It can be quite physically and mentally draining when your baby refuses to sleep in the bassinet. In these situations, your baby usually prefers to sleep in your arms. The cuddles may have seemed charming at first, and you may have cherished them, but as the weeks passed, you felt trapped and needed other things. As the weeks went by, you began to feel trapped and like you had other things that needed your attention.
The quickest way to get your kid to slumber in their bassinet is to ascertain that they are positioned comfortably and warm enough. You want them to feel as though they are resting in the womb; thus, swaddle them snugly but not overly tight. It will support them in sleeping longer as it makes them feel snug!
What’s The Reason My Baby Doesn’t Sleep In A Bassinet?
Several reasons your baby may not want to sleep in a bassinet. Here are a few:
Baby Used To Sleep In Arms
It is perfectly natural not to want to put down a cuddly newborn because everyone loves to hold a baby. But you should remember that babies who regularly sleep while being held might have trouble falling asleep without it. It is best to avoid this. Forming such habits can make it very challenging to get your baby to sleep without being held.
Baby Might Be Uncomfortable
Your infant might not want to sleep in their bassinet due to discomfort. A soiled nappy, firm mattress, or itchy swaddle or receiving blanket can rouse a slumbering baby. If you observe that your baby stirs shortly after being laid down to sleep, make sure to check their diaper and bassinet for any irritation.
Your baby Is Sick
Besides being discomforted by the cold, babies might also reject the bassinet when unwell. Check for symptoms such as a sniffly nose, coughing, or others. Newborns also commonly experience trouble with gas or tummies, which can stop them from sleeping at night. In such cases, support your newborn in sleeping by alleviating the pain or their respiratory system. Sitting upright in a steamy bathroom will help your baby to reduce congestion.
Reflex
Infants with sleep difficulties often have problems due to their startle reflex, which is also known as the Moro reflex. However, most infants will have outgrown this by six months old. If you’ve tried all sorts of solutions and your infant still sleeps for short periods, the reflex might be why the baby won’t sleep.
Why It Is Important For A Baby To Sleep In A Bassinet
Babies’ safety and development rely heavily on where and how they sleep. Here I’ll discuss some reasons why it is essential to have a bassinet for your baby:
Safer For Your Baby
To ensure safe sleep for babies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that babies sleep in a bassinet because the studies show that sharing a bed with a parent makes babies more likely to suffer from SIDS.
Your Baby Should Develop Healthy Sleep Habits
If an infant falls asleep while being cradled in their parent’s arms, they may begin to rely on being held to remain asleep. When you use a bassinet for your baby’s naps and overnight sleep, they will start to form a connection between their bassinet and sleep. When your baby wakes up at night, it will help them fall back asleep quickly.
Benefits Of Having Your Baby Sleep In A Bassinet
Most parents want their babies to sleep in the same room as them, but not in the same bed. That’s where a bassinet comes in. A bassinet is a small bed designed for newborns and young infants. It is often placed next to the parent’s bed so the baby can sleep nearby.
Sleeping in a bassinet has many advantages for your baby, such as:
- It is easier for parents to reach and pick up their babies in bassinets than in cribs because they are smaller and lower to the ground.
- Furthermore, they can be easily moved from room to room since they are more portable than cribs.
- SIDS can also be reduced with bassinets due to their ability to promote healthy sleeping habits.
Tips To Get Your Baby To Sleep In Bassinet
These tips will help you get a good night’s sleep for your baby.
1. Make A Bedtime Routine
It is practical to create a bedtime routine for your baby to get him to sleep in the bassinet. A bedtime routine might include the following:
- Bath
- Singing lullabies
- Reading a book
- Baby Massage
- Calming essential oils
It is beneficial to maintain the routine even on nights when you are short on time. Although it may take a few extra minutes, ensuring your baby is relaxed and ready for sleep is worth it. You can view our helpful tips to keep your baby asleep.
2. Bassinet Should Be Comfortable
To ensure that your baby sleeps comfortably in a bassinet, you need to ensure the bassinet is comfortable.
The following tips can assist you in creating a bedtime environment that is comfortable for your baby:
- Use a firm bassinet mattress that fits snugly to support your baby’s spine as it develops.
- To stop your baby from getting too hot or sweaty, dress them in light and breathable clothing.
- Suffocation can occur when pillows or stuffed animals are placed inside the bassinet.
- Make sure you have a few soft blankets to swaddle your baby for extra warmth. As a result, your baby will sleep better and make fewer jerky movements.
3. Avoid Overstimulating
They are probably overstimulated if a baby is fussy and hard to settle. Even a tired baby who is overstimulated won’t go to sleep. Sleep patterns may also be disturbed, and they may wake up frequently at night. If your baby is exhibiting these signs, check your daytime sleep habits.
To avoid overstimulating your baby, dim the overhead lights and avoid stimulation from computer screens or television. Turn off the electronics and reduce the lights an hour before your baby’s bedtime.
4. Play Some Soft Music
Many new parents spend countless hours trying to keep their newborns from waking up at night. To monitor their child, some parents even sleep in the same room as them. However, a more straightforward solution can help you get your baby to sleep through the night – playing soft music.
Babies are susceptible to sound and have been shown to respond well to soft, relaxing music. Studies have shown that playing soothing music can help babies sleep better and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep. So, if you’re having trouble getting your baby to sleep through the night, try playing soft music.
5. Swaddle Your Baby
The best way to swaddle your baby is with a large receiving blanket or a swaddle wrap designed explicitly for the purpose. The swaddle should be tight enough to prevent their arms from jerking but not so constricting that you can’t fit two fingers underneath the top. Newborns can fall asleep easier with swaddle blankets because they provide comfort and security that mimics the womb.
Safety Rules For Using Bassinet
Follow these safe sleep guidelines when preparing your baby’s bassinet or crib:
- Bassinets and cribs should have a firm mattress and no loose blankets, toys, or pillows.
- The swaddle wrap should start just below the shoulders, freeing the head.
- Put your baby down to sleep in their crib on their back.
- They should sleep in their bassinet or crib for the entire night. Do not use sleep positioners. Research shows that there is a suffocation risk associated with them.
- You and the baby should not sleep together in the same bed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
Your baby must get enough sleep to grow and develop properly — however, you also need rest! That’s why it is safest and most beneficial for them to sleep in the bassinet. You can help your child become accustomed to sleeping nearby without depending on you for comfort by implementing a bedtime routine, rocking them to sleep, and following safety guidelines.
Hi, my name is Keren Smooth. My friends LaTarsha Holdenton and Renae Reinardy forced me to start Blogging under the company name “K2babycare” to share my knowledge of parenting with other Moms, to become a better Mom tomorrow than today.