How To Take Charge Of The Night Shift

One of the biggest struggles that new parents face is the sleepless nights that they have to deal with once a newborn baby arrives. You might be a night owl, but when it comes to taking care of your baby, you will be tired, sleepy, and cranky, and so will your baby. A fussy, unhappy, and likely hungry infant requires a lot of discipline, dedication, and patience. It takes practice to get your baby to settle down during the nights, and you might get frustrated initially. However, every parent who is used to it will tell you that taking care of your infant during the night is one of the most important bonding experiences a parent can have. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you take charge of the night shift with your newborn:

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In This Article

1. Two Is Always Better Than One

Parenthood is a partnership, and when it comes to night shifts, there is no need for both of you to lose sleep. Figure out what works for you and establish a system where you swap nights. It becomes easier on your health and mood when you divide and conquer and knowing that you have each other through it makes it a little less stressful.

2. Learn The Right Wrap

Swadling is a talent, and when you do it right, your baby slips into a state of dreaming. You don’t get it right in the first go because there is a lot of folding, tucking, and wrapping involved. However, you eventually get used to it and might even be able to do it in the dark. But it takes a lot of practice to perfect it so your baby can have a sound sleep.

3. Practice The Less-Is-More Technique

Your baby will wake up more than once during the night, even if you’ve put them to sleep in a comforting swaddle. When they do wake up, avoid playing with them or talking to them. Do not make it a practice to entertain your baby every time they cry at night. Instead, maintain the night atmosphere and put them back to sleep. Keep the lights dim, voices soft, and sounds low.

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4. Change The Technique

Most of the time, the less-is-more technique does not work. Because your baby is either hungry or just does not want to go back to sleep at night, which is why they woke up in the first place. You cannot rush a hungry baby, so you need to deal with them with the utmost patience if you ever want to go back to sleep. You’ll need a warm swaddle, a fresh feeding bottle, and a comfortable chair to rock your baby to sleep after they feed. Don’t forget to get your baby to burp before putting them down after feeding.

5. Choose The Right Nourishment

Some mothers pump breast milk and store them in bottles, so it’s easier to feed their baby at night. Even if they are asleep, the father can feed the baby with the collected breast milk, which gives the mother some time to rest. However, some mothers choose not to breastfeed their babies and choose formula for their infant’s nutrition. While this choice entirely depends on the parents, ensure that you select the right formula for your baby. Pick the one which provides your baby with the necessary nutrition, and do not skimp on it. Your baby’s nutrition is essential, and while several things may go wrong at night, you can be sure that your baby’s nutrition is not one of them.

6. Prepare The Bottle

Parents get the hang of this pretty quickly. Pumped breast milk is stored in feeding bottles, which can be given to your baby. Make sure it’s the right temperature and not too hot or too cold. If you’re using formula, ensure you’ve mixed it well with the right proportions of water and formula.

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When you’re new parents, the first few months of your life does not involve sleep. But with the right practice and support from your partner, you will get the hang of it and become pros at handling the night shift with your newborn. We hope we helped you make the sleepless nights less dreadful. Share this article with fellow new parents to help them out too!

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