Newborn Archives - Sleeping Should Be Easy

What to Do When Your Baby Won’t Nap Unless Held

May 20, 2022

Can't get anything done because the baby won't nap unless held? Learn what to do when your newborn won't sleep away from your arms. This is probably my fault, you think. I let him get used to sleeping this way. Because for what has seemed like forever, your baby won't nap unless held. The second you set him down, he pops his eyes open and starts crying. With you going back to work and your partner struggling with getting him to sleep, you feel like you're in crisis mode. This is the tale of every exhausted new parent who has had to hold her baby during naptime. This doesn't mean … [Read more...]

Top Black and White Baby Books for Newborns

Children's Books

May 03, 2022

Newborns can't detect different shades of light and color yet. Take a look at the best black and white baby books for high-contrast reading. My newborn son could stare at our vertical blinds all day. I had noticed that when I would place him on a blanket on the floor, he'd almost always turn his head toward the blinds. I later learned why. You see, a new baby's eyes can't detect different shades of light and color too well. They can only see distinct contrasts—the bigger the difference, the better they can see. And that arm's length—about the distance between your baby in your arms … [Read more...]

Top Baby Stuff for Dads He’ll Actually Use

Newborn

Apr 30, 2022

Looking for baby stuff for dads he'll actually use? Take a look at the new dad must haves and gadgets every father is sure to love. My husband took one glance at the baby wrap I bought for us and looked at me like I'd lost my mind. He was on board with baby wearing, but he clearly had a preference for color, something he'd feel good wearing outside. So, it was no surprise that when we had twins a few years later (and would need two wraps), he immediately ordered another one for himself—in black. Just a few short decades ago, we didn't expect dads to push strollers or change dirty … [Read more...]

What to Do When Your Newborn Only Sleeps When Held

Newborn

Apr 27, 2022

Inside: The ultimate guide on what to do if your newborn only sleeps when held. It’s that never-ending cycle many parents have come to dread. We spend over an hour (and sometimes more) putting our babies to sleep, but the minute we lay them down, their eyes flip wide open. Then it’s back to square one, all over again. I’ve been there. In the first few weeks, I understood how much my baby needed me to put him to sleep. He’s a newborn, after all, one who had grown used to the rocking motion of the womb and had to transition to his new environment. I even prided myself for being the … [Read more...]

Breastfeeding Motivation to Keep You Going

Breastfeeding

Apr 26, 2022

Breastfeeding can take you by surprise or even discourage you from continuing. Here are 9 tips to keep in mind for breastfeeding motivation. Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase. For the first months of breastfeeding, I felt like a cow, and it had nothing to do with my post-pregnancy body. If I wasn't breastfeeding, I was pumping. I didn't realize how often babies need to eat, or how long each feeding session would take. At family parties, I was either draped with a shawl cover or … [Read more...]

How to Survive the 6 Week Peak of Fussiness

Newborn

Apr 04, 2022

From growth spurts to sleep regressions, the 6 week peak of fussiness can be challenging. Here's how to survive this difficult period. "It must be the 6 week peak of fussiness," I told my husband. Not that our baby was sleeping through the night or anything, but I sensed a change right around the 6 week mark. I dreaded the early evening hours, which often included screaming and crying that went on for what seemed like eternity. Whereas he would fuss and squirm to protest going to sleep, now he was full-blown crying. My back even hurt from all the rocking and carrying him to … [Read more...]

Newborn Tips and Tricks New Moms Need to Know

Newborn

Mar 27, 2022

The newborn stage is challenging enough as it is. Get a head start and learn top newborn tips and tricks to help you care for your new baby. Exhausted doesn't even describe the newborn days, don't you think? Waking up delirious from sleep deprivation multiple times a night. Struggling with the initial discomfort of breastfeeding, all while recovering from childbirth. Wondering if your days will ever feel normal again. Newborn life also makes you doubt yourself and question every decision you make. Was that a sleep cue? Do I latch him on every time he cries? How many ounces of … [Read more...]

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