Getting a baby to sleep through the night is something every parent looks for. Even though newborns sleep 16 to 17 hours a day, they cannot fall asleep for even 2 to 4 hours in a row during the day or at night for the first few weeks. However, when babies arrive between 6 and 8 weeks of age, they begin to sleep for shorter periods during the day and longer at night.
With a few minor adjustments and a little help from you, your little bundle of joy can easily learn to sleep through the night.
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How to Safely Put a Baby to Sleep Through the Night
Your baby may be resistant at first, but soon he or she will get used to the change. After this the sleep will improve for everyone.
Here are the top 10 ways to get your baby to sleep through the night.
1. Plays white noise sounds
If any slight sound like turning on a lamp or the sound of a door closing wakes up your baby, then it’s time to put in some white noise.
White noise is one of the most effective and easiest to implement (as well as inexpensive) sleeping aids for babies. Help moms put babies to sleep in minutes.
It is similar to the sounds your baby heard all the time in the womb. That loud, rhythmic, familiar noise helps babies sleep longer and even reduces stress.
White noise masks other sounds and this helps your baby sleep through the night.
The sound of a fan can create a soft hum, which works great as white noise. There are also free apps for playing a white noise as well as white noise machines on the market.
2. Feed your baby on time
For many babies, the bedtime routine includes proper feeding. This ensures that the baby goes to bed full and does not wake up from hunger.
However, try to feed it at least 30 minutes before the scheduled bedtime for the night. If the baby has already started to eat solid foods, keep him light and healthy. Avoid anything that can cause gas or bloating.
If your baby is less than 6 months old, make sure he burps after feeding. Air trapped in your stomach will make you feel uncomfortable and can lead to frequent crying at night.
Keep nighttime eating calm and calm, and daytime feeding more social and livelier. This will help your baby learn the difference between day and night.
If your little one wakes up crying, wait 10 minutes before offering the breast or bottle.
3. Follow a bedtime routine
Young babies learn easily, and following a bedtime routine will help you sleep longer.
Babies like predictability, and a consistent routine gives them the right signal that it’s time for bed. When a baby knows what’s coming, he or she is more likely to accept it and get used to it quickly.
Maintain a simple routine before bed. It begins with a light massage, followed by a warm bath followed by clean clothes and a clean diaper. Play soft music and give him some warm hugs and cuddles to help him sit up. Soon your baby will associate these activities with sleep.
4. Keep the lights off
Like you, a baby cannot sleep in a room that is too bright. Bright lights can be a great distraction for him.
Keep the lights in your little one’s room on in the morning and during daytime naps, and don’t leave a light on at night.
Keeping the lights off or dimmed at night will help the baby learn the difference between day and night. This will also help you regulate your circadian rhythm, the body’s internal clock.
You can also use blackout curtains to block outside light.
Even if you need to take care of a dirty diaper at night, do it with the lights off, and with as little conversation and interaction as possible.
5. Regulates the ambient temperature
One cannot enjoy sound sleep in a room that is too hot or too cold.
Try to create the correct temperature and humidity for the room to help your baby sleep soundly. A constant room temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius and a relative humidity of around 50 percent are considered ideal for babies.
If your baby looks sweaty, remove a layer of blankets or clothing. And if he feels cold, make him comfortable by adding one more layer.
Don’t make the mistake of putting your warm baby in a cold bed. Babies don’t like the instant change in temperature and it can make them fussy.
As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that the room where your little one sleeps never gets too hot or too cold.
6. Make your baby sleepy but awake
Many mothers make the mistake of rocking or breastfeeding their babies so that when they are asleep, then very slowly put them to bed in their cribs. This only causes babies to wake up frequently during the night, as they have no idea how to go back to sleep on their own.
If you want your baby to sleep through the night, put him in the bed or crib when he’s really sleepy. This may sound silly, but it helps babies learn the ability to fall asleep on their own.
Sleepy but awake means that the baby is calm, relaxed, and that he is frequently closing his eyes. When laying it down, the eyes may flutter for a few seconds, then he or she will drift away into peaceful sleep.
This trick is very useful, but it may take a week for your baby to learn.
Always put him to sleep on his back.
7. Maintain a proper balance between activities and daytime naps
It is important to encourage more activity during the day. When he’s awake, you can talk, sing, and play with him or her. This stimulation during the day will promote better sleep at night.
However, you need to make sure that he is not very tired at night. This can make it harder for you to fall asleep at night.
A baby’s daytime routine is incomplete without a couple of short naps. Regular daytime naps will make sure you don’t get too tired.
Two to three short naps of 20 to 30 minutes are ideal. The last nap shouldn’t be too close to your baby’s scheduled bedtime.
Except for newborns, the child’s nap should not exceed more than three hours in total for one day.
8. Consider sharing a room instead of sharing a bed
Avoid sharing a bed with your baby, as this will not help him learn the art of sleeping on his own.
Bed sharing can make it harder for babies to fall asleep on their own. It can even increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Mothers should avoid breastfeeding their babies while lying in bed.
To ensure the safety of the little one, you can place the crib or bassinet in your bedroom. This way your baby will be close to you and, at the same time, will keep a certain distance. Sharing a room can actually help reduce the risk of SIDS.
Having direct and constant access to a sleeping baby can actually help parents sleep better, too.
9. Consider hickeys
Sometimes the mother will not be able to breastfeed, sometimes she will, and when she is, consider that instead of breastfeeding and rocking him to sleep, use the pacifier. The periodic movement of your baby’s mouth while using a pacifier helps him settle in quickly.
On the other hand, using a pacifier during sleep helps reduce the risk of SIDS.
Be sure to offer your baby a pacifier until he or she is 3 to 4 weeks old and you are used to an effective care routine.
During sleep, if the pacifier falls out of his mouth and he is not crying, there is no need to give it to him again. The baby will gradually learn to sleep without a pacifier.
When using a pacifier, parents have to wash and sterilize it every day to avoid a build-up of germs. Also, it’s a good idea to replace pacifiers regularly.
If you are in favor of the pacifier, giving it to him may be a good idea. Remember that you have a period of time for its use, which should not be extended more than it should.
10. Always choose the same time to sleep
Especially when it comes to getting the baby to sleep through the night, parents should opt for the same bedtime. Any change in your baby’s sleep routine can make him fussy or irritable.
Maintaining the same bedtime helps develop the baby’s internal clock, which regulates the hormonal cycles of the day and night.
Don’t make the mistake of putting off your baby’s bedtime, hoping that he or she will get some more sleep the next morning.
Also, if you make your baby too tired, what you will actually do is make it even more difficult for him to settle down.
A scheduled bedtime and the same routine will help your baby know when it is time to sleep. The baby will automatically begin to show sleep “cues” such as rubbing eyes, yawning, and calming down.
Additional suggestions for a baby to sleep through the night
- Every baby is different, so what works for one baby may not work for another.
- It can take 3 to 14 days to change a baby’s sleep patterns.
- If your baby wakes up at night, wait a few minutes before entering the room. Many babies complain only a little and then go back to sleep on their own.
- You must learn to respect your baby’s preferences and consequently make adjustments in routines and schedules.
- Keep your baby’s sleeping space free of bedspreads, duvets, pillows, and other soft items, such as toys.
- Don’t put children on waterbeds, air mattresses, pillows, soft materials, or quilts, even temporarily.
- Always remember that any kind of makeshift bed is not safe for your baby.
- Make sure your baby sleeps in a smoke-free environment.
- Avoid covering the baby’s head or excessive heat during sleep.