Your baby just doesn’t know what to do with themselves in a bassinet. They probably end up crying or sleeping on their stomach at least once or twice every night.
So, if you’re like me and have been looking for ways to escape the Bassinet Curse, then this blog post is for you! Here are some tips on how to get your little one to sleep through the night in a swing instead of a bassinet.
Table of Contents
How to Get Your Baby To Sleep In A Swing
Put your baby in a swing when they are awake and alert
One way to get your baby to sleep in a swing is to put them in the swing when they are awake and alert. When your baby is awake, you can just sit on the couch and have them swing. They’ll be too busy playing with their toys or watching television for long enough that they’ll fall asleep.
Another way is to put your baby in the swing when they wake up and then lay them down into the bassinet. This method also works well if you want your baby to nap in the swings. Just make sure that you place a thin blanket over their head so they don’t wake up at night.
Let them play in the swing for about 20 minutes before you put them down to sleep
It can be hard to get a baby to sleep in the first place, but if you plan on going back and forth between the bassinet and the swing for hours on end, it’ll just make things worse.
So, start by letting them play in the swing for about 20 minutes before you put them down for their nap or bedtime.
If you’re lucky enough to have a swing with a stationary side, then this is an easy fix! Your baby will feel safe and snuggly as they gaze out at the world from their cozy spot in their swing.
If your swing doesn’t have a stationary side, then try using fabric or blankets to make a cozy cocoon that they’ll want to curl up into when they’re done playing. This way they can still see everything around them without having to cry all night long!
Try putting a little bit of cold water on their feet or hands before putting them in the swing
This may seem a little odd, but it works. The cold water will make them more alert and help them fall asleep faster.
Keep the room dark with no distractions
It’s easy to get distracted with all the lights and sounds a baby is surrounded by at night. So, it’s important to keep things as dark as possible in their room.
A great way to do this is with blackout shades on the window and no overhead light in their room. With these two little changes, you’ll help your baby sleep through the night without much fuss.
Use a pacifier if necessary, but don’t use it all day long!
First, you want to make sure your baby is in the right age bracket. I recommend using a swing for babies 3 months and up. This is because babies generally start rolling over at around that time, which would cause them to hurt themselves if they were in a bassinet.
Once you’ve determined that your baby is old enough for a swing, you’ll need to make sure it’s safe!
The best way I know of doing this is by making sure the swing has side guards. Side guards are important because they mean that while your baby is swinging, their head won’t get too close to the edge of the swing’s frame. In some cases, side guards can even extend all the way down to the ground so that there’s an extra layer of safety.
Next, you’ll want to be sure your baby isn’t getting too much stimulation while they’re swinging. You don’t want your baby hearing too much noise or feeling like they’re not contained in one area while they’re swinging. So try playing some white noise or turning on a relaxing music playlist when your little one swings so that it helps them sleep better at night!
Last but not least: It’s important for you to get into a routine with your
Make sure that there is enough air flow around your baby’s head so that he/she doesn’t get too hot from being too close to the fabric of the seatbelt or anything else nearby
One of the biggest things that can make your baby cry is feeling too hot. You want to make sure that your baby’s head isn’t pressed up against anything, because this will cause them to overheat and be unable to sleep through the night. If your newborn or infant cannot breathe properly, they’ll also have a harder time sleeping at night.
To prevent this from happening, you’ll want to make sure that there is plenty of air flow around your baby’s head. This can be accomplished by putting your baby in an open-air swing so that there is a lot of space between their face and whatever the seatbelt is resting against.
Another way to avoid over-heating is by using a swing vs a bassinet. Bouncers don’t allow for as much air flow as swings do; so avoid using one if you’re having problems with overheating!
Swaddle your baby if they need extra soothing because sometimes babies can feel overwhelmed by all of these changes and it helps calm them down
If your baby is screaming, swaddling them can help soothe them. Swaddling involves wrapping a baby up in blankets or receiving blankets for soothing and stress relief.
If your baby is wide awake and not calming down with any of these techniques, try rocking them in their swing to put them back to sleep. As the swinging motion occurs, it works like a rocking chair so it’s a great way to put your baby back to sleep.
If none of this works, try letting him/her cry himself/herself out – this will be hard for both parents and child, but some children just need time to adjust
If your baby is not only crying, but also falling asleep in the bassinet, then you should probably stop using it and use a swing instead. If you’re still having problems with your baby waking up from sleeping in the swing, it might be because the swing is too bouncy – try putting a towel under their mattress or on top of their mattress
If none of these solutions work, trying placing a small pillowcase over your infant’s head so that they can’t see what is happening around them. This will hopefully prevent them from becoming too excited and wake themselves up again.
Conclusion
Babies often feel overwhelmed by the change of being moved from their mother’s womb to a new environment, and sometimes this can lead to fussiness and a lack of sleep. Swinging can be a great way to calm them down and help them relax.
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