Bedtime Do's and Don'ts For a Colicky Baby
Sleep is the most important thing to think about when you have a colicky baby. This can also be the most difficult thing to accomplish, and the whole family suffers for the baby in the house won’t sleep. Babies are often reluctant to separate from Mom and Dad at the end of the day, and if the colic is due to ear infections, or reflux problems it can be even harder. At night babies are often riled up, and they want to continue the fun that they were having during the day. They may also have some fears about being alone in the dark or away from loved ones. Of course, because of this, sleep-deprived parents may be longing for a chance for some real sleep themselves, or even just some time with each other that is baby free. Bedtime is hard for parents also so it is important to follow a few do’s and don’ts regarding your baby and sleeping at night.
Here's what you can do to develop bedtime rituals that actually allow your baby and you to sleep:
DO: Consider following a schedule.
Not every bedtime routine will work forever, but once something becomes established in your child's mind, she'll come to expect it. It is for this reason that you should really think before you add one. Do you really want to sing the soundtrack to “Aladdin” every night for the next 3 years? This is why you have to think first as you may regret them.
Here are a couple rituals that parents can live with too:
A warm bath, then cuddling with the baby in clean and warm pj’s
Reading a book or listening to soothing music.
Sing a song.
Being tucked in with something special like a stuffed animal, or blanket.
A gentle back rub.
DO: Be consistent With Everything.
This is when the routine has to be the same every day so that your baby’s own time clock will have the chance to kick in and help you out. Babies need to have a schedule that will allow them to know what is coming up next. Springing bedtime on them suddenly will only make them more reluctant to actually sleep, but will upset a colicky baby even more. Make sure the ritual takes place in the baby’s room or sleeping areas. Sleeping with your colicky baby will make it harder for him to make a lone sleeping transition later.
DO: Keep activities relaxing.
Don't over stimulate your baby right before bed. For a baby, clear out the mounds of toys from the crib and offer her just one favorite thing to settle down with. Removing toys every night at bedtime will help the baby to realize it’s time for sleep.
DON'T: Don’t go Ritual Crazy.
With a small baby, the needs are small at bedtime in that you need only spend a few minutes soothing baby to sleep time. More than 30 minutes is almost always too long.
DON'T: Leave the lights on.
It's important for a baby to learn the difference of day from night — and that nighttime is for sleeping. This way if she does wake up and it's dark in the room, she'll know that it's not time to get up yet. Leaving a bright light on is confusing for the baby and could result in a flip flop for baby’s hours.
DON'T: Put your baby to bed with a bottle.
First, it's true that sucking helps soothe a baby to sleep, but swallowing milk or juice at nighttime will cause tooth decay and gum problems. Second, drinking while lying down can lead to fluid buildup in the ears which as we know will make the colic worse. Lastly, if your child is used to falling asleep with a bottle in her mouth, she'll have trouble settling down when she wakes up during the night and doesn’t have one available. Use a pacifier instead.
DO: Be flexible.
If your child is sick or going through a stressful time like colic, it's perfectly okay to bend the bedtime rules a little bit to ease the baby. That doesn’t mean that you should go nuts in changing the routine entirely. For instance, you might want to read one extra story.
DON'T: Rush solid foods to help your baby sleep.
Some parents are convinced that babies wake up so often because they're hungry again. But breast milk or formula is the best food for a baby's first six months. Solids don't really help your baby to sleep at night, so don't introduce them before your baby is six months old unless your pediatrician tells you to.
DO: Give bedtime too much attention.
Bedtime should be a special time for you and your baby, but not the major time. Don't ignore it all together either you need a balance. Focus on her alone as you, bathe, or read to her each night, and you'll both be the happier for it.
DON'T: Take away a bedtime.
Keep your bedtime routine no matter how frustrated or annoyed with your colicky baby.