Naturally, the baby falls asleep within a minute if everything is okay, like a noise-free environment and a comfortable bed.
Unfortunately, a comfortable bed does not work for some babies, and they fight to get to sleep, which is frustrating for both the mother and the baby.
Different factors are responsible for this condition, and parents should manage it smartly to get rid of it.
Here, I’ll explore why babies struggle with sleep and share tips and tricks for putting a baby to sleep in 40 seconds.
So let’s start—
Why do babies fight sleep?
Many factors are responsible for babies’ sleep difficulties. You have to know these factors to solve your babies’ sleep issues.
Here are a few reasons for babies’ sleep difficulties:
Hunger or starvation:
Hungry babies always struggle with sleep, and many factors are responsible for this starvation. Babies often cannot eat properly because of illnesses like inflammation of the throat or fever.
Sometimes, new mothers have to take high doses of antibiotics, resulting in them being unable to provide breast milk to their babies.
Otherwise, if they are distracted while eating, they finish without filling their stomach, and sleepy-eater babies do the same thing.
Overeating
Overeating can negatively affect a child’s sleep. A baby cannot fall asleep easily or stay asleep for a long time with a full, overloaded stomach, as it creates discomfort and fussiness.
Due to overeating, the digestive system does not perform properly, leading to acid reflux and then heartburn, which creates an obstacle to getting babies to sleep.
Teething:
Teething is a natural process for all humans. It typically begins at 6 months, but for a few babies, it may happen earlier or later than this.
Though it’s completely pain-free, sometimes it can cause minor pain, discomfort, rashes, and a mild temperature on the gums.
The babies who experience these conditions struggle to fall asleep, and finally, if they fall asleep, they cannot extend it.
Discomfort or illness:
It’s quite impossible for a baby to fall asleep easily or stay asleep when suffering from any disease like fever, cough, common cold, or any other infection.
Because of their illness, they feel breathing difficulties, are fussy and uncomfortable, leading to the baby fighting sleep and showing abnormal behaviour at bedtime.
Environmental discomfort:
Babies may feel disturbed during their bedtime due to environmental discomfort such as loud noises, light, crowded places, and cold or hot temperatures, leading to struggling to sleep.
Dirty beds, wet or heavy clothing, and hard pillows can also destroy a baby’s sleep.
When they feel fussy due to these factors, they respond by crying, which hampers the baby’s sleep at night.
Not tired enough:
If anyone is always inactive and lazy, they have to suffer from sleep difficulties. This theory also works in babies’ lives.
A baby who does not play mindfully and does not engage in any movement or other physical activities is unable to fall asleep in time at night.
If the wake windows of babies are too short before the actual bedtime, they are also unable to sleep quickly without any effort and cannot stay asleep for a long time.
How to put a baby to sleep in 40 seconds: Tips and Tricks
It’s a horrific situation for mothers, especially for busy moms, if their child does not fall asleep quickly or does not stay asleep for a long time.
In this sad situation, parents should follow some techniques if they want to improve their babies’ sleep habits. By smartly handling the baby, falling asleep in a minute or a few seconds is possible.
Here are some tips and tricks on how to put a baby to sleep in 40 seconds:
Use soft clothing
Dress your baby in soft and lightweight clothing to keep them breathable and comfortable, which can help them sleep quickly.
Always choose clothes that are appropriate for the room temperature.
Clothes that you use to cover your baby during sleep time should be lightweight to help them stay asleep for a long time.
Another thing is that the clothes must be neat and clean because dirty clothes create irritation or a skin rash, which can hamper sleep.
Feed before sleep:
As we know, a hungry baby does not sleep properly, so mothers should feed their babies before bedtime. With a full stomach, the baby can fall asleep easily rather than on an empty stomach and stay asleep for a long time.
But don’t overfeed; provide a proper amount of food to avoid uncomfortable feelings at bedtime.
Make a comfortable bed:
To prepare a nice, comfortable bed, you need a high-quality mattress, a soft pillow, and a smooth bed sheet.
The bed sheet should also be premium quality and have soothing colours like soft blues, pale greens, and light grays, which can help bring peace and relaxation.
Keep a small, soft, lightweight blanket or comforter to cover your baby when you put them down on the bed.A heavy blanket is unsafe for a baby under 12 months old, so be careful when using it.
Create a calm and cozy sleeping environment:
As babies are precious and God-gifted to their parents, they already deserve a good environment to sleep. Babies often fight to get sleep because of environmental issues.
To provide a calm and cozy environment, make sure the room is noise-free and the room temperature is normal, not too cold or hot.
Don’t keep any alcoholic substances, and the room should be completely smoke-free.
To make the room sleepier for your kids, switch off the light and use a dim light.
Don’t allow any adults or children in the room; they may hinder the baby from falling asleep quickly.
At that time, you must stay calm yourself to keep your baby silent and prevent excessive noise. Avoid creating any distractions when they finally fall asleep.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine:
A perfect bedtime routine can prevent the baby from struggling with sleep.
Create a sleep schedule routine starting around 6–8 weeks. Under 6 weeks, a baby does not experience nature like day and night, resulting in them not being able to maintain a sleep schedule.
Apply the bedtime routine by putting your baby in the same place and at the same time on a regular basis to get the best result.
Before sleep time, mothers should complete some tasks, including bathing, feeding, changing clothes, and changing into a fresh nappy.
If the baby wants to sleep or nap before the schedule, try to keep them awake and let them sleep at a fixed time.
Use a calming lotion at bedtime:
Another method for getting ready to sleep quickly is to apply baby lotion on their skin, which may help to calm the baby.
Different types of bedtime baby lotion are available on the market. Choose a gentle and fragrance-free lotion that prevents skin dehydration and relaxes the baby before sleeping.
After a bath, gently massage the lotion on the baby’s skin, especially the legs, hands, and chest, which helps the baby to fall asleep faster.
To know more details about the use of baby lotion, consult a paediatrician; they may provide guidelines on how, when, and where it should be applied.
Pay attention to the baby’s physical condition in time
Babies often suffer from various diseases like pneumonia, diaper rash or skin infection, ear infections, stomach pain, common colds, flu, and other infectious diseases, which can affect sleep and eating habits.
A sick baby feels uncomfortable and fussy, which may hamper the sleepy mood of the baby, leading to a struggle with sleep.
Mothers should always consult with a paediatrician on a weekly or monthly basis for their kids to check their physical condition.
Use a gentle touch:
Gently touch your baby’s body, especially on the arms and backside, when it is time to sleep. It is one of the most effective methods for falling asleep quickly. It helps the baby stay silent before sleep.
Otherwise, when they wake up without completing their sleep, you just touch them, and they will go back to sleep again.
You can also apply this technique when a baby is awakened by any distraction; then you can see the magic at that time.
The tissue trick:
It is a popular method and that works for almost all babies, but in some cases, it is different. To get your baby to sleep in less than a minute, you can try this incredible method. I think by this method you will be successful.
First, take a dry tissue when it’s time to sleep. Then slowly and softly drag this tissue on the face, especially the forehead to the nose and eyes, until they sleep or their eyes close.
Swaddle your baby:
Swaddling the baby during bedtime is another comfortable and common method. Some babies like to be swaddled with their mother because sometimes they feel lonely.
Wrap your baby with a soft, lightweight blanket and hold them close to your chest.
At that time, swing and whisper shh, shh, shh gently to make your baby sleepy.
Through swaddling, babies can find similarities to the environment of the womb and feel warm and secure, resulting in falling asleep faster.
Conclusion:
To get a fast-falling sleeping baby, first, the mother should know the actual reasons why babies struggle to sleep at night. Then they need to solve these issues smartly.
Through this article, I’ve explained why babies struggle to sleep at night and shared some tips and tricks on how to put a baby to sleep in 40 seconds.
I hope mothers will benefit by following these fun and unique methods.
