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There is a lot about parenting & motherhood that is instinctive, but getting your baby to form good sleeping pattern is not something you’ll automatically learn to do. And while there’s some time until you become a professional, it’s common for new parents to make a couple of baby sleep mistakes in the early times.

It’s not a big deal to make a parenting mistake as you became parents for the first time. Even if you continue to do it all day every day, but that doesn’t mean you cannot educate yourselves and prevent future mistakes.

14+ Common Baby Sleep Mistakes Parents Make and How To Avoid Them

Dear parents if your baby doesn’t always, “sleep like a baby.” you may need to learn from these newborn baby sleep mistakes, which you’re probably making to ruin your baby’s sleep unknowingly. These 14 mistakes are some of the most common mistakes new parents make! Learn and avoid for your baby to get peacefully long naps.

1. Waiting too long to put the baby down for a nap 

Baby sleep

Many parents wait for the screaming of their baby to put him on the bed. Because they think that since the baby cried, he needs some rest. Isn’t it a very bad habit? After the baby’s screaming badly, one comes to realize that her child needs rest! One of the biggest baby sleep mistakes new parents make! How could one wait for the screaming of his own baby for rest! It’s totally exhausting.

How many times have you noticed, you heard a baby crying loudly in public only to hear the parents say, the baby is tired. “They would probably appreciate you recognizing their exhaustion before they get worked up. That’s often a correct cue. My kind suggestion to you, don’t wait, to scream up your baby, for sleep.

 You have to know your baby’s demand. If your baby wants to sleep, then you have to stop all gossip is going on with friends. Or stop watching your favorite series on Netflix. Pay enough attention, you will learn your baby’s subtle cues of rest then head into the bedroom, make a calm environment, turn off lights, and cuddle up in a safe familiar place.

As a new parent, it’s our first duty to provide a calm  environment for our child. Because Sleep-deprived newborn may become fussy and colic. Which makes him cry.  So, make baby’s sleep your top priority.

Some common cues that your baby needs a nap or sleep:-

  • Changes his facial expression
  • he begins to rub his eyes
  •  starts to  staring to the roof
  • again and again, yawning
  • if he clenched fists

2. Underestimating the power of regular bedtime routine 


Baby sleep

This one considers the top sleep mistakes parents make with kids! There was a time when children of all ages follow the regular time schedule for every night with a warm bath, story time with grandparents, and night light.

But today in modern days mostly mothers are doing full-time jobs, businesses to run, and other household responsibilities that go beyond managing the home and tending to the kids.

It’s clear that more parents are going away with simple parenting strategies to maintain a consistent bedtime schedule.

But how could a baby know that their parents have a busy schedule? Babies only want a decent routine to sleep well. Newborn can’t wait for your Lullaby, he adopts a sleeping schedule itself, and start to feel tired around that time. How nice is it! This makes easier to get your little monster to put on sleep and he takes a longer snooze period.

And busy mom you can also take a nap with your baby. But how?  Very simple do everyone a favor and develop a bedtime routine that is performed regularly at the same time each day.

3. Results of Skipping of a bedtime routine 


Baby sleep

“A bedtime routine is an easy strategy that makes a world of difference, how quickly your baby will settle to sleep and how much support he’ll need to fall asleep,” says Megan Faure, author of The Baby Sence Secret. “As time-consuming or rigid as it may feel, it saves your time and energy in the long run.”

But if you want to put your baby one hour before his schedule. The result is frustration as the baby grows tired and overwhelmed. Most babies will simply refuse to earlier because their body cues them that it’s still time to play.

It’s easier to attend social events around the baby’s schedule rather than throwing your baby’s schedule out of the door. If there is a need to stay out later at the time, make sure that you have a stroller or a portable bed for the baby.

Remember only one thing that if you don’t care about your baby’s routine of bedtime then it’s very difficult to readjust his routine, once his schedule is disrupted.

Studies indicate that not only babies but young children who lack regular bedtime routine have more behavior problems. (Gaylor 2005) In addition, kids who stick with a regular bedtime routine may sleep soundly for the whole night. (Molfese, 2016).

4. Letting the baby rely on one parent! 


Obviously, we have cared for our spouse, as he or she working hard and faces many problems beyond the home. As homestay parents, we feel that we do it all as we don’t want to bother spouses, who are already stressed out.

As new parents, we always think that no other can take good care of our baby better than us. But regardless of the rationale, you have to let your spouse or other adults step in and get their help when you’re overwhelmed or exhausted. If you don’t, that means you’re making a big mistake in ruining your baby’s sleep. It leads to an ongoing sleep problem that lasts for many days even for weeks.

5. Responding to baby’s little sounds 


Baby sleep

Most babies make a sound while sleeping. And there is no reason to respond to all of them. Possibly baby may be dreaming or simply cycling through sleep that may leave them more alert at certain times during night sleep. If you rush on him every sound and scoop he makes all the time, you will wake him wake up unnecessarily, this lead ruins your baby’s sleep.

If you heard any sound made by the baby, first of all, try to relax and respond when you’re certain that there is some problem then you need to respond. 

As time passes you’re familiar with the baby’s sounds which he makes while sleeping and awake. Some times you noticed that baby soothes him by making the sound and back to sleep without anyone’s support. This is a healthy development and supports him to do so.

6. Trying to get the baby on a schedule, let household follows a different time 


How could one sleep if there is a party or any kind of noise happening right outside your door? Probably not then how could a baby sleep! If all the family is active and they’re enjoying their favorite movie or any kind of activity, only make sure that the action is happening away from the baby’s room.

You can use a sound machine that can play white noise or some soothing sounds in the nursery which may help greatly to put a baby on sleep.

So, everyone in the family should be mindful of the baby’s rest time. If a baby hears noises, he also tries to know what’s happening and it cause baby sleep problem for the whole night.

7. Co-sleeping with baby 


Have you ever noticed that a baby who just would not go to sleep until you tucked them in next to you?. Fussy babies will calm down when they get the warmth and safety hug of their mother. But you know this can have a long-lasting impact on your baby’s sleep habits.

While mothers are big fans of co-sleeping with their kid, It’s best to remain consistent with your normal sleep routine even if your spouse must tag team throughout the night when the baby refuses to sleep.

8. Allowing too much day time sleep! 


If you’re allowing your baby to sleep a lot at the day time as you’re a freedom-loving parent who doesn’t much care about routine and schedules! Do you know what happened? Your baby refuses to sleep at night when you’re tired. 

It’s very necessary to set some boundaries, wake up a baby who is sleeping at day time too long, and make a scheduled bedtime so that your baby has a good structure to sleep well.

9. Playing and entertain baby 


Happy family with their new daughter

Babies alike us. When we’re sitting ideal for a long time, we get bored. Babies, without any interaction with others for a long time also getting exhausted and bored. All-day baby has no work to do. So, he wants his mother in front of him all day.

All in a family must talk to baby, sing to great music, stretch his muscles with tummy time and get him outdoors to learn about the world. It makes baby engaged and he gets tired and takes a sound sleep through time.

10. Allowing conflicting sleep schedules while traveling between homes


After spending time with you, does your baby spend time with his grandparents on weekends? Do they visit the sitter’s house? Do they go to another parent’s house to spend time with them?

If you split the living situation or he spent much time with a sitter, then make sure that everyone involved is sticking to the same routine and time schedule. This prevents your baby from feeling confused and uncomfortable when you frequently transitions. Remember Consistency is the key!

11. Giving up before the baby has time to adjust to a new schedule


Have you ever heard that many parents give up just when they are due for a success? If you need to make an adjustment to the baby’s schedule, it can take some time for the baby to get on board. If you remain to try consistent, it will eventually work. So, bravo! don’t give up try your level best until you will not get success.

12. Switching from the crib to the daybed too early 

Many parents are eager for those milestones and this transition to a bed is one of them. Parents want to move the older one to a bigger bed so that his crib is ready for a new baby. But you know what happened? You’ll be rewarded with a confused, distressed toddler if you make the move too early. Wait until your baby is crawling out of the crib himself when he is two years old.

13. Blocking out the sunlight 


Many parents try to make perfect darkness and quietness each time when baby sleeps during the day. Now you guess what? That is not a good idea to teach the baby to wake up at any little sound or any time if there is a little bit of light.

We would always suggest a little white noise in the baby’s room. So they do become habitual of little sounds when they sleep.

14. Not coordinating meal and bedtimes 


If you really want to help your baby adjust to a normal sleeping habit, then it’s sync up feeding and nap times. Babies get naturally tired when their tummy is full. The main cause of baby sleep is that many parents don’t stick to routine feeding times, and that throws off the sleep schedule as well.

The only thing to get your baby a beautiful sleep is a consistency. I, Again and again, repeat that consistency is key to all aspects of your baby’s sleep schedule. (Rinne,1990)

ENDPOINT

If you want your baby sleep for hours without any interruptions, stick your bedtime routine with some of these tips which I write in the post. One of these may help your baby to sleep throughout the night. All parents choose what works for their baby because no two babies are the same.

If you have a good idea of baby sleep then please share in the comments box to help exhausted moms to take a sound sleep.

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