I might be the only 'guy' weighing in on this, but men are part of the answer to helping new moms get their much needed rest.

Crying babies can be remedied to a degree, but sleepless nights should not be a factor. Deep sleep is what Mom needs. If that means setting up Dad and baby in a far away room, all the better to get things started. Other family members could also fill the shoes of a Dad to ensure Mom gets her Z's.

Aside from sleeping in separate rooms while on baby patrol, couples can split duties with nightly feedings. Break it into shifts like a night watch. Baby is going to sleep about 12 hours, so that is six hours for each parent. That should be enough.

For those who do not have a significant other in the picture, there are other ways to soothe baby back to peaceful slumber. We were fortunate to have children that were easy to feed and get back to bed without much disruption. Having the right tools for the job helped.

If we were changing diapers at night, we had a wipe warmer. Much more relaxing and soothing for the little one. We played soothing music, used interactive toys to occupy them when they were up, and made sure they were properly fed.

Anticipating when a child might need another feeding meant preparing bottles at the right temperature in advance. Using bottles that seal out air are helpful, but not necessary if a parent is properly burping baby. Knowing proper feeding and burping techniques will help get parents through the night with less disruption.

Taking stress out of the equation is essential to getting babies and moms through the night.

Learn more about this author, Brian Keith Compton.
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