The nurse is caring for a first-time mother who is asking how to help her baby sleep through the night as the baby gets older. Which recommendation should the nurse tell the mother?
“Rock her to sleep every night until she is in a deep sleep.”
“Give diphenhydramine 12.5 mg orally to put the baby to sleep.”
“If she starts waking up a lot in the middle of the night, put her in the bed with you.”
“Give the last feeding as late as possible, and put her in the bed awake without a bottle.”
Number 4 is correct.
Feeding the infant as late as possible and putting her in bed awake without a bottle helps the infant learn to recognize cues for bedtime, and learn to fall asleep on her own. Rocking the infant will not allow her to learn to self-soothe. The infant should never be given diphenhydramine simply to make her sleep for the parents’ convenience. The nurse should not act in the role of a prescriber by advising the mother to give medication to make her sleep. Infants should never share the bed with parents for safety reasons.
