“ Enjoy your sleep… while you can! ” Ah, that phrase, murmured with a compassionate smile by those who have already been through it, now resonates as a warning in your head… Because it must be said: during the first few weeks, or even the first few months, sleepless nights with a baby are a real ordeal for any new parent. 😵💫
Want to rediscover the memory of that nighttime activity you used to do? You know, the one that involved lying in bed, eyes closed, until the early morning… 😴 To get back to those well-deserved nights of sleep , follow the advice in our little survival guide, essential for all new parents!
3 tips to promote baby's sleep
This is the first rule: for parents to be able to sleep, the baby must sleep well ! First and foremost, make sure you provide your newborn with a conducive sleep environment , allowing them to peacefully drift off to sleep.
- Monitor the room temperature : for a sleep environment conducive to the toddler, ensure that the room temperature is between 18°C and 20°C (or 64°F and 68°F) in their room (or yours, if you practice co-sleeping). Don't forget to air out the room regularly to sanitize it.
- Choose the right clothes for your baby : sleeping bag or cocoon , your toddler's sleepwear should be adapted to the ambient temperature, their sleeping surface, and their own thermoregulation. A valuable tip to know if your toddler is not too hot or too cold? Touch their nape of the neck: it should be warm and dry. If it is damp, it means your baby is sweating and therefore too hot.
- Define the space around the baby : after birth, the baby needs a reassuring environment around them, reminiscent of their mother's womb. Don't place your little one in a bed that's too big and define a space that allows them to maintain contact at head and foot level, in complete safety.
💡 For a safe and secure sleeping environment from the very first nights, discover the Ouatine & Cumulus cocoons! Specially designed for newborns, they keep the baby in a flexed, reassuring and comfortable position, as close as possible to the sensations known before birth. Perfect for co-sleeping, and for long sleeps 💤
Survival tips for sleepless nights, for parents
Of course, promoting baby's sleep is essential to try to enjoy peaceful nights, for both him and you. But it's certain that even the best sleeping conditions can't always prevent restless nights from happening… 😵💫 Let's now discover what you can do, as a new parent, to survive sleepless nights with baby!
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Taking restorative naps, the essential survival tip.
Everyone will tell you: sleep when your baby sleeps , you need it! Taking advantage of your little one's naps to catch up on lost sleep isn't just a treat for yourself – it's essential for your well-being .
No need to feel guilty, quite the contrary! By regaining your lost energy at the right time, you will accumulate more to take care of the various daily tasks. Laundry, dishes, tidying up? They can wait. 😌
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Alternating nights between parents, or the power of teamwork.
In the early evening, your baby often needs to release the tension accumulated throughout the day from the many stimuli in their new world. They express this with the well-known "release cries" : outbursts that can sometimes last several hours and are particularly difficult for new parents to understand.
Instead of taking turns after an hour or two, alternate nights with your partner . On Monday, you'll take care of soothing baby's crying, putting him to bed, and getting up at night to feed him; on Tuesday, your partner will take over until the next day. This way, you both avoid exhaustion, and you can recharge your energy every other day .
Are you breastfeeding? During your recovery day, try to only manage the feedings, and let your partner take care of the baby's care, including burping and changing diapers. This will allow you to gain and accumulate precious minutes of sleep.
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Accepting outstretched hands, or knowing how to say "yes"
With fatigue, it's difficult to have the courage (or the desire) to prepare and eat good meals: we'll tend to want to snack, order pizzas, and just sit down and relax... But poor nutrition means poor quality sleep. And there you see the vicious cycle setting in ... 😵
To survive repeated sleepless nights, it's essential to try to maintain as balanced a diet as possible. And to do this, you have powerful allies: your loved ones! Don't hesitate to accept the help offered to you, or even to task your family and friends with preparing balanced meals for you. They will be delighted to help you – and to let you taste their specialties. 😋
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Take care of yourself, above all!
Finally, last but not least: take care of yourself! Easier said than done, but necessary. And taking care of yourself can mean many things: going for a ten-minute walk, reading a few pages of a book, savoring a cup of tea, calling a loved one… Or simply doing absolutely nothing! 🧘
The important thing is to cultivate self-compassion . It can't be said often enough: parenting is really not an easy task. You're doing your best, and that's what matters. Take good care of your mental health: it's the best way to take care of your little one. ✨
We hope this little survival guide has helped you find valuable tips to get through these sleepless nights with more strength and courage! Remember: they will eventually pass . Sleepless nights will give way to peaceful mornings, and you will finally have all the time in the world to watch your baby grow and develop, day after day. 🥰
