A bassinet is a small oval-shaped bed specifically crafted for babies between the age of one day old to four months. Bassinets are often confused for cribs, but they are not the same, the telling difference is that cribs are larger and consume more space than bassinets.
Bassinets are made especially for small houses, which explains their portability. In general, babies are a joy to have around, especially newborns, because they are cute, pretty, tender, harmless, and peaceful.
But if not properly cared for, they could turn to be a burden depriving the parent of their own time, comfort, and sleep. Newborn babies are very sensitive to the environment. Hence, they are likely to feel threatened by the activities around them easily, and they tend only to feel secure in their parent’s arms.
In turn, this can be very disturbing for the parent at times, and the understanding that newborn babies find the environment to be very strange compared to their mother’s womb is key to knowing how to get a newborn to sleep in a bassinet.
This article highlights guidelines on how to get a newborn to sleep in a bassinet and the safety rules on how to use a bassinet.
How To Get a Newborn to Sleep in Bassinet
Before highlighting the guidelines, it is important to understand the safety rules for using a bassinet. There are two basic rules, and they are:
- Avoid crowding the bassinet: It is important to remember that bassinets are small and are designed to accommodate the baby and make them feel more comfortable. So any other foreign material asides from the bed and blanket could risk suffocating the baby.
- Avoid using sleep positioners or sleep wedges: These materials were introduced to aid babies who experience difficulties sleeping. Hence, do not use these materials in a bassinet unless recommended by a pediatrician to avoid suffocating the baby.
The rules as mentioned above should be observed for the safety and comfort of the little ones while using a bassinet. Bassinets are very easy to use, and here are guides to help you get your baby to sleep in a bassinet:
1. Develop a solid bedtime routine
Developing and implementing a steady bedtime routine is key to getting a newborn baby to sleep comfortably.
While working out your bedtime routine, be sure to add these baby-friendly activities:
- Bath time
- Light Massage
- Play quietly with the baby
- Reading or singing lullabies to them
- Swaddling them
- Cuddling them
2. Gently laying the baby down
Your baby is very likely to become drowsy after a well-executed bedtime routine.
The next step is to lay the baby down while it is still awake.
Also, try to avoid letting the baby sleep before laying them down as it can make them develop bad sleeping habits.
The aim of constantly practicing these guides is to make the newborn baby as comfortable as possible, reducing startle reflexes and lessening anxiety.
Bottom Line
Getting a baby to sleep takes a lot of work and practice. And it is important to note that making the present environment conducive and similar to the womb which the newborn baby left is very important. This can be made possible by ensuring that the baby feels safe and secure at all times.
Introducing safe and comfortable bassinets can go a long way in helping your babies sleep well. Keeping them comfortable in it can also help get them acquainted with the environment.
