The Resettling tips you need to know when it comes to your little ones!
You just got your Babe down; you’ve checked off some quick chores on your list and about to sit down with a coffee…
AND THEN they wake up…
What the heck?!?
You were anticipating they slept longer than that!!!
To resettle or to not resettle, that is the question…
Firstly, pause and take a moment to assess a few things…
The cry… are they even awake? Often in active sleep, our babies will actually make noises that have us come running. Pausing is great because it gives us a chance to fully gauge if they are actually awake or not. (Your pause can literally be 1 or 2 minutes, while you grab the monitor to have a good squiz at their body language and try and suss out if those little peepers are even open yet)
Think back to the time of their last feed. Especially in those earlier months, sometimes resettling just isn’t realistic by the time you go to all that effort to get them back to sleep, they are ready for their next feed. It’s also good to think back to the quality of that last feed; Was it short and sharp? Could they be hungry sooner?
What was their awake window like prior to the nap? Did they have a super short awake period and possibly UNDER-tired going into the nap? Or were they awake far too long or had created a sleep-debt over the duration of the day meaning they are over-tired little monsters? Both of these things can influence a short nap.
Are they waking due to a sleep association not being replicated? Did they fall asleep feeding or in Mama’s arms, and are no longer in that same spot when transitioning through a sleep cycle… They wake wondering where the hell those comforts have gone? This could also be a dummy that fell out, white noise that turned off or a swing that stopped swinging.
If you can confidently say they are fully awake needing your assistance, defs aren’t hungry, they need just more sleep (!!) and you’re onto sleep hygiene like it’s nobody’s business, then go ahead and resettle.
Do go in calmly and quietly.
Do start off minimal - try walking in and saying “shhhh, it’s okay. Mama’s here” and using your voice and proximity first. Then if that doesn’t work, hands on settling in the cot. And work through a series of settling in the cot before picking up if that’s just not working.
Do use lots of calm reassurance with repetitive words or shushing.
Do try and give off good vibes (although I know at times I’ve stood there getting pissed that my coffee is still sitting on the bench going cold… I should have brought it in with me!! I swear they pick up our frustration so just think about how good your “iced” coffee will be later)
Don’t rush in and sweep them up – I don’t know about you, but I feel like that sometimes could be scary for them? Especially if they are crying loudly with their eyes closed and don’t see/hear you come in.
Don’t make your efforts too over stimulating. Sometimes this can just wake them up more.
Don’t bring them out of the room - if you’re resettling this is just confusing.
Don’t give up too soon - resettling can take some time… In those newborn days, just resettle for as long as YOU can. But for older babies, the longer you’re resettling the better chances you’ll have.
