A guide to soothing your baby at night
A study by MAM has revealed half of millennial parents can’t recite many popular nursery rhymes all the way through.
It isn’t just Humpty Dumpty that stumped half of those surveyed.. The poll of 2,000 parents aged between 26 and 41 showed only half can recite all the lyrics to Baa Baa Black Sheep (53 per cent), only 51 per cent can confidently sing all of Row, Row, Row Your Boat and
Jack & Jill is known by just 43 per cent. And three in five of these parents can’t soothe their babies to sleep with a complete rendition of Rock a Bye Baby.
In fact, a tenth of millennial mums and dads do not sing lullabies at all to their little ones – because they have a ‘terrible’ singing voice or feel awkward.
Although one parent did admit to rapping Kanye West songs – while another has channelled their inner Mick Jagger to perform The Rolling Stones classics at bedtime.
Yet despite this, 83 per cent agree the bedtime routine is a key bonding experienced for parent and baby.
For all the struggling mums and dads out there, help is available from baby product manufacturer MAM who has put together a guide to soothing your baby at night – without having to break out a tune.
Lisa Parkhill, managing director of MAM, said: “Getting a little one off to sleep is a special, soothing time spent between babies and parents – even if some of the methods might be considered unconventional.
“It’s fascinating to learn just how many rely on the power of their voice to support their baby during these moments – yet many recognise they won’t be releasing a hit single anytime soon.
“But as parents develop these unbreakable bonds with their children, they learn just how important bedtime is to soothe their little one– and even a brilliant chance to unwind themselves.”
MAM’s top tips for getting your baby to sleep:
Avoid Stimulation Before Baby Sleep Times
Before your baby naps or goes to sleep, try to create a calm and soothing atmosphere. Amusing your baby or taking your baby out of the house just before they are due a nap or before bedtime could overstimulate them. You may want to try creating a calm, dark and noise-free atmosphere to help your baby wind down.
Take Note Of The Environment
Consider any strong smells, the temperature of the room and what your baby is wearing. If your baby is too hot or too cold, she could be uncomfortable, which may be affecting her sleep. If your baby has sensitive skin, pyjamas could be irritating them, which again, could be affecting their sleep. Be sure to have a room thermometer so you can check the temperature of the room your baby sleeps in. It should be somewhere between 16-20°C
Create a nap/bed time routine
Creating a routine helps prepare the baby for sleep, they know what is coming and it can also be a great cue for day time naps.
Use a soother
One of the most natural and soothing things for baby to do is suck. It's a powerful instinct that they are born with. Yet despite this interesting 'little-known-fact', many parents feel cautious about using a soother. Even if your little one isn’t crying, sucking a soother may help them fall asleep and stay asleep longer, which means more sleep for you, too. Soothers might even help protect your baby from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and suffocation during sleep.[1]
The #Soothement Movement
MAM have launched its #Soothement Movement to debunk myths about soothers and highlight how they can enhance the bedtime experience – or any other time in the day when baby needs a touch of soothement.
Research showed eight in 10 parents use soothers at bedtime – and of these, 87 per cent believe the soother helped their child to improve their own ability to self soothe and sleep better. 84 per cent of these parents also noted feeling a lot calmer within themselves if their child was soothed at bedtime.
Lisa Parkhill from MAM added: “Some babies will cry every time someone tries to settle them at bedtime – and this is despite having all their needs met, from being fed to winded.
“If this happens, parents can get locked into a cycle of spending hours carrying their baby in a sling during the day and rocking them to sleep at night.
“For these parents and babies, a soother can be the perfect solution. Many babies find them a comfort, it relaxes them, and subsequently, helps for a better night sleep for little ones – and adult too.”