Will I ever be able to sleep again? We’re sure all parents have had that thought during their children’s infancies. Having a baby crying out for you through the night can slowly become a waking nightmare and have a negative impact on your wellbeing! Your freshly minted newborn is still trying to figure out the difference between night and day as he or she seems to wake up at what might seem like random times! It might be a steep learning curve, but eventually they learn to be awake more during the day and to sleep for longer periods at night. Keep in mind that all babies are different and you might need to work out what works for you. Here are some tips to help you come out of this perpetual graveyard shift:

1.       Make Noise the New Normal!

Nope, you don’t have time to nurse and coddle a baby who’s up crying because of a sudden bump in the night! Babies can be prone to waking because of slight sounds, even the light patter of a footfall or the simple ‘click’ of a switch! To avoid these situations, have some noise in the nursery. For instance, consider including a little waterfall in the nursery, so that your baby can get used to some of that background noise. In addition, the noises of water can help calm your baby. A ceiling fan on might work just fine.

2.       Cap that Cat-naps

If you’re looking to have your baby sleep through the night for longer, consider limiting his or her daytime snoozes. Limit their naps to two hours. Gently wake your baby and engage him or her with some play. This way, your baby will become tuned to keeping awake during the day and feel compelled to sleep for longer periods during the night.

3.       Regular Routine

Establish a nighttime routine that will help prepare your baby for a longer, restful sleep at night. Start with a soothing bath with a few drops of essential oils to help you and your baby relax. Lavender, proven to have a soothing effect on babies and can help aid with the process of falling asleep, is an ingredient in Twinkle BABY Multipurpose Balm in lavender essential oil. While effective in soothing a variety of symptoms because of its formula, the balm is light, easy to roll on and can be easily a part of your baby’s nighttime routine. Post-nighttime bath, apply the balm on your baby’s chest, stomach and soles for warmth. The soothing scent will have your baby relax and encourage sleep. In addition, as you establish the routine, your baby can be tuned to the balm’s light scent and feel compelled to fall asleep easily.

Snap out of that zombie-mode with these tips!