Infants need lots of sleep. When a baby rubs his eyes that is a
sure sign that they are sleepy. Always finish feeding, burping and diaper
change before settling baby to sleep. Swaddling your infant provides security
and helps him/her fall to sleep but check that they are not too hot. Some
infants like to stay close to mom for the first few weeks but it pays to
establish a good routine of putting baby into the crib to sleep when you both
feel ready.
Some infants may still have difficulty getting to sleep despite
mom and dad doing all of the above. Many of these children would have had a
difficult birth and go on to develop problems with both feeding and sleeping
before I first see them.
When I treat these children I check for any areas of tightness in
their body. As these release the baby sighs and relaxes. If the birth has been
distressing, we take time to check the effect this has had on the infant, mom
(and dad too) if needed. This helps with the bonding process which in turn
helps baby to feel more secure and mom to feel more competent. It is common for
baby to sleep for a long time after a CranioSacral treatment. Many parents report that they have had their
first night sleep following this CranioSacral treatment.
Jeannette Raskin practices at
Family First Chiropractic, 142 Erickson Drive, Red Deer, Alberta. 403-347-3261. www.family1stchiro.ca.
