.

Diet

For the nine months that you’re carrying this new human, you must give up alcohol and smoking. In addition to these well-known no-nos, there are a few dietary aids you should be taking during pregnancy. Be sure you’re utilizing your doctor’s recommendation on prenatal vitamins, and eat tons of healthy, protein-packed food, like eggs, legumes, and leafy greens. This diet will help your baby grow, but it will also likely make you feel better.

Rely on Your Guy

Chances are, you have a partner who’s in this process, too. He’ll be around for the long haul of your pregnancy, and you’re with him for a reason–because you love him, and you want to share your life with him. So, don’t try to tackle this pregnancy alone. Remember, your guy DOES have to deal with the extra hormones, mood swings, cravings, backaches, and birth because he’s going to be there for you. If he’s sympathetic, it might even be worse for him at times that for you. Remember to rely on his support and encouragement, and get all the help you need. You might be superwoman, but you still need love and care from others.

And after the baby is born it is becoming popular with young families to have pictures taken just a few days after. Photographers find Newborn Photography is one of the easiest forms of portrait photography.
Related:
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January 24, 2018

Mom and Toddlers Get Ready For Day Nursery

How to Prepare Your Toddler (and Yourself) for Day Nursery

Making the decision to use the services of a child care or a day nursery can be frightening. The prospect of leaving your child for the first time and how your toddler will react to the experience are important things to consider before you can make the decision correctly. There is also the task of finding a good day nursery and preparing your child for the change. Royalty Free Photo

Worry not, because we are here to help you and your toddler ease into the new experience. It is a big change to make, but it’s a step in the right direction. To prepare yourself and your toddler better for day nursery, here are several things you need to know.

The Right Day Nursery

Choosing the right day nursery is half the battle. When you know that your child is in good hands, you’ll feel so much better about leaving the child for the day. After all, your toddler will be having a lot of positive experiences and be involved in fun and exciting things all day.

There are several things you want to take into account when choosing a day nursery. You definitely need to visit the facility, especially during the day when other children are present. You should be able to observe how the caregivers handle children, the kind of activities they do all day, and other details about the day nursery program.

You also want to review the day nursery’s policies. Ask for all policies you need to know – mainly regarding your child’s safety, discipline, feeding, and the content your toddler will have access to – so that you know exactly what to expect from the program. Don’t hesitate to ask questions whenever necessary too.

There are some great day nursery programs to choose from, especially today with the growing demand. Little Hands Little Feet, for example, caters to parents in Belfast and offers children the best programs for their growth. You can find out more here and get a good idea of what to expect from a top-notch day nursery.

Ease into It

It is also great to get your child involved in the process of surveying the day nursery. At the very least, you want to bring the toddler on a trial run before the actual program starts. Talk about the fun things your child will be able to do, the many friends they’ll be able to make, and other great things about going to the day nursery.

You want to ease your child into the program. You can share stories about the activities to expect and even try some of the activities at home to help your toddler be more familiar with those activities. Build the excitement and you may not have to worry about the first day of day nursery at all; your toddler will be much more excited than you are.

It’s a Group Effort

You shouldn’t expect the first day of the program to be completely problem-free; some adjustments will be needed, even when the toddler is already very excited about meeting new friends and playing together. That first day will also be difficult for you, since it is a big change for the both of you.

Make time and make sure you can stay with your child on that first day. You want to stay close, but you don’t want to interfere too much with the day nursery’s programs or regular schedules. Check if you can stay with your child too; some child care programs recommend parents to stay with their children to help with the transition.

There are two other things you need to focus on to help make the transition easier to handle. The first one is saying goodbye at the nursery. It is always a big challenge, but it is a challenge that you can solve by keeping a positive vibe and helping your child feel excited about day nursery. The second thing to focus on is comfort. Making your child feel comfortable helps a lot, so listen to specific requests and pay attention to the signs.

These are simple tips you can apply right away, but they are tips that will help prepare your toddler – and, more importantly, you – for day nursery. Find a good program for your children and get the kids excited.