Make a sleep log for your baby: This is how you can sleep through the night There are now countless apps on the market that analyze our sleep length and record the effects on our health. While many of the users of these apps are already convinced of their benefits, what about new parents and their babies?
There are sleep logs for babies, too, and they have a few benefits. On the Internet, you can find a number of helpful sleep log apps for babies that you can use to track your child's sleep data. So what benefits do these logs bring and where can I find a sleep log template for my baby?
What are the benefits of a sleep log for my baby?
For one, a baby sleep log app can measure your baby's real sleep needs. You can also use the data to link mealtimes and crying. Why is this important? With this data, you can determine when and why your baby cries in their sleep and under what circumstances they wake up.
Sleep is different for every baby and depends on the individual baby's level of brain maturity. Each baby’s brain develops at a different rate, which is why it makes sense to record sleep data so that any sleep problems can be recorded and resolved.
How long does my baby really sleep?
Newborns can’t tell the difference between night and day in their first few weeks of life and therefore don't eat and sleep at a regular rhythm. During this initial period, they generally eat and sleep at completely different times and only gradually learn to distinguish day from night.
For the first few weeks after birth, babies sleep almost the whole day. Newborns sleep an average of eighteen hours a day, usually in four hour intervals. During the first four to six months, most babies learn to distinguish night from day. Up to 80% of all babies can sleep six to eight hours by the time they’re a year old.
A baby sleep log records actual sleep needs, which are individualized for your child. Some children tend to have shorter sleep periods and other babies are still tired even after seventeen hours of sleep. These habits sometimes don’t change even as the babies grow into children. Long sleepers often remain long sleepers and the sleep log can help you better plan your baby's sleep in the future.
In addition, you can find out what too much or too little sleep means for your individual child. For example, you can use it to gradually reduce nap time if you find that your child often has a hard time falling asleep in the evening.
Recognize connections and patterns
Babies can suffer from allergies and food intolerances and that cause them to wake up at night. In addition, babies often swallow air instead of inhaling it, and then have their sleep disturbed by gas. You can usually recognize this by the fact that babies toss and turn or even start crying while they’re asleep.
With your baby sleep journal, you can identify these issues more quickly and adjust your baby’s meals accordingly. You’ll be able to recognize certain patterns in the journal and be able to address them more effectively.
Analyze problems with your baby’s sleep-wake rhythm
Babies perceive their environment differently than we do. For example, newborn babies are not yet able to filter information and ignore certain stimuli. This can lead to stimulus overload, which can lead to trouble sleeping, as the brain has to process all the information it takes in while your baby is asleep.
The sleep log will quickly show you if your baby feels overwhelmed and how many daily outings and activities are really appropriate. This will allow you to adapt your daily schedule to your child's sleep habits better.
This benefits not only you, but also your baby. Babies who have a regular daily routine should get used to the difference between day and night more quickly and develop a regular rhythm faster.
How much intimacy and closeness does my baby need?
Many parents find that as their baby's brain matures, he or she does not sleep through the night as well as he or she might have just a few months earlier. This is due to the fact that babies start to perceive themselves as independent individuals and no longer as part of their parents.
Experts call this separation anxiety, which babies usually develop in the seventh month. At this age, babies learn that they exist independently and that their parents leave the room after they fall asleep. Many babies worry that Mom or Dad won’t come back and start crying.
During this time, it's a good idea to put a stuffed animal or snuggle toy in your baby's bed so that they don't feel so alone. If your baby feels overly anxious in your absence, you can identify these changes in sleep behavior early on with the sleep log and consult your pediatrician if necessary.
How do I fill out a baby sleep log?
If you decide to create a sleep log for your baby, it's recommended that you write down the time as soon as your baby wakes up crying at night. This is due to the fact that few parents can’t remember the time after they’ve gone back to sleep or wake up again the next morning. Furthermore, it's best to put a pen next to your bed so that it's always at hand.
When it comes to your baby’s sleep patterns, you should remember that this isn’t a competition: focus on your baby’s actual sleep phases and don’t change them retrospectively to impress family or the pediatrician.
In addition, you can also take note of breastfeeding and feeding times to see if there’s a link between your baby’s feeding and crying phases. This will also help you maintain a more consistent daily routine for your baby.
How long should I log my baby's sleep time?
To get an accurate picture of what times your baby wakes up, you should record sleep patterns for at least 2 weeks, or better yet, a full month. Sleep periods can be interrupted by other factors such as growth, illness, and teething, so a month is best.
How can I improve my baby's sleep?
To help your baby sleep through the night, create a routine. Babies can get used to the change between day and night more quickly if the routine is always the same. You can even introduce certain sleep rituals, such as a massage in the evening or a relaxing bath before bedtime.
Furthermore, the sleeping environment also plays an important role. Babies should not be dressed too thickly or warmly at night, as they might feel too hot and start sweating. This is especially important for babies, as they can’t regulate their body temperatures and can overheat quite easily.
Baby products at Zizzz
For a comfortable sleeping environment, we recommend baby sleeping bags made solely from natural materials. These can absorb moisture very well and help regulate your baby’s body temperature. We offer sleeping bags in four different sizes and have special summer sleeping bags made from organic cotton.
Our four seasons sleeping bags are filled with Swisswool, which is pure virgin sheep’s wool that has been reinforced with plant fibers so you can machine wash them. Swisswool is breathable and temperature-regulating, so you’ll immediately notice that your baby isn’t covered in sweat when you remove the sleeping bag. To protect your baby’s delicate skin, we cover our sleeping bags with the softest GOTS-certified organic cotton.