Picture by mummysshoes.com
When you bring your new baby home, you probably will have
the urge to keep him near you at all times, especially when you (try to!) go to
sleep for the night. It makes sense to have a crib or cradle in your bedroom at
first, since it will minimize the distance you have to walk to handle nighttime
feedings.
You can try moving the baby into his nursery for naps right
from the beginning, to try to minimize any trauma or anxiety by moving him into
a strange room with new smells and sights when he’s a little older. Sit with
him in a rocker or glider and rock him to sleep at first, then move him into
his crib.
Later, you can put him in his crib and if he’s fussy or
can’t get to sleep, try sitting near the crib for a few nights until he falls
asleep. Then move the chair further away for another week or so. Finally,
position the chair near the door, so the baby gets used to falling asleep
without being right next to you.
It will be hard in the beginning, but if you’re consistent,
eventually, you’ll get your baby to the point where he can fall asleep in his
own room. Start to establish a nighttime routine, so your baby knows what to
expect. A nice, warm bath, followed by changing into soft clean pajamas is a
good start. Even a very young baby can be read to at bedtime. You can also sing
to him and just talk to him. The sound of your voice is what matters so he
feels safe and secure enough to fall asleep. By starting these simple routines
early, hopefully you’ll avoid trouble later on trying to move the baby into his
nursery and getting him to sleep at a normal time.
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