7 Tips on How to Get a Baby to Sleep through the Night
Summary: Many babies will have trouble sleeping through the night. Sleepless nights create a tired, irritable family and subpar parent performance.

Many babies will have trouble sleeping through the night. Sleepless nights create a tired, irritable family and subpar parent performance. The frustration of failing to get a baby to sleep through the night really wears an adult down and is just as hard on the baby. However, a parent must have real expectations. An infant may sleep 18 hours in a 24 hour period, but they generally wake up every two to four hours. A baby this young needs to wake up every few hours to be fed. From a nutritional standpoint it is necessary for a young baby to not sleep through the whole night. Parents can initiate more feedings throughout the day, so that the baby does not need to have as much nourishment throughout the night.

When it comes to sleep, quality is just as important is quantity. A baby needs not only a certain number of hours of sleep, but good solid stretches of deep sleep as well. You may wonder how a child can get quality sleep. A baby that has the chance to wind down and relax before bedtime is much more likely to sleep through the night, so the first tips will provide information on enabling a baby to wind down.

Tip 1: Hold Your Little One

Try carrying around your baby in a sling, baby carrier, or in your arms in the early evening before bedtime. Your baby will become relaxed when held or carried. A relaxed baby transitions to sleep much easier than one who is not relaxed.

Tip 2: Avoid Unnecessary Stimulation in the Evening

Allow evenings to be calm in your home. Avoid overstimulation before bedtime. Your baby does not have a chance to relax when surrounded by excessive stimulation. Save activities that provide too much stimulation for daytime rather than the night. For example, a parent may recognize that their baby finds bath time to provide too much stimulation. If this is the case, bathe your little one during the day. Babies vary greatly on bathing; some find it quite relaxing, which would make bathing an excellent choice to add to your baby’s bedtime routine.

Tip 3: Create a Bed Time Routine and Stick with It

 Creating a bedtime routine will help your little one wind down. Over time the routine will be associated with sleep, which will help your baby fall asleep without a struggle. Let your child know that it is time to start getting ready for bed. Perform nightly rituals consistently to establish a routine. Any activities that calm and soothe your baby can be incorporated into the bedtime routine. Activities may include cuddling, bathing, reading a favorite book, singing quiet lullabies, or rocking your baby to sleep.

Performing the whole bedtime routine in your child’s bedroom helps to associate the bedroom with sleep. A child that associates their bedroom with sleeping will fall asleep much easier than one who associates it with playing. This association can be established by placing your baby to sleep in same place every time, whether it is a daytime nap or sleeping at night. Offer your child a certain object, such as a cuddly stuffed animal (age appropriate for safety) or a soft blanket, to hold during the bedtime routine. This object will provide a calming effect when incorporated into nightly bedtime rituals.

Tip 4: Set a Sleepy Baby in the Crib while still Awake

A sleepy baby can be set in their crib while still awake, but after performing the bedtime routine. By the end of the bedtime routine, many babies will already be asleep. Place the sleeping baby in the crib. A baby that is awake may start to fuss when set in the crib. Do not pick your child up, if you know that baby has been fed, changed, and comforted before being set down. Instead try talking to baby in a soothing voice, or singing quietly while rubbing baby’s back. Eventually baby will calm down and fall asleep again. Try not to feel frustrated or rushed, because your baby will pick up on these feelings. Take your time. It is worth and extra 15 minutes or so to help your baby fall into a deep sleep. Deep sleep lasts much longer and provides more benefits than light sleep.

Tip 5: Put Baby Down to Sleep at the Same Time Every Night

Consistency is an important part of the bedtime routine not only in regards to activities, but time as well. Start the bedtime routine at a set time every night, and try to lay your baby down at the same time each night too. By using set times for sleep your baby will develop a circadian rhythm, allowing the baby to notice the difference between day and night.

Tip 6: Turn Off Bedroom Lights When it is Time to Sleep

Turn off bedroom lights when it is time to sleep. The darkness will become associated with night time and sleep. Darkened areas decrease stimulation which helps a baby relax. If your baby wakes at night to nurse, then do so in the dark to provide a calm, relaxed atmosphere.

Tip 7: Take Care of Yourself

Take care of yourself, so that you can be the parent you want to be. A worn out mom or dad is generally not able to keep up with a consistent bedtime routine or other parenting duties. It is important to rest while your baby rests. Parenting makes for a demanding schedule. Parents need rest too. Sticking with a bedtime routine can provide your baby with deep sleep. Deep sleep benefits both of you; your baby will sleep longer and better, which offers you time to rest and peace of mind.