Coast to Coast with Lyn & Leigh

The first 5 weeks have flown by and we are in the process of training Grant to be an A#1 sleeper. Here are my top 10 Tips for a blissful newborn sleeper (not without the help of my cross-continent newborn baby sleep coach expert - Leigh):

10. Make sure baby is not too hot or too cold.

9. Swaddle baby up good and tight.

8. Make sure to get a good burp out of baby.

7. When baby is overly tired and punching the air, literally ’shush’ baby to sleep.

6. Of course, make sure the diaper is dry.

5. Dream feed baby at 7:00 (that’s Grant’s bedtime). Turn out all the lights, change his diaper, swaddle him up and then feed him very quietly with no eye-contact or talking. Feed him until he falls asleep and then carefully lie him down.

4. For mid-night feedings, check diaper first, if dry, feed baby in dark with no eye-contact or talking. Repeat… Feed him until he falls asleep and then carefully lie him down.

3. For a baby that won’t quiet down for a mid-day nap either try running the vacuum cleaner or if your laundry is close to baby’s room pop in a load to create a steady ‘white noise’.

2. For the first few weeks, sleep positioners work great to help baby feel contained and secure (like in the womb)

1. Routine is more important than time - focus on the routine, and differentiate between nighttime and daytime. When it’s officially morning, be sure to open the windows and let light on baby’s face. Practice E.A.S.Y. (eat, activity, sleep, time for yourself) during the day, and dream feed at night. WARNING - at about 4 months, try replacing one nighttime feed with a binky or music - baby does not NEED to eat - it has become routine. And we certainly don’t want to ‘teach’ them to keep waking up at night!