Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : October 9, 2014 5:12 PM IST
My baby is just four months old and her sleep cycle isn't settled yet. I was advised to give my baby a bath in the night, apart from the morning bath, to induce sleep. But won't my baby catch a cold if I give her a bath in the evening as well?
Many believe that a relaxing massage and bath in the night can help your baby sleep well. Mothers often say that babies sleep well after a bath in the morning and are refreshed when they wake up. Since babies have little difficulty in adjusting to the normal sleeping pattern during their early life or at least till six months of age, people try many trial-and-error methods to help the little one sleep through the night. Giving a bath in the evening or during night just before bed time, is just another trick which people hope will work. Here are 8 expert tips to help your baby sleep.
Whether you wish to give your baby a bath or not is a personal choice but don't expect that it will help her sleep peacefully the entire night. Babies below six months of age and even those who are up to an year old, might wake up quite a few times demanding to be fed or just like that. And you need to address their issues before you can put them back to sleep.
Also read but the 10 sleep safe rules you should follow for your baby.
Now as far as the issue of the second bath is concerned, make sure you don't do it if the temperature is cool and the weather is windy. Probably a night time bath during the summers can help your baby relax after a long hot and humid day and help her sleep but it would be wise to refrain from doing so during the cold or rainy season.
Alternatively you can try to give your baby a cold sponge bath before bed time followed by a relaxing massage (don't use any oils or moisturiser for infants, just massage all over with your palms gently) to lull your baby into a restful sleep.
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