Getting enough rest is important for your partner during pregnancy. After having a child she will be exhausted and so will you. When the baby is asleep you’ll finally have that quiet house again that you were used to. Here are some tips to get rest for your partner, your baby and yourself!
- Don’t be too proud or embarrassed to sing softly and even talk to your baby. The sound of your voice is very reassuring to your baby and it is part of the bonding process. Your baby will quickly learn to associate your voice with safety and security.
- Gentle bouncing works sometimes. But be careful not to bounce your baby too much or you may upset your baby’s tummy.
- Pacifiers work too. Some babies find comfort in a pacifier. Others refuse to accept it especially if your wife is breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding mothers need help. Fathers can’t sit back and relax! If your wife is breastfeeding she will love you more for taking the time to get up and bring your baby to her. It seems like a small thing now, but at 3 a.m. in the morning it’s a beautiful gesture.
- Take shifts with your wife. Agree before you go to bed at night which of you will get up with the baby first. It might help to simply pick even and odd hours. For example, if the baby wakes up during the 11pm, 1am, 3am, 5am hours then you get up. If it’s during the 12am, 2am, 4am, 6am hours then your wife will wake up with the baby. It helps to have a plan before you go to sleep at night. This will prevent the anger and frustration of the moment when neither one of you wants to get up.
- Learn the different ways your baby likes to be held. Some like to be held chest to chest. Others like to be cradled. And still others like to be seated facing away from you. Find the position that your baby feels most comfortable in try soothing them in that position.
- Rocking, either in a chair or in the bassinet, can also be helpful means of helping ease your baby back to sleep.
- Pacing the floor can be very soothing to some babies. In fact some babies will transition from a “deathly scream” to silence if you put him or her chest to chest with the head on your shoulder and simply start pacing the room. While pacing the room you’ll discover dents and spots that you had never noticed before.
- Placing a warm heating pad in your babies cradle before bed time can ease the transition when laying baby down for the first time at night. NOTE: The heating pad should never be left in the cradle with your baby.
- A warm bath in a baby tub can also be a great way to soothe your baby before bedtime. It’s important that you have a towel to wrap your baby in right away after the bath. This will eliminate him or her from getting cold.
