Some children experience a rather scary phenomenon at night. They start screaming and crying loudly. They are hysterical. And they can't wake up. This is because they have nightmares.
In such situations, parents fall into a stupor. They don't know how to act. How to calm a child. And how to make him go to bed peacefully.
We will talk about the reasons why a child cries and screams at night. We will also tell you how to calm your baby.
Changing mode
Up to 14 months, babies tend to sleep twice a day. Most often, these are equal periods of time, which are divided into a short morning nap and a longer nap in the afternoon.
By 12 months, the duration of night sleep increases, and periods of wakefulness during the day average 5 hours. The daily routine during a given period of time can change significantly, since some children at this age tend to switch to one nap during the day.
To make life easier for yourself and your child, you need to carefully adjust the child’s routine yourself. It depends on how long the baby sleeps at night.
Songs for the night
A lullaby for quickly putting a child to sleep belongs to the category of a special genre of folklore. It can be noted that today the children's song about the little gray top has not yet been forgotten. The lullaby is so well thought out that it serves its primary function perfectly. It is much easier for a child to fall asleep to such motives. This is mainly due to the fact that such songs are based on certain features of rhythm and manner of performance.
As you know, a lullaby is aimed specifically at a child’s sleep. It’s unlikely that any mother hums it while preparing dinner or cleaning up the house. And the time before bedtime is accompanied by singing. The baby gradually realizes and begins to understand such a ritual, and knows perfectly well that this is followed by sleep.
In addition to all of the above, a lullaby for quickly falling asleep gives the baby the attention, love and care of the parents. Songs of this type create a special bond between mommy and baby. Dads are also encouraged to take a direct part in this evening ritual. In addition, the baby feels that he does not go to bed alone. It is believed that many children cannot fall asleep quickly due to worries associated with separation from their parents. And some babies feel such moments very keenly, so they cling to their mother and don’t want to let her go. And the usual evening ritual can calm the child and set him up for a restful sleep.
Despite the fact that the main purpose of a lullaby is to put the baby to sleep, it is necessary to follow other rules aimed at the baby’s comfortable sleep.
Soothing massage
How to put a child to sleep at 1 year old? To ensure that your child’s sleep after water procedures is sweet and calm, you can use massage. Lubricate your hands with baby cream or massage oil. Then start stroking the baby. First, gently move your fingers in the area of the eyebrows, cheeks and chin. Then move on to the chest, tummy, arms and legs. The tummy area should be stroked clockwise. Finish with a light back massage. During the massage, say how much you love the baby, do not forget to mention his beautiful arms, legs, etc.
Co-sleeping
Many parents continue to cradle the baby in their arms. And then they wonder how to wean a child? Rocking a baby to sleep at this age is no longer very convenient, since he has already grown up and weighs more.
If your baby can't resist mom's close presence before bedtime, you might want to consider co-sleeping.
Before deciding to take this step, you need to consult with your dad. A baby at the age of 1 year can still wake up at night to eat. And if mom sleeps together, it will be easier to feed him without getting out of bed. But if you have already finished breastfeeding, it is worth looking for other options.
After a year, it is advisable for a baby to get used to sleeping exclusively in his own crib. But despite this, it is important to understand that first of all everything depends on the decision of the parents themselves.
Soothing herbs for bathing children before bed: list, bath recipes
Recipes:
- Mix motherwort and knotweed . The number of tablespoons of herbs for brewing should be measured depending on the size of the bath. Brew separately and then add to the bath. The bath should be hotter than usual, from 37 to 40 degrees. This bath calms the child before bed.
- A decoction of bedstraw (in the amount of 5 tbsp) will help eliminate the child’s irritability and relieve his fatigue. Brew the herb in advance and let it brew, but no more than 10 minutes. Then pour the broth into the bath in which you will bathe the child.
- Brew equal amounts of calendula, mint and oregano flowers. The infusion should be concentrated and left for 10 minutes, then it is poured into the bath. This bath will help improve your sleep.
Baths for good sleep and relieving irritability
How much should a one-year-old child sleep?
This question interests many mothers. Therefore, we will analyze it first. Newborns can sleep up to 17 hours a day. When a child turns one year old, this figure drops to 14 hours and remains on average until the age of two years. Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t fit into these standards; every child is different.
Babies typically have two naps during the day by 12 months. One of them occurs before lunch, and the second is an afternoon rest.
When things didn't go according to plan
Sometimes it happens that it is impossible to put a child to sleep at 1 year old. Children tend to perceive time as something abstract. But if kids get used to a certain routine, they know exactly what awaits them next and can prepare for it. Phrases such as “Brush your teeth, wash your face, have breakfast, go for a walk, read fairy tales...” are learned quite easily by kids. When actions of the same nature are repeated daily, the child gets used to stability and a certain daily routine.
The standard program for children before bedtime consists of an evening bath, putting on pajamas, and reading a bedtime story. At 1 year old, in addition to children's stories, you can use modern calm and relaxing melodies to lull your baby to sleep. Soon the baby will get used to it and will easily fall asleep to familiar tunes.
