Wellness Tips for a better Nights Sleep

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Ensuring your baby gets the sleep they need can present both challenges and rewards, but with the right preparation and knowledge, it can become a manageable and fulfilling part of parenting. From understanding the best sleep positions and creating the ideal sleep environment to managing nap schedules and recognising sleep cues, here are some helpful tips to maximise your baby’s sleep quality.

Sleep Positioning

The Back is Best

Always place your baby on their back to sleep, as recommended by paediatricians worldwide. This position reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The Inglesina carrycot is designed with this in mind, providing a flat and firm surface perfect for back sleeping. The Welcome Pad® by Inglesina is a unique feature designed to support your baby’s posture. It encourages the correct alignment of the spine and head, ensuring your baby is comfortable and safe.

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Creating the Ideal Sleep Environment

Temperature and Darkness

Keep the room at a comfortable temperature, ideally between 16-20°. Make sure the room is dark to signal to your baby that it’s time to sleep. You can use blackout curtains or shades to achieve this.

White Noise Machines

White noise machines can be incredibly soothing for babies, mimicking the sounds they heard in the womb. They can also help drown out household noises that might wake your baby.

Napping Strategies

Nap When Baby Naps

Take advantage of your baby’s nap times to rest yourself. This can help you stay refreshed and better able to care for your little one. This can be an annoying piece of advice to hear especially if you feel you are unable to rest easily in the day. If you do struggle with daytime napping at least make a little time for putting your feet up and enjoying a cuppa!

Optimal Nap Duration

Newborns typically sleep for 14-17 hours in a 24-hour period. As they grow, the number of naps and their duration will decrease. Ensure your baby gets the right amount of sleep by observing their cues and creating a consistent nap schedule.

Common signs your baby may be ready for a nap:

Being a little whiny without provocation

Staring vacantly into space

Avoiding eye contact with you or objects

Frequent yawning or stretching

Rubbing or tugging at their ears

Little interest in people or toys

Becoming quiet and still

Some babies arch their backs

Exhibiting jerky body movements

Soothe or Self-Soothe?

This is often a debated topic among parents and experts. It is important to find a balance that works for you and your baby.

Soothing Techniques

Swaddling, rocking, and gentle shushing can be very effective in calming a baby. The Inglesina carrycot provides a cozy environment that can help soothe your baby to sleep.

Self-Soothing

Gradually encourage your baby to self-soothe by allowing them to fuss a bit before intervening. This helps them learn to fall asleep independently over time

Playtime and Tummy Time

Tummy Time

Helps to strengthen shoulder, neck and arm muscles as well as improving muscle control. Research suggests that encouraging more physical activity and stimulation with your baby can really aid sleep quality. Give your baby supervised tummy time daily. In the newborn weeks, two or three 3-5 minutes sessions of tummy time per day is perfect. This can be increased to a total of 30 minutes per day by the time baby is around 2 months of age. The Inglesina Welcome Pod™ is perfect for supervised tummy time up to 8 months. Made from cotton and bamboo with breathable mesh inserts, it has been designed to help control baby’s temperature, and comes with an opening at the bottom, so it can be used as baby grows.

Avoid Overstimulation: Ensure playtime is calm and not too close to nap time. Overstimulation can make it harder for your baby to wind down and fall asleep.

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Getting Outside

Fresh Air

Taking your baby outside for some fresh air can significantly help in regulating their sleep patterns. Exposure to natural light plays a crucial role in setting your baby's internal clock, aligning it with the natural day-night cycle. This helps in establishing a more consistent sleep schedule, making it easier for your baby to differentiate between day and night. Additionally, outdoor activities can provide gentle stimulation, which can be beneficial for their overall development and can help tire them out just enough to promote better napping and nighttime sleep. So, incorporating regular outdoor time into your baby’s routine can be a simple yet effective strategy to enhance their sleep quality and overall well-being.

Napping on the Go

It’s okay for your baby to nap during a walk in the stroller. The Inglesina Aptica and Aptica XT’s carrycot is designed to provide a safe and comfortable space for naps on the go. The Aptica and Aptica XT travel systems come complete with the ‘Stand Up”, a handy stand that can be left at home ready for transferring the carrycot onto when you come in from walks, meaning no muddy wheels in the house, and baby can continue napping without being disturbed! The stroller frame on the Aptica XT has been designed for off limits walks. It has an adaptive cruise system that allows it to tackle any terrain without disturbing the baby, making it perfect for trips to the beach, walks in the woods, and any other adventures families undertake.The large all season stroller seat comes with a removable comfort cover, revealing a double breathable mesh layer underneath, helping your baby keep cool in summer months, but keeping them warm on winter walks.

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Conclusion

Ensuring your baby gets the right amount of sleep can be challenging, but with these tips and the innovative design of the Inglesina Aptica and Aptica XT, you can create a nurturing and safe sleep environment. The carrycot and Welcome Pad are designed to support your baby’s health and comfort, making sleep time a more peaceful experience for both you and your little one.

The Honest Midwife

Louise Broadbridge

Senior midwife, founder of Let’s Talk Birth & Baby and the face behind Instagram’s The Honest Midwife.