Sleep strategies of 13 new mothers

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The most important factor to help mothers get enough sleep is to help children learn how to stay up late. Although easier said than done, it is a goal worth pursuing. "There's nothing faster than having to get up repeatedly for a child who refuses to go to sleep," said Dana aubman, author of the sleep perception program. We invited some experts to share their sleep strategies for new mothers and babies, and some of their answers may surprise you.

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1. It's important to establish a model in which newborn babies can eat and sleep as they wish in the first few weeks. "Ideally, you should create a eat play sleep mode that allows four to five naps a day, one to three hours at a time," says parenting writer Dana aubman. Most newborns can only wake up 45 to 60 minutes at a time before they need to nap again. "And they can only sleep two to three hours at a time, even at night, because their stomachs are too small to hold enough food to last longer," she said.

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2. Dr. Michelle Bennett, founder of Mama seeds, said that setting realistic expectations is probably the most important factor for new mothers' satisfaction with sleep and babies. "It's normal for a baby not to sleep at night," she said. Don't think you've done something wrong, or your child has something wrong. "Unrealistic expectations make sleep deprivation seem more painful," said Dr Bennett. "Once mothers can accept that they are doing well as mothers and that their children are normal, they feel better. "You'll still miss your sleep, but it's unlikely that you're depressed or resentful about it."

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3. Dana aubman, a parenting writer, said it takes about 20 to 30 minutes to develop a bedtime habit, calm him down and create a recognizable pattern that tells him it's time to go to bed. This will help your baby learn to be a good sleeper, she said. "Creating a bedtime program - even for newborns - is an important way to lay the foundation for a long sleep where they don't need to eat regularly."

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4. Chelsea P. gladden, co-founder of online parenting magazine and mum blog breezy mama and parenting coach, said: 'in the newborn stage, pay attention to the baby's short and sweet sleep, but pay attention to their sleep. "Once they stop making eye contact, pick them up before they start crying and crazy enough to fall asleep, either let them sleep or let them shake in your arms," gladen said. She reminded her mother that in the first few days, or even weeks, the baby was mainly sleeping, waking up, eating, and soon after that, she wanted to sleep again.

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5. Michelle Bennett, founder of Mama seeds, said: 'if you want to find someone who sleeps in the same bed, consider finding someone who sleeps in the same bed.' Sharing a bed is a bedside table connected to an adult bed. "The baby will have enough distance during night care, and then can easily return to his or her own safe sleeping space," she said. Keep in mind, though, that while some experts and moms recommend sleeping together, they are controversial. In a 2011 policy statement, the American Academy of pediatricians noted that "devices that promote the 'safety' of shared beds, such as those that share a bed," are not recommended, although they do recommend sharing a room without sharing a bed. Do your own research and talk to your pediatrician before making any decisions.

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6. Sharing responsibilities with your partner

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"sharing work is essential," said Dennis stern, President of sleeping mom. She said that it is not a good support system for one side to only focus on babies and the other side to only provide help during off hours. "This can lead to burnout, poor health and stress." Parenting coach Chelsea P. g. bin Laden says the couple she works with will use a variety of teamwork methods to do the job. Some people have one partner feeding at night while the other is sleeping; others have their mother do all the feeding, but have her partner take care of the baby after the first morning's care so she can go back to bed.

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7. Dennis stern of let mom sleep suggests new moms spend time comforting their babies. "This is the most basic method of care," she said. Slowly feed the baby, then massage and burp to reduce the gas. "When we see a baby wake up suddenly after 20 minutes, it's usually a stomachache," said stern. "They don't have enough time to deal with digestion and gas," she suggests holding the child up, burping for 20 to 30 minutes, and then letting him sleep. "Although it may seem like a big promise in the middle of the night, it will bring more sleep."

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8. "If babies don't get enough care during the day, sometimes they want to care more often at night," says Michelle Bennett of the mother's seed. Of course, some babies who are used to eating several times at night may continue to wake up completely out of habit - especially if theyAfter four to six months, most babies get enough calories during the day to maintain five to six hours of stretching at night. If you suspect that your baby may be awake from not eating enough during the day, watch the hunger cues carefully and try to care where there is no distraction.

correlation: No.9 is the best food choice for nursing mothers. Dennis stern, President of let mom sleep, said: "the right time to go to bed, let the baby go to bed at the right time." Keeping your baby awake at night doesn't mean your baby will go to bed later in the morning. "It conflicts with the baby's natural rhythm and can lead to real exhaustion and breakdown," she said. In a 2007 study, Japanese researchers came to a similar conclusion, in which they found that babies' late sleeping and frequent waking up at night may reflect the delayed development of their physiological rhythm.

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the little guy has a huge demand for intimacy and comfort. "Babies who lose their physical intimacy with their mothers during the day sometimes try to gain it at night," said Michelle Bennett, founder of Mama seeds. While this is particularly challenging for working mothers, it may be necessary to increase physical contact with the baby during the day through activities such as hugging, soothing, feeding and shaking.

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11. Using white noise and swaddling techniques

"swaddling - that is, wrapping the baby tightly so that his arms are fixed on both sides of him - white noise goes hand in hand," says Denis stern, who sleeps his mother. "They all mimic the environment in the womb, creating safety and comfort for the baby." Since the newborn can't control the limbs completely, swaddling can also help to eliminate inadvertent vomiting. "The 'hush and hush' sound the baby hears in the womb really brings' home comfort 'to the newborn," sten said.

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12. "Moms should make sure they take a nap or two during the day," said childcare coach Chelsea P. gradaden. Of course, it's a piece of advice that's included in almost every new mom's sleep strategy list, but there's a reason: new moms have to close their eyes wherever and whenever possible. "Moms need a break," says Mr. gdaan. "If they get a break, it's good for everyone," it's good for the baby. A 2013 study showed that mothers who dozed regularly interacted with their babies more frequently and positively than mothers who dozed less or did not doze at all. "

related: 10 strange side effects of stress Michelle Bennett, founder of Mama seeds, said," do the last feeding before going to bed, and do the last nanny before mom goes to bed. " "Most babies' sleep nurses' don't wake up completely," she said. "Sometimes this last night's' make-up 'will keep mom up for hours." "We make mothers sleep like we teach 'dream feeding' - a word coined by 'baby whisperers'," Tracy Hogg "- is simply putting breasts or bottles on a baby's lips so that she can instinctively accept what she needs as she continues to sleep.

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What do you think? Are you a new mother (or father)? Do you or your baby have sleep problems? If so, what did you do? Have you found a special way or activity to improve this situation? Have you tried the method on the list? What works and what doesn't? Share your thoughts and thoughts in the comments section below. Your advice may help other mothers and their children eventually get a little precious sleep.

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