Better sleep for them, better sleep for you

Smart Parenting | 3min. reading time

Your little one is down for their scheduled nap. Excellent news! Now you can take a little nap as well, except for this small but significant detail: You can’t get to sleep! Your mind is too busy wondering if they're safe and sound.

Want to put your mind at ease? Many parents find when they’re informed on how to help their baby sleep better, it’s easier for them to switch off as well. In this article, we’ll talk you through:

• Baby sleep: The first six months
• How to promote better sleep for baby
• What to do when sleep patterns change
• How baby monitors help your baby—and you—sleep well

Baby sleep: The first six months

The truth? Like adults, every baby has individual sleep patterns and needs. So, if you’re wondering what’s normal, know that there’s a broad range. Newborns tend to sleep between 12-14 hours per day, although some sleep as little as 8 hours a day, and others up to 18 hours per day. They’re not yet able to drink much milk at a time, so they'll wake every 2-3 hours wanting to be fed.

As they grow and drink more in one go, babies start to feel fuller for longer. The need for night feeds generally reduces, and hopefully your fatigue does too! That said, babies can wake for all sorts of reasons, like illness, growth spurts, or simply feeling too hot or cold.

How to promote better sleep

No matter your little one’s sleep pattern (or lack of) you can promote better quality sleep by following some simple guidelines:

• Use a bedtime routine, like bath time followed by a book and then bed;
• At night, dim sound and keep the lights low;
• It’s okay to make sound and leave the curtains open during the day;
• Create a soothing atmosphere with white noise or lullabies;
• Make sure the room temperature isn’t too hot or cold;
• Let your baby sleep in the same room as you for the first six months.

When sleep patterns change

As you know, guidelines are, well, just a guide! No wonder babies don’t always follow them. And often for good reason. When your baby’s life changes (even just a little), their sleep patterns will too. It’s normal for your baby to have a change in sleep patterns if they’re teething or they’re experiencing a growth spurt. Go easy on yourself and, if it’s available, ask for help from a partner or other caregivers with overnight feeds, or during the day.

How baby monitors can help

Baby monitors can help you take the guess work out of creating the ideal sleep environment. For example, our Baby Units (the part that sits in your baby's room) come with built-in thermometers, soothing sounds, white noise and lullabies. It saves you having to buy multiple devices and lets you know if the temperature is too hot or cold.

While our entry-level monitors allow you to see and hear your baby, our more advanced monitors share in-depth details on baby's wellbeing too. Details like sleep status and breathing rate are always at your fingertips, making it easier to free up headspace and enjoy a moment of rest.

In fact, our most advanced monitor also helps you take the guesswork out of sleep overall. Thanks to SenseIQ wearable-free sleep and breathing tracking, you'll know if baby is still in deep sleep or about to wake and understand their sleep patterns thanks to automated sleep diaries.

Better sleep for the whole family

So, if there’s an opportunity to sleep, or take a moment to yourself, know that there are many ways to find the peace of mind you need to truly rest easy. From setting yourself up for success with a bedtime routine to checking a monitor to see which sleep stage your baby is in, better sleep for baby is better rest for you too.