​Natural Sleep Remedies for Babies using New Technology

​Natural Sleep Remedies for Babies using New Technology

Posted by Rosanna Paul on 10th May 2019

As we all know, babies do not come with an instruction manual!!! However, if there was a one size fits all guide, the ‘ how to get my baby to sleep’ chapter would surely be the most read, dog eared, highlighted section with post it notes sticking out the side.

Sleep is so important! Science tells us this. However, knowing the importance of sleep while finding it incredibly difficult to help your baby sleep (and being sleep deprived yourself), is the exact opposite of helpful.

So what can you do to help your baby sleep (and possibly grab a few more zzz’s for yourself)? First of all, stop beating yourself up - every baby is different and can't be changed. Some babies fall asleep at the drop of a hat, and sleep all night long from very early on, while other babies seem to be able to charge on through with very little sleep through the day, and like to check regularly through the night that you're still there (and fill up their little tummies with a bit more delicious milk!). 

The very best thing you can do as a parent is be gentle with yourself (don't expect too much of yourself when you're not getting enough sleep), and be gentle with your baby and realise that it is normal for babies to wake up at night and have trouble falling asleep (even if your friends baby falls asleep easily!).

We can also help to gently encourage babies to establish sleep routines to help them nap better during the day, and sleep longer through the night. Sometimes it is also a matter of waiting for a stage to pass (hello teething!), or realising that bubs is going through a developmental leap that means she is waking up all night because her little brain is processing so many new things. 

Establishing Baby Sleep Routines

Babies are not born with an internal clock.  This means that they do not understand the difference between night and day and this is why they don't sleep accordingly. There are many ways to help your baby establish a night/day rhythm, including adjusting the light, sound and even smell to cue your baby to sleep. It is helpful to watch your baby carefully for tired signs and then help them fall asleep before they switch over to overtired. 

A good way to work out what routine would work best for your baby is to keep a daily diary and note when he is waking, eating, engaging and playing with you, and when he seems to be getting tired - rubbing ears, looking away from you, and yawning are some of the signs. Try to keep approximately the same sleep times from day to day (although there will always be changes as baby grows and starts to drop nap times). If you can establish nap times (within half an hour) each day it helps set a rhythm that baby's body clock will fall into, making it easier to fall asleep every day. 

Be open to change though, and don't get too discouraged if it doesn't work immediately. Remember that this stage will pass! Sometimes you just need to wait for baby to be ready too (not teething, no developmental leaps or growth spurts, or illnesses).

Using Red Light to Increase Sleep

Daylight is the queue for us to all be more awake. Both blue and white light found in the early morning and during the day suppress the production of melatonin which is the hormone that makes us sleepy. Taking your baby for walks and exposing them to daytime light as well as including them in daytime activities will help their bodies get used to the difference between day and night.

When night time comes, minimising bright light, particularly blue light from screens and other such sources is very beneficial. In addition, research shows that there is one light that can really help with sleep.  Red light increases the production of melatonin in the body and helps us fall asleep and stay asleep for longer - babies included!

Our favourite diffusers are helpful to use for red light. The  Aroma-Snooze and Aroma-Dream Ultrasonic Diffusers offer a soft glow that also functions as a night light to will help you navigate baby feed times without having to turn on a bright or white light at night time. They have the melatonin producing red glow that can help your baby sleep.

Using Noise As A Sleep Cue For Baby

We also mentioned using Noise to help cue baby for sleep. You may have heard of White Noise (humming noises that block out other sounds) to help baby sleep, but new technology favours  Pink Noise to help with sleep. Pink Noise is a variant of White Noise but it has less higher pitch and intensity and is more deep, rich and monotonous - like ocean waves, rainfall or rustling leaves.  

Often it's not the actual noise that wakes us up, rather the sudden and contrasting nature of the noise.  Pink noise is a foil for day time sounds and is also effective at night when it can seem too quiet.  It also slows down and regulates brain waves allowing for a deeper, longer sleep.

Pink noise and other sound options are also a feature of the Aroma-Snooze diffuser.  Volume can be adjusted for day or night use. 

Aroma Snooze Diffuser & Sleep Aid + 15ml Snooze Oil

Cuing for Sleep with Relaxing Smells using Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Before we start, please note that babies under 3 months should not be exposed to essential oils. At this age it is best to limit all fragrances around baby, and just help them to get to know your smell (try to use fragrance free products). 

As your baby gets older though you can start with a drop of the Essential Oil and work up to the amount recommended.  Essential Oils are a great addition to your household sleep routine through the use of a diffuser, massage or bathtime. Here is what to look for and how to use  essential oils to promote calm and help your baby to sleep.  

  • Essential Oils.  We love blends that  complimentary essential oils put together for a particular purpose such as calm or sleep.  Always ensure that you use high quality essential oils.  Certified organic is best!
  • Diffusers. The Aroma-Snooze and Aroma-Dream diffusers have really moved on from those of the past.  These electric diffusers use no heat which means that they are safe and that the integrity of the oils are maintained.  Oils can change when heated so we recommend an Ultrasonic cool mist diffuser such as these.  These models also have the advantage of being Air purifiers and Humidifiers.
  • MassageEssential Oils can also be used for massage.  As these are very concentrated you will need to start with a drop added to 2 tablespoons of carrier oil such as fractionated coconut.  As your baby gets older work up to 2-3 drops.
  • BathtimeEssential Oils can also be added to the bath, however, they also need to be diluted first.

Essential Oils such as Child Calming Remedy contain Lavendar and Sweet Orange which can help to calm babies but also mums who sometimes need a little bit of help too.  When mums are calm it has a positive effect on the whole family. Shop all of our Natural Sleep Remedies for Babies

Finally, remember that you are not alone!!! Babies are hard wired to keep mum close by and to feed through the night. For every person who tells you that their baby is sleeping through the night, rest assured that somewhere there is a sleep deprived mum who just didn't make it out of the house this week because she's getting less sleep than you! 

You can connect with our community of Milk and Love Mums over in our Facebook group here:  Milk and Love Mums

About the author

Rosanna Paul, Author

Rosanna is a mum of 4 who has always loved fashion, lives for school holidays, and finds it impossible to put down (or not binge watch) a good story. She loves to help customers create a functional wardrobe that makes it easy and enjoyable to get ready in the morning, while have something to wear for every occasion, and most importantly, feel lovely and stylish. Read more about  Rosanna here.

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