How to Get Newborn to Sleep in Bassinet ?
Sleep is crucial during a newborn's growth journey. In order to ensure that your baby gets enough sleep, a comfortable sleeping environment is particularly important. The cradle, as a special sleeping place, plays an indispensable role in the baby's sleep journey. It is not only a piece of furniture, but also a harbor for babies to sleep, and it is the first step toward babies dreams.
Why won’t my baby sleep in the bassinet?
However, many newborns do not want to sleep in the cradle, why? The reasons are as follows:
Strangeness: For newborns coming into the world, the cradle is a completely new place to sleep that is very different from the warmth and familiarity of the mother's womb. This strangeness may cause the baby to feel insecure and afraid, so it is not willing to fall asleep in the cradle.
Separation anxiety: The newborn has a close bond with the mother in the womb, and the cradle cannot provide the baby with close contact with the mother. Separated from the mother sleeping alone in the cradle will make the baby feel lonely, lack the security of the mother's arms, so resist falling asleep.
Sleep habits: Some babies fall asleep in their mother's arms, forming a habit. So it is difficult to adapt to the cradle environment. They may need some time to adjust to their new sleeping environment.
Unsuitable Cradle: If the cradle is too hard and the mattress is too firm, the baby may feel uncomfortable and upset. On the contrary, if the mattress is too soft, it may cause the baby to not get enough support, affecting their sleep comfort.
Understanding these reasons can help you better understand why your baby doesn't want to sleep in the cradle. In the following, we will share some methods and suggestions to help you overcome these difficulties so that your baby can sleep peacefully in the cradle.
Tips to get your newborn to sleep in a bassinet
Create a comfortable sleeping environment
Select the right cradle
Consider size, stability and ventilation: Choose a bassinet that is spacious enough so that your baby has plenty of room to move around. Ensure that the cradle is stable and free of loose parts to prevent safety hazards. In addition, the ventilation of the cradle is also very important to facilitate air circulation and avoid overheating of the baby.
The ventilation of the cradle refers to the circulation capacity of the air inside the cradle. A cradle with good ventilation can prevent indoor air retention, reducing the risk of overheating and hypoxia for your baby. The following is how to judge the ventilation of the cradle and precautions:
Air flow design: Check the design of the cradle to see if it has appropriate ventilation holes or voids. Some cradles are designed with ventilation in mind and may have small holes in the bed or at the edges. These small holes help air flow and keep the air fresh inside the cradle.
Ventilation material: The material of the cradle will also affect the ventilation performance. Choose materials that are breathable, such as natural wood or fabric that is breathable, and avoid materials that are too tightly sealed.
Avoid blockages: When placing your baby in the cradle to sleep, make sure there are no accumulation of objects or blockages around the cradle.
Regular inspection: Check the ventilation performance of the cradle regularly to ensure that the ventilation holes are not blocked or damaged. If ventilation problems are found, repair or replace the cradle promptly.
Choose an adjustable cradle: Choose an adjustable cradle to accommodate your baby's rapidly growing size. Some cradles have adjustable bed height to meet the needs of the baby at different stages.
Ensure the cradle is placed safely
Away from Windows and curtains: Place the cradle away from Windows, curtains, and areas where there may be hanging ropes or curtain rods. This will help prevent your baby from becoming entangled with the curtains during sleep.
Avoid nearby objects: Place the cradle away from piles, toys, or other objects. Prevent these items from falling into the cradle and causing injury to the baby.
Fill comfortable mattresses and sheets
Choose breathable, soft materials: Choose mattresses and sheets that are breathable, soft and comfortable, such as organic cotton and other natural materials that will not cause irritation to your baby's skin.
Ensure that the mattress is flat and soft and hard: A flat mattress can avoid the baby's uncomfortable posture during sleep and protect the healthy development of its spine. In addition, the moderate hardness of the mattress is also a key factor, a strong mattress may affect the quality of the baby's sleep, and too soft mattress may lead to the baby's posture instability.
Methods for Soothing a Baby to Sleep
Gently rocking the cradle: The gentle rocking of the cradle can mimic the baby's environment in the mother, creating a familiar feeling. This rocking sensation can soothe your baby's nervous system, making them feel more secure and relaxed, and helping them fall asleep. At the same time, note that if you use the cradle's rocking function to sleep your baby, gradually slow down the rocking speed. In this way, the baby can gradually adapt to lighter movements, helping them to fall asleep more easily.
Play soothing music: Play soft soothing music such as baby lullabies, nature sounds, white noise, classical music, etc. near the cradle, or use a gentle voice to communicate with your baby quietly. This can help your baby relax, eliminate external distractions, and get a better rest.
Placing soothing objects: Placing soothing objects in the cradle that your baby likes, such as a pacifier or soft toy, can help them find a sense of peace of mind. These items can be a source of security for your baby.
Wearing a sleeping sack: In the cradle, the baby's range of motion is more restricted due to the relatively small space. Using a sleeping sack in the cradle can better limit your baby's range of movement. When a baby is in a cradle and wearing a sleeping sack, the design of the sleeping sack usually keeps the baby's legs and body in a relatively fixed position, reducing their rolling and twisting in the cradle. This helps reduce the risk of choking or discomfort, as the baby is unable to kick the covers off or cover them to the face during sleep. The combination of sleeping sack and cradle makes it easier to achieve a more controlled sleeping environment. This helps the baby to sleep more peacefully in the cradle, while giving parents more peace of mind knowing that the baby's position and posture will not easily change during the night.
Establish a regular sleep schedule
Establish a regular daily sleep schedule
Set a regular wake-up and bedtime to establish your baby's biological clock. This will help adjust your baby's routine and make it easier for them to fall asleep. It is also important to give your baby enough time to nap during the day and sleep at night to meet their growth and development needs.
Establish a circadian rhythm
Open the curtains during the day to let in natural light and keep the room your baby is in bright. This helps establish your baby's sense of the time of day and makes them understand that the day is when they are awake.
At night, reduce the indoor brightness, avoid strong light and harsh lights, create a dim environment for the baby, let the baby realize that the night is the time to sleep, help the baby relax and enter a deep sleep.
Create restful bedtime activities
Give your baby a soothing bath with a gentle detergent before he or she goes to sleep, and gently massage your baby's skin after the bath. These activities help relax your baby's body and emotions and prepare him for sleep.
Avoid exciting and stimulating play, such as intense games or watching exciting TV shows, right before falling asleep. These activities may make the baby too excited to fall asleep. Instead, choose some quiet, relaxing activity, such as reading a warm picture book, which can help your baby calm down and get ready for sleep.
Progressive departure
Gradual departure is a way to help your baby fall asleep on their own, especially if they wake up during the night and start crying. This method is designed to gradually reduce the parental presence so that the baby can get used to falling asleep alone. Here are some gradual steps to leave:
Soothe the baby: When the baby wakes up and starts crying, soothe them first. Use gentle sounds and touch to convey a sense of safety and reassurance to your baby. You can also help calm your baby by rocking the cradle or using a pacifier.
Gradually reduce companionship: After your baby has calmed down, begin to gradually reduce your companionship time. This can be done by sitting next to the cradle, but no longer interacting with the baby. The key to gradual departure is to gradually increase the amount of time left to allow the baby to adjust to falling asleep alone.
Leave the room: When the baby seems to have calmed down and shows signs of falling asleep, gradually leave the room. Only leave for a few minutes at first, then gradually extend the time. If your baby starts crying again, you can go back and repeat the steps.
Maintain consistency: Gradual departures require some patience and consistency. Try to use the same method every time your baby wakes up during the night. Over time, your baby will learn to sleep independently.
