The first few weeks of a newborn baby’s life are full of sleepless nights, feeding on demand, and the seemingly never-ending need to keep them calm. This can be overwhelming for new parents who might not know what they’re doing. If you’re expecting your first child or have another one under two years old, here are some tips to help make those early days easier:
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Rocking a newborn is soothing and comforting
It can help your baby to fall asleep.
- Make sure you are rocking in a safe environment. Make sure the rocking chair is sturdy and won’t tip over or move underneath you when rocking your newborn.
- Rock gently back and forth with one leg crossed over the other, which will give more movement for rocking without putting too much pressure on one hip joint. Relax into it so that moving comes naturally to you as well as providing relaxation for both of you at the same time!
- Try not to rock forwards/backwards – this may jolt them awake rather than soothing them into sleep mode! Rocking side to side keeps their head stable while they drift off making it easier for mommy’s neck muscles too!!
The best way to rock a newborn is in an upright position with their back against your chest, arms wrapped around them securely.
Make sure you are rocking gently but firmly to help your baby drift off into a peaceful slumber.
If they fall asleep in the rocking chair, make sure that you put them down as soon as possible on their back with no loose blankets or toys around them so that it is safe and secure for sleep mode.
A good rule of thumb is if they haven’t fallen asleep within 15 minutes then take them out of the rocking position – every child is different!
When rocking the baby, make sure to support their head and neck so that they don’t slump or fall backwards.
- Rocking them in your arms to help their head and neck muscles so that they don’t get too tired.
- If you feel comfortable rocking back and forth, ensure it is gentle rocking for both of you. Make sure not to rock too quickly or slowly as this could wake up the baby rather than send him/her into a peaceful slumber!
Try rocking with music if it helps and see what works best for you!
Try not to let anyone else hold your child unless they are an expert at holding infants because this can lead to accidents such as dropping them from too high of heights or placing pressure on their stomachs which could cause breathing problems.
- rocking a newborn is very soothing and comforting for the both of you, but make sure to follow all safety precautions when rocking your baby.
- Make sure they are laying on their back with no loose blankets or toys around them so that it’s safe and secure for sleep mode! Try rocking gently with music if it helps – every child develops at different rates/ages which makes each experience unique!
Be aware of how much sleep you have had – if you’re short on sleep, try getting some rest before picking up the baby again.
Sources:
- Does Rocking Your Baby to Sleep Help? – March 18, 2021
- The Effect of a Slowly Rocking Bed on Sleep – NCBI Feb 1, 2018
- Bedtime habits for infants and children – MedlinePlus
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