How to Get Sick Baby to Sleep Naturally and Safely

There is nothing worse than dealing with a sick baby and sleep. They’re uncomfortable, and you feel bad because you want to help but don’t always know how. You wish you could just take their sickness. But we know that sickness is inevitable in babies.

And we know that when babies get sick, their noses get congested as well. They can’t sleep well when their noses are blocked. With nasal aspirators and saline drops, you can safely remove mucus and reduce nighttime fussiness. In this way, they’ll be able to breathe more easily and sleep more deeply.

This article will discuss how to get sick baby to sleep so that you can be there for your baby without going all the way back to square one each time they are sick.

Prioritizing Clearance: Using Saline and Gentle Suction Before Bed

Stuffy noses and coughs often make it tough for babies to get a good night’s sleep. The combination of saline drops and nasal aspirators can help loosen and clear out secretions in your little one’s nose. This not only helps to alleviate discomfort, but it can also increase the likelihood that they will feed effectively.

1. Lay your baby down on their back and slightly tilt their head back.
2. Spray two to three drops of saline solution into each nostril.
3. Wait for a few minutes for the saline to settle, and then use a bulb syringe or nasal aspirators to clear the loosened mucus.
4. Squeeze the bulb to get all of the air out, and while still squeezing, gently insert the tip into your baby’s nostril.
5. Release the pressure, take it out, and squeeze the mucus out of the bulb onto a tissue.
6. Repeat in the other nostril to clear mucus and alleviate their stuffiness.

Moistening the Air: The Effective Use of Cool-Mist Humidifiers

If your baby is very uncomfortable and has a fever, cough, or pain, these things can definitely affect their quality of sleep. Cool-mist humidifiers, even in the winter months, can help provide moisture in the air at night. Especially with colds and respiratory issues, they can work wonders in clearing out congestion.

Make sure to place the humidifier close enough to your sleeping child that the mist will reach them, but always place it out of their reach for safety reasons. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning and use to prevent mold and bacteria build-up as well.

Harnessing Warmth: Steamy Bathrooms and Soothing Baths to Loosen Mucus

If you don’t have a humidifier, steam can help similarly. Before sleep or whenever your baby is extra congested, run hot water in the bathroom with the door closed for a few minutes. Then take your baby into the room and snuggle them while they breathe in the steamy air.

Steamy Bathroom Technique

Run a hot shower and let the bathroom fill with warm steam. Sit inside with your baby for 10 to 15 minutes, and keep them safely away from the hot water. The moist air will break down mucus, making breathing easier for your baby. Do this technique before naps or bedtime to help prepare your little one for a restful sleep.

Soothing Warm Baths

A warm bath can not only relax tense muscles, but it also calms your fussy baby and naturally thins mucus. Gently rinse your baby’s face with warm water to help ease nasal stuffiness. After the bath, dry your baby well and keep them warm to prevent chills.

Maintaining Hydration to Thin Secretions and Support Healing

Keeping your baby hydrated when they’re sick is also super important. Make sure that they’re well-hydrated with formula or breast milk, and water if your baby is over 6 months. It provides lots of benefits, including helping them get the sleep they need while sick:

• Promotes sleep
• Helps regulate body temperature
• Prevents dehydration
• Supports their immune system
• Loosen and thin their mucus

Dehydration can make your baby feel worse and disrupt their sleep, so keep them hydrated when they’re unwell. Signs of dehydration in babies include:

• Dry mouth
• Sunken eyes
• Not making tears
• Decreased urine output
• Sunken soft spot on their head
• The number of wet diapers
• Lethargy

Relief for Fever and Pain: Consulting Your Pediatrician About Medication

When your baby is sick, fever and body discomfort can significantly affect their sleep. There are times when natural soothing methods will not be enough; you may need medications to provide the relief your baby needs to rest.

When to Consider Medication:

• If your baby is unusually fussy or irritable
• When they have trouble settling or falling asleep due to discomfort
• If the fever is making them restless or uncomfortable
• When body aches or illness symptoms are affecting their sleep

 

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the appropriate use of infant acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Medication can help ease their pain, reduce fever, and make it easier for them to fall asleep.

Sticking to Routine: Why Familiar Bedtime Rituals are More Important Than Ever

When dealing with a sick baby, familiar bedtime routines will help cue their brain that sleep is coming. A consistent routine provides comfort and a sense of safety which helps your baby calm down.

Keep your usual routine, like a warm bath, gentle massage, quiet lullabies, dim lights, or reading a short story, this will signal your baby that it’s time to wind down, even if they aren’t feeling well.

Do your best to remain consistent with your baby’s routine and sleep times during sickness. Even simple habits like putting on their pajamas, turning on a white noise machine, or offering one last cuddle, can give comfort to your sick baby. When everything else feels different due to illness, routine becomes comforting, and comfort leads to better, more restorative sleep.

Providing Extra Comfort: The Role of Gentle Snuggles and Soothing Support

Your sick baby craves even more closeness and reassurance. Providing extra comfort through gentle snuggles can help ease their discomfort and make it easier for them to settle into sleep. Your presence alone can calm their nervous system, steady their breathing, and help them feel safe.

Doing skin-to-skin contact can be incredibly soothing for them, especially when congestion makes them restless. Soft humming or simply speaking to them in a calm voice can also help them guide in a more relaxed state.

Strict Safe Sleep Practices: Avoiding Inclines and Props (Back is Best, Always)

Even when your baby is sick, safe sleep rules never change. It may be tempting to use pillows, blankets, or inclined sleep products to help them breathe better, but these items significantly increase the risk of suffocation and are never recommended.

Back is best, every sleep, every time

Your baby should always be placed on their backs on a firm, flat sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet. This position keeps their airway safe and reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

No props, wedges, or inclined sleepers

Items that elevate your baby at an angle, can cause them to slide into unsafe positions where their chin drops to their chest, making breathing more difficult. These items are not approved for sleep and should only be used under direct supervision if suggested by your pediatrician.

Keep the sleep space clear

Avoid soft bedding, stuffed toys, loose blankets, and positioners. A fitted sheet on a firm mattress is all your baby needs.