Guest Blogger post with Nursery Value

I am very pleased to have been asked to be a Guest Blogger for NURSERY VALUE
My first guest blogger post is now live on their website, and you can check it out here!

Guest Blogger for Nursery Value

How To Get Your Baby Into a Sleep Routine

Wednesday, 27 February 2013 11:12 by Guest Blogger

 Guest Blogger Kate from Family Fever takes us through a range of techniques for getting the little ones to bed on time.

Getting your little one into a sleep routine can be really hard, yet there are some little tricks that can help you to achieve the holy grail of a full night’s sleep!
With my children I have always found that a set routing before bed is really important, even right at the beginning. We start with a warm, bubbly bath in a warm room. Following the bath it’s a massage with some baby massage oil. It is worth attending a few baby massage classes if you can, as you can learn some great massage techniques to help with relaxation and any specific problems, such as relieving colic.
Once baby is in their pyjamas, it’s time for a feed. This is always done in a well lit room to prevent baby falling asleep on the breast or bottle, as I believe it is important that babies learn to fall asleep on their own. This way, if they wake in the night, they may be able to settle themselves without needing a feed. While feeding, I find it a lovely time to softly sing or chat to your baby, the sound of your voice will naturally relax your baby, and it’s a great bonding experience too.
baby sleep routine
Once feeding is over, we pop baby into a baby sleeping bag. This keeps them warm and toasty all night, as they are not able to kick off their blankets. Just ensure that they are dressed appropriately, so if it is really warm, use a light sleeping bag and a bodysuit. If it is cold, you can use a thicker sleeping bag and a sleepsuit. We use a nursery thermometer for peace of mind.
Then it’s into a dimly lit room for a story. We have done this right from the beginning as reading to children is so important, and even right at the beginning babies enjoy listening to the soothing sound of your voice, and looking at pictures in books.
baby massage
Baby Massage
Finally, put your baby into their cot awake. This way they fall asleep on their own, and are more likely to be able to settle themselves again if they wake in the night. If your baby cries when you pop them down, place your hand on their tummy and say shhhh shhhh. Leave a soft nightlight on if it helps your baby settle. This can also be useful for night feeds. If you do feed in the night, keep the room dimly lit, and try not to interact with baby too much, keep it sleepy and soft so that baby learns to understand the difference between day and night.
This has always seemed to work for us, and both our children slept through the night from a fairly early age. We will be using the same techniques for baby 3 when he arrives in May.
Read all about the real-life trials and tribulations of a working mum on Kate’s blog, Family Fever, and follow Kate on Twitter here.
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