Every time I put my newborn in her bassinet to sleep, she screams until I pick her up. I’m afraid she’ll never let me put her down or learn to sleep on her own. What can I do to help her get used to it?
There are several tactics we can do to safely optimize sleep in the newborn phase.
- A proper swaddle and white noise machine can work wonders.
- The room should be dark and cool. A temperature of 68-72 F is ideal, and a fan circulating around the room will also help to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
- If your baby is fussing in the bassinet, patiently putting a palm on her belly and gently rubbing or tapping her while sushing can help her fall asleep without picking her up.
- If your pediatrician gives you the green light to use a pacifier, try it! Pacifiers can be an incredibly useful tool to soothe a baby, improve oxygenation, and reduce the risk of SIDS.
