Guest content from Lucy Wolfe, leading Sleep Consultant, Founder of Sleep Matters, author of The Baby Sleep Solution and expert at The Baby Show
- Don’t worry about “bad habits”
Try not to worry about what you feel or have been told are “bad habits” – there is no such thing in the early days. Your task is to ensure that your baby feels loved, safe and secure, and that their needs are met lovingly and without delay. Despite some on lookers reporting that you will spoil your baby, the reverse is actually true. These early months are about bonding and laying a foundation for an unconditional loving relationship that will be enduring. The less you resist this dynamic, the faster the need to be held all the time will evolve into your baby feeling more robust and confident to lay down or sleep without as much input.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Draft in plenty of support and don’t be afraid to ask for help! Make sure, if applicable, that both parents are sharing the load. It can be a good idea for new mums is to go to bed early, at around 7/8pm, and allow the other parent to provide the bedtime feed, either by expressing or otherwise. Mum can then do the next feed when required, and this way it is possible to have had a block of 4-5 hours or unbroken sleep. Getting a block of sleep such as this can make a huge difference to how you feel.
3. Regulate exposure to light
Getting out and about and regulating your baby’s body to natural bright light by day, and dimming lights come evening, can help in a number of ways. Exposure to light, specifically in the mid afternoon, is helpful in regulating your child’s sleeping patterns and promotes a deeper, more restful sleep. This can also help baby to distinguish between day and night before the young body starts to make the sleep hormone melatonin. It may also help you feel better as this activity will help enhance your mood and motivation too.
4. Don’t be afraid to use motion
Don’t be afraid to use the car, pram, the swing or a sling to enable sleep. Always do so in line with the manufacturers and safe sleep guidelines, but certainly utilise your baby’s desire for motion that can significantly help them achieve sleep. Although not a long term solution, it certainly is great to help you get through what may be a challenging and tiring time.
5. Parent yourself
To be the best parent to your infant, you need to parent yourself first. As well as deepening the relationship with your baby, travel inwards to the relationship with yourself too. Meet your needs, put yourself first, take time out, and continue to ask for help. If you’re having specific sleep problems, i.e. lower back pain from sleeping, address this. Doing something kind for yourself means your tank of self-love is high, and then you will have enough to give to another. You cannot give to another what you do not have for yourself. Time out is not selfish as you may believe; it is critical. Do your nails, go for a walk alone, or try an online exercise class. Don’t be hard on yourself. Although we feel the baby must come first, parents actually need to put themselves first in order to be able to be emotionally available, as well as physically.
Lucy will be speaking as part of The Baby Show Live @ Home Digital Event, taking place on 16-17 May 2020. The Baby Show Live @ Home will take place on a dedicated Facebook group and will see top UK baby experts share their tips and advice on birth, sleep, breastfeeding, fitness, nutrition, mental health as well as providing exclusive offers, shopping advice, product demonstrations and entertainment to guide and empower parents about their parenting choices during this unprecedented time. You can sign up to be a part of the free event here: https://www.facebook.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.