Most parents have newborns who can't sleep well at night. Naturally, if this feels tiring for you as a parent. However, by establishing a day and night routine and setting your expectations, both you and your newborn will have a good night's sleep. However, because newborns usually feed every two or three hours, don't expect to get a good night's sleep for several months.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Optimizing Sleep by Implementing a Routine
Step 1. Communicate with the newborn
While your baby is awake, encourage activities such as talking, singing, or playing with him. Stimulating your baby during the day will create a better sleep pattern at night.
Since newborns often sleep for long periods of time during the day, communicate as best you can with your baby while he or she is awake. Hug and sing him a song or look him in the eye when you talk to him. The best time to do this is while you are breastfeeding, dressing, or changing the baby's diaper
Step 2. Set a fixed bedtime
Establishing a definite bedtime and having a calming nighttime routine can help a newborn to sleep significantly. These elements can calm the baby and regulate his circadian rhythm which helps signal when it is time for bedtime at night.
- Consider factors such as naps, feedings, and baby's age when setting a bedtime.
- Set a reasonable bedtime as newborns need to be fed at night (again, newborns should be fed every two to four hours). For example, his bedtime is close to your bedtime so you can both get the optimal amount of time to sleep.
- You need to be flexible about the schedule as needed.
Step 3. Create a relaxed atmosphere and set a bedtime
Newborns will need time to enter sleep mode. Using relaxation techniques about an hour before bedtime helps send signals to his body and brain that it is time to sleep.
- Keep baby away from bright lights and loud noises.
- Dim the light where you and your baby are. This will send a signal that it is time for bed.
- Your baby will fuss and cry when he finds a comfortable position in your arms. If this is the case, talk to him and rub his back which will soothe and relax your baby.
Step 4. Give the baby a pacifier
The baby may have trouble falling asleep or find it difficult to find a comfortable place. Giving him a pacifier can calm him down and help him sleep more easily. In addition, research shows that sucking on a pacifier during sleep can help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Step 5. Follow a consistent bedtime routine
Having a ritual at night can signal your baby that it is time for bed. Do activities such as bathing, reading stories, singing, or listening to soothing music that your baby begins to associate with bedtime.
- Reading books to your baby in dim light will allow you to communicate with your baby without overstimulating him.
- Warm baths and light massages can make your baby sleepy.
- It's best to breastfeed your baby to keep his stomach full all night.
Step 6. Create a comfortable sleeping environment
Newborns should feel comfortable and not overstimulated. Controlling elements such as temperature, noise, and brightness of the room can help your baby sleep well through the night.
- The best temperature for sleeping is usually between 15.6 and 23.9 °C.
- Eliminate anything in the nursery that can stimulate him, such as electronics.
- Use curtains or shutters to adjust the light in the nursery. Putting a night light in a non-stimulating color like red will help calm him down.
- Keep the room quiet although you can use a white noise generator (constant sound). This helps drown out other sounds and keeps the baby fast asleep.
- The baby should have a comfortable but firm bed, but remove blankets or other soft objects so that the baby will not suffocate.
Step 7. Put the baby to sleep when sleepy
Laying your baby in bed when he's sleepy but awake will help him connect the mattress and sleep. This can encourage him to sleep soundly without you.
- Lay the baby on his back to put him to sleep.
- Don't let your baby sleep with you. Research shows that babies are more prone to shortness of breath or suffocation.
Step 8. Avoid sleeping together
Even if it's tempting to hold your baby close to you in bed, don't sleep with him. Not only will this make it harder for the baby to stay asleep, but it will also increase the risk of SIDS.
Put the baby in his crib or crib in your room if he wants to be near him
Step 9. Give baby stimulation only when needed
It is perfectly natural for babies to be fussy at night. Keeping your night time treatment as simple as possible can help reduce stimulation and get him back to sleep quickly. Continue to nurse and change her diaper as quietly and boringly as possible to encourage her to sleep well.
Keep the light low and use soft sounds and limited movement. This helps the baby understand that it is time to sleep instead of play
Part 2 of 2: Setting Expectations
Step 1. Learn how babies sleep
“Sleep well all night” can mean many things to babies of all ages. Understanding how your baby sleeps will help you come up with a more realistic plan for getting your newborn to sleep well through the night.
- After reaching a weight of 5 kg, babies generally do not have to be breastfed at night.
- Newborns generally won't fall asleep for longer than three hours because they have to eat frequently.
- Between two and three months, babies can sleep for five to six hours at a time, although they must be breastfed at night.
- By four months, babies can sleep for seven to eight hours at a time and don't need to be breastfed.
Step 2. Recognize that restlessness during sleep is normal
Most babies will rock, wriggle, make noises, and twitch in their sleep. This is perfectly normal and usually doesn't require your attention.
- Wait a few minutes after the baby moves restlessly to see if he goes back to sleep or not.
- Look at your baby only if you suspect he is hungry or uncomfortable.
Step 3. Set the routine as needed
Babies have natural sleep patterns that keep them up all night or wake up in the morning. Paying attention and adjusting the schedule as needed can help the baby and you to sleep more effectively.
Gradually change your baby's schedule so that he can sleep at a time that works for you. For example, changing half an hour of sleep from week to week can help her have a more normal schedule
Step 4. Look at the other side when making baby sleep well
Your ability as a parent has nothing to do with your ability to put your baby to sleep at night. Seeing the other side of your baby's sleep schedule can help you become more accepting and calm about it.
Keep in mind that your baby's sleep patterns can change every week and your baby will have times when he needs more sleep. This happens when the baby's teeth are growing
Step 5. Visit your pediatrician
If your baby isn't sleeping or has other issues that worry you, schedule an appointment with the pediatrician. He or she may be able to help establish a better sleep schedule for your baby or your pediatrician can assess if there is a health problem causing it, such as heartburn that keeps the baby up all night.
Tips
- Make sure the baby's diaper is not too tight but not too loose that it could leak.
- Check if the baby has heartburn and calm the baby if the stomach looks bloated.
- Hold your baby against your chest so the sound of your heartbeat can soothe him.
- Consider wrapping your baby around to make him feel safe.
