This little babe loves her sleep,
and as long as mommy sticks to her schedule,
then baby is happy!
I would like to share what helps Esmae sleep, but I will say that I believe some babies just love sleep more than others, so these tips may or may not work for you!
Here is her schedule:
9:30/10pm Bedtime
4/4:30am First Feeding
6:30am Second feeding
9:30 Wake and play time
10:15/10:30am-12:30 First nap
12:45/1pm-3:30pm Second nap
5-6:30/7pm Last nap
Ive noticed on rainy days, she combines her first and second nap (10:30-3pm)
Here are a few things we do to help her sleep longer and more comfortable:
1. Comfort! I either put on comfy cotton clothing, or strip her down to her onesie for sleep and nap time.
2. Temperature – I keep the room around 71-72 degrees F to keep her warm and comfortable, if she’s too hot, she will wake and fuss.
3. Swaddling! Until about 1 week ago, I used to swaddle her tightly for all naps and all night, she slept wonderfully. But this past week I’ve been just wrapping the swaddle loosely around her arms to prevent her from waking herself. For the first few days I noticed she would sleep less, but about 4-5 days in she’s back to her regular sleeping cycles. Swaddling helps a baby feel safe and secure, and I swaddled from the start. Sometimes when I would swaddle her, she would fuss for a few minutes, but once she feels secure she immediately calmed down and knew it was time for bed.
4. Sound and Music – When Esmae is drowsy or sleepy I play classical music or white noise (rain or ocean waves) and I keep it on the entire time she is sleeping. Noise helps her sleep longer I’ve noticed.
5. Essential Oils – If you are a mommy with a tiny baby then a diffuser is a must. Most of the time I put lavender or eucalyptus in the water and let it fill the room for naps. Peppermint is amazing if your little one is congested or has a stuffy nose (I run it over night).
6. Skin to skin – A mother’s touch is a powerful thing, and Esmae loves is when I stroke her forehead, and hair when she’s sleepy. Helps put baby fall asleep and stay asleep.
7. Swing – On days when mommy needs to get more done, I place her in a baby swing (with music and diffuser on) and let her lightly swing her entire nap. She take 3-4.5 hour naps when i do this.
These are little tips that help us, so I hope they will help you too. Esmae sleeps a lot because we established this nap schedule from the start. I helped her on days when she had a harder time falling asleep or staying a sleep by singing to her, holding her, and comforting her. Now that her sleep schedule is instilled in her, she sticks to it daily. The only down side is that when we go out for the day, it messes with her naps and they usually become shorter. Those moments usually require more cuddles though, but I don’t mind one bit.
each and every single one of them.Thank you for reading!
Xo,
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
Thank you for the post. You are so right about keeping a routine in place. Babies love routine – makes them happy and your life easier. Could you please explain or leave links for the diffusers you use?
I am a little confused when you say you put lavender or eucalyptus in water.
I love all Esmae’s hats! Please comment on where you keep getting them.
Thank you
Hi Mila, thanks for your comment! I will leave a link for a good diffuser below. I like the ones that have changing colored lights, because it grabs the baby’s attention for a while.
Link: http://bit.ly/2fUTx5D
I add lavender, eucalyptus or peppermint into the water of the diffuser and keep it on pretty much day and night. Ive been getting oils at marshals and home goods lately!
And thank you for the compliment on her hats, will be doing a whole post for where I shop for baby in the newt few weeks!! So keep a lookout for that ! 🙂
Great Post!!
My Louie sleeps through from 7-5.30am but daytime are only 4×45 min naps. First at 7am 10am 1pm and 4pm.
It’s hard starting tasks and not finishing them, I’m not getting a great deal completed during the day, what are your reccomendations? Also how many drops of each please? Thankyou again X
Hi Kyra, it sounds like your baby has a pretty good routine going and I feel you on the “not getting anything done” part. Lately Ive been putting Esmae on the swing, then a mat jungle gym, then on the 4moms mamaroo and so on. She’s pretty good on each activity for about 15-20 min, so I try to keep her entertained while I run around doing things. Also when she cries to be picked up, each day I let her cry a little longer instead of picking her up immediately and Ive noticed she entertains herself on each activity a little longer since Ive been doing this. Also Im not sure how old your baby is, but get a Bumbo seat! It has been life changing for us. I sit her in it when I’m getting ready in the morning, or when I’m cooking and she keeps an eye on me. So far she’s been really quiet in it.
Link for some here: http://bit.ly/2gQhX4A
And as far as drops, I like the go big or go home saying!! I put about 15-20 drops at least!!! I love the scents when I enter the room! And with peppermint I add more (I use peppermint when she is congested). With peppermint I actually remove the drop applicator, and pour like 1/4 of the bottle in. And in the morning everyone wakes up with clear lungs and noses!
I read that you buy your oils at Marshalls or home goods, I recommend looking into dōTERRA! Their oils are wonderful, potent and strong, and you need about 5 drops to last for 4 hours and you can sense it! I’m
In love and they have been a life saver for me and my babe, I received them as a gift! Happy to see that your using them too- but def would recommend looking into this brand, you can learn more here https://www.mydoterra.com/aviheya/ :))
Could you also please tell me when your feeding times are? You’ve mentioned her first and second feed.. do you feed between all her naps? Thanks so much!
Hi Victoria,
Thank you for your post. I have a question about how much she eat before bedtime and naps?
Thank you,
Maria
Hi Maria,
I nurse her so I can’t say how much exactly in ounces, but before bedtime she usually cluster feeds for about 1-2 hours so I know she’s getting a lot in. For naps, she nurses for about 10-15 minutes. I feed her on demand, and some days she eats more than others.
Hi Heba,
Yes I mentioned my nightly feeds.
During the day I have been feeding her right before her naps. So a feed about an 35min-hour after she wakes up, and same with her naps. I feed on demand, so when I notice she’s hungry I just offer it to her. Some days I feel like all Im doing is feeding, but that just means that baby needs to grow a little more that day.
Before I used to feed her right after her naps and after she would wake up from her longest stretch of sleep. Now I only feed her right before her naps because it comforts her and allows her to fall asleep quicker and easier.
I’m not a mom (yet!) but this is super helpful – I have friends who are currently working on sleep-training their babies and can use all the advice they can get so I’ll have to pass this along! Esmae is such a beautiful baby! I love all of her bonnets and cute little outfits : )
Thank you so so much Lauren! I used to read up on baby things before I was a mom too so kudos to you darling! It will only help you in the future!
xo,
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
Do you co-sleep or does Esmae sleep in her own crib? For the naps and during the naps? Also are you exclusively breastfeeding?
Hi Natalie,
Esmae has a bassinet next to me in which she sleeps in at night and for most naps. She also has a crib but I haven’t moved her into it yet. Her first feeding is around 4/4:30am and second feed around 6:30am so sometimes I keep her in bed with me from 6:30am until she wakes up in the morning.
I do exclusevly breastfeed. And hope to do so for as long as I will make enough milk.
Your baby girl is sooo adorable! ❤️Would you mind sharing where you got her lil white bonnet with lace on corners? Would love to buy one for my lilttle girl! 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Victoria!
My baby is 9 days old. He has diaper rash. I am using different ointments and creams but nothing helps. I change diapers around 8-10 times per day. Do you know something that helps? thank you!
I really like Dr Smiths Zinc oxide ointment for when my baby gets diaper rash. Also I use Bag balm ointment for diaper rash prevention.