Headaches...sleep....babies...all part of the quest for sanity

I've been seeing a doctor to treat chronic headaches and one of his concerns is that I'm not getting enough sleep. Does any parent really EVER get enough sleep? I found this article tonight and thought it might be helpful for this situation...hmmmm... Thanks, Ms. Crawford!


Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night - Eight Simple Steps For Maximum Success by Margaret Crawford
Getting your baby to sleep through the Night is one of the first challenges of parenting. Sleep deprivation as a result of not been able to settle your new born can cause great stress both in yourself and of course your baby. Thankfully, there is great help out there and settling your new born is easier than you may think.
What follows are some essential tips in getting your baby off to sleep, and also some signs to look out for that maybe causing sleep disruption. Some of the tips may appear obvious, but sometimes it's the obvious that gets overlooked in stressful situations.
1) Always check your baby's temperature, this of course is a great indicator if they are ill or not. If abnormally high seek medical advice
2) Check Nappy/Diaper to see if it needs changing
3) Is your baby hungry/thirsty?...A good indicator on whether you baby may be dehydrated it to gently check the fontanelle or the 'soft spot' when your baby is quiet. If the fontanelle sinks down, this could be a sign that your baby is dehydrated. Also the fontanelle may bulge slightly which is normal if your baby is crying. However, if it persistently bulges, you should get your doctor to check it over
What Is The Fontanelle?
The fontanelle is a diamond shaped dip to be found towards the front of the babies head. Most babies are born with at least two of these, the largest called the 'anterior' fontanelle is usually between 4 - 5cm across. The fontanelle usually disappears when the baby reaches 15 months old due to the head growing and the bones in the skull meeting. The other one is a smaller triangular shape called the 'posterior' fontanelle, this is to be found at the back of the head and usually disappears when baby is around fourth months old
4) Sometimes babies can scratch themselves whilst sleeping with their finger nails, this can cause them to wake suddenly. If so, gently cut nails or place their hands in comfortable mittens/baby gloves
5). Check babies cheeks, if they are red, baby could be teething and therefore purchase some teething gel or teething ring to ease babies discomfort
6) Check for wind, as your baby might have colic. If so, sit baby up and rub babies back gently until burping arrives
7) To encourage sleep and get your baby off to sleep. Make sure you and your baby are relaxed and sitting comfortably. Babies can sense tension, so make sure you are relaxed. Start by gently stroking baby with your index finger at the top of the nose working your way up and round the eyebrow area. Repeat until baby is falls off to sleep. Then make sure the cot is comfortable and the room temperature is not to hot/cold
8) Try playing soft music at a low level in babies room. Whale music for example can be a great comforter, which is believed to imitate the sound of a mother's womb, bringing a calming affect to the child. These are just a sample of practical steps you could use to help improve your Childs sleep patterns, obtained from many of the great publications available for parents today See important information below.
About the Author
Margaret Crawford is a respected author in child development matters and will only recommend publications that have been proven to improve a child early years development and bring about a healthy balanced child. For more in depth advice click on the link below & view details of a fascinating publication that no parent should be without. Your friends will simply marvel at your parenting skills. See more at http://www.babeasleep.com