Rock-a-Bye Baby Read Free Page B

firm and supportive mattress pad. If you line the mattress with plastic to keep it dry, make sure you add an extra pad over the lining for comfort.

Active Play
    When your baby is awake during the day, spend some time playing together to help burn up energy, so she will sleep better at night. Try a game of peekaboo, bicycle legs (rotating baby’s legs as if she’s peddling a bicycle), or “I’m gonna get you!”

Create a Routine
    Perform the same ritual each time you put your baby down for a nap. For example, give your baby a bath, sing a song, rock your baby, and then put him down. Soon he will associate this pattern with sleep—and when you start the first steps, he will already be ready for what lies ahead.
Downtime
    Give your baby a chance to wind down by stopping vigorous activity fifteen to twenty minutes before you want her to fall asleep. Switch to quiet activities, such as singing to, bathing, or rocking her.

Let It Be
    Some babies wake up in the night, wiggle and squirm and make noise, then miraculously return to sleep. So don’t react too quickly —give your baby a chance to settle down on his own.

Keep It Calm
    When your baby awakens in the middle of the night for a feeding, keep the lights dim, and use a soft voice and slow movements, so your baby will not be roused during nursing.

Baby Knows Best
    Sometimes you just need to adjust your routine to fit your baby’s needs, simply to make life easier for everyone.

    WHY DO BABIES WAKE UP AT NIGHT?
    The most common reasons are:
    â€¢ Hunger, especially during growth spurts
    â€¢ Teething, usually accompanied by a lot of drooling
    â€¢ Developmental steps, such as crawling, walking, etc., which may cause changes in their sleep due to excessive energy or tiredness
    â€¢ Illness, such as a cold or flu, that causes congestion
    â€¢ Discomfort due to allergy, diaper rash, or eczema
    â€¢ Loneliness —baby wants to be with Mom or Dad
    â€¢ Reversal of day and night cycles —baby is used to sleeping in the womb while being rocked during the daytime and waking up while Mom’s asleep at night
    â€¢ Being startled by a dream, a noise, or a sudden twitch
    â€¢ Extreme temperature—the room is too warm or too cool
    HOW DO THE EXPERTS COMPARE?
    Here’s a short list of the leading sleep experts and their varying approaches
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Chapter 2

Golden Standards That Still Work

    â€œPeople who say they sleep like babies usually don’t have them.”
    â€”Leo J. Burke
    In this chapter you’ll find the most popular ways to get baby to sleep, passed on from parent to parent over the years. Although not all babies are the same, the tips in this chapter seem to work for most. They’re standards for a reason—they’ve helped generations of parents and, in turn, will most likely work for you. As I mentioned, some of these ideas may be new to you, while others will seem like common knowledge—but it’s always good to be reminded and to try the techniques again. They’re especially handy if you’re just beginning to play the sleep game with your first child.
Pajama Time
    Change your baby into the same pajamas as a cue that it’s time for sleep. Then, each time you put on Baby’s pajamas, he will know what to expect. (Don’t forget to wash them often!)

Bath Therapy
    Give your baby a warm, soothing bath to relax her and she’ll be more apt to nod off afterward.

Moisturizing Massage
    Put lotion on your hands to warm it up, then give your baby a gentle massage to help relax his muscles.

Sing Baby to Sleep
    Sing a lullaby or hum a simple tune to lull and comfort your baby to sleep. (
For my favorite lullabies, see “Sweet Sounds,” page 129.)

Sound of Music
    Turn on classical music or a quiet song for Baby to listen to while she goes to sleep.

Story Time
    Tell a story, read the newspaper, or just chat about your day with your baby in a low, rhythmic voice to