A kiss, a cuddle, and it's bedtime. Every parent dreams of simply placing their baby in their crib and watching them fall asleep instantly. Unfortunately, this ideal bedtime routine can sometimes prove more complicated than hoped. So how can you ensure peaceful sleep for your baby, and what tricks can you use to achieve it? At Ouatine & Cumulus, your baby's sleep is our priority, so they can sleep well and grow better!
It cannot be stressed enough: sleep plays an essential role in the development of babies . It is while they sleep that they process all the information they receive and continue their physical and brain development. Creating a peaceful and calm sleep environment therefore makes perfect sense, in order to offer our little ones well-deserved moments of rest.
A suitable sleep environment 🛌
While some adults can fall asleep anytime, anywhere, babies need to feel safe to drift off to sleep. The environment in which your child is when falling asleep plays a significant role in the quality of their sleep. Therefore, creating a calm and soothing atmosphere , with soft, dimmed lighting to help develop their circadian rhythm, in a well-ventilated room between naps, and maintaining a temperature between 18 and 20°C will help your baby fall asleep more easily.
Every baby is unique; it's important to adapt their sound environment to their individual needs. Some children can fall asleep in a gentle sound environment – hearing the sounds of daily life, conversations, or the television in another room… – while other, more sensitive babies may need calm and quiet to soothe themselves without being overstimulated.
“ While in its mother's womb, the baby is in an environment where it hears sounds in a muffled way. It doesn't know silence. Suddenly finding itself in a world where noises are amplified is a first change; getting used to silence is another. In the first few weeks after birth, the baby will feel much more reassured hearing noises around it than in total silence. Using white noise can be helpful to soothe and put it to sleep, as it will remind it of the bodily sounds that reassured it in utero. ”
Stéphanie Chaidron, founder of Ouatine & Cumulus, pediatric nurse and mom
Good sleep starts with a good routine 🛁
Babies don't like surprises; they like predictability and repetition . Establishing a sleep routine means supporting their development by letting them know it's time to go to sleep. There's no perfect sleep routine ; it will depend on your baby and their needs, but also on you and your habits.
Children like to know what to expect, which is why having a repetitive activity each day will help them understand the structure of their day. It is important that this activity provides them with relaxation : a bath, a lullaby, a hug, a story, a massage or a final breastfeeding, for example, are activities that will help them regulate their biological hormones, by decreasing the secretion of cortisol, the stress hormone, for example, to then have a better quality sleep.
While you can establish your preferred sleep routine, there are still a few things to avoid. You should keep your baby away from overstimulation. In the hour leading up to your baby's bedtime, prioritize calm and relaxing activities, keeping them away from screens and loud noises as much as possible. Screens emit blue light, which is very bad for the brain: it affects the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
Take action as soon as signs of fatigue appear 😴
Is your baby yawning? Rubbing their eyes or face? Looking paler, irritable, or conversely, listless? These are the first signs of fatigue ; it means it's time to start your bedtime routine. From this point on, it's important to respect your child's needs , otherwise you'll end up with an overtired baby, making it difficult for them to fall asleep and affecting the quality of their sleep.
If, initially, you miss some of the signs, don't worry, you will very quickly learn to spot them all to put your baby to bed on time . As parents, you will need to be flexible, as babies develop rapidly and their needs change. They may, at times, require more comfort and affection, such as when starting daycare, during minor illnesses, or during major developmental periods, for example.
Sleeping in a cocoon, creating a safe sleep environment! 👶
To create the perfect sleep environment for your baby to fall asleep in, they need to feel comfortable, securely nestled, and safe . It is to meet these needs that the Ouatine & Cumulus cocoon was created, offering an ideal position for security and optimal development. It is soft, providing a quality back-sleeping position that secures the child; it is soft, comfortable, and safe, no matter where it is placed. From the first few weeks with Size 1 and up to 6 months with Size 2, Ouatine & Cumulus cocoons offer a perfect sleep solution for babies.
Discover the size 1 cocoons (first few weeks)
Discover the size 2 swaddles (up to 6 months)
Bedtime is a precious moment to share with your child. We have very busy lives and children grow up quickly. Taking the time to relax for a few minutes at the end of the day proves to be as beneficial for them as it is for us.
