Babies are a joy to parent, but it’s not uncommon for them to wake up at night. That’s why it’s important to get your baby on a regular sleep schedule as soon as possible. Dealing with baby sleep issues can be exhausting and at times very frustrating. The sooner you establish a routine, the better — and we have some tips that will help make that happen!
Create a sleep-friendly environment.
- A dark room, no light from outside, and no noise are all important for good sleep. If you live near a noisy street or have pets that would disturb your baby’s sleep, consider using earplugs and/or white noise machines to block out noises.
- Make sure there are no drafts in the room — otherwise the cold air will wake up your baby! Also, avoid having any electronics in the room (TVs, computers etc.).
- Lastly: no food or drink within two hours of bedtime — this means water too! This helps preserve their natural hunger cues so it’ll be easier for them to fall asleep when they’re ready for bedtime
Keep the same sleep routine each night.
When it comes to your baby’s sleep routine, consistency is key. Your baby will learn to expect certain things from you at specific times in the evening and night, which can help them get ready for sleep. For example, if you always read a story before bedtime, then that’s what your child will expect and be ready for when it’s time to go to bed each night. This predictability helps babies feel safe and comfortable when it’s time for them to go down for a nap or nighttime slumber.
Let there be light!
- Keep the lights dim in the evening.
- Keep the curtains open during the day.
- Keep your baby’s room dark at night.
- Let there be light! In other words, let there be sunlight coming into your baby’s room during the day so they can get used to seeing bright light when they wake up in the morning and go to bed at night.
Don’t worry about naps.
Don’t worry about naps. Naps will come when they are ready, and forcing them can make your child cranky and unwilling to sleep at night. If you’re concerned about how many naps your baby is taking, talk to your pediatrician.
Be consistent (that means you, too, Mom and Dad).
- Be consistent (that means you, too, Mom and Dad).
- If you can’t be consistent, then find someone who can help.
- Consistency is the key to success with a baby who has sleep issues. We know it’s hard work at times, but if your child doesn’t learn that there are rules—and that those rules are consistently enforced—it will only get harder as they grow older. Don’t think of this as a punishment; think of it as part of your job as parents!
No afternoon naps past 3 or 4 p.m.
If your child is having trouble sleeping at night, it’s important to stick to a consistent schedule during the day. That means no longer than 3 hours of napping on any given day. It also means that you should avoid letting her sleep more than an hour in the morning or more than two hours at night. On weekends, as long as you maintain a consistent schedule, your baby can catch up on lost sleep by taking two-hour naps during the week.
Wake up at the same time every day — yes, even on weekends.
This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s actually one of the most important ways to solve your baby’s sleep problems. When you’re tired and cranky, you’ll find that it’s much easier to roll over and go back to sleep than to get up and do something productive with your day. This sets an unhealthy precedent for your child: if it isn’t hard work for them to stay awake during daylight hours, then why should they ever bother? By waking up at roughly the same time every morning (including all weekend long), you’re teaching them that there are certain things one simply does not skip out on—and this includes getting out of bed! You may need some help getting started; try using an alarm clock or putting a note next to their crib so they know what time they need to be up by. But once they’ve gotten used to waking at 6 AM every weekday morning without fail (and without whining), it’ll become second nature for all involved parties.*
Start early with bedtime routines.
The most important thing you can do is create a routine that your baby comes to expect and enjoy. This will help them settle down for bed without fussing, making it easier for you both.
To start a bedtime routine:
- Make sure your baby is tired before putting him or her to bed. If your baby isn’t tired by 7 PM, then let them stay up until they are ready. Otherwise, you could have trouble getting their minds off of playing and onto sleep!
- Do the same thing every night before going to sleep (bath time is a good choice). This helps infants understand what’s expected of them when it’s time for sleep time.
Give your baby something to look forward to in the morning.
To help your baby get a good night’s rest, make sure they’re not waking too early. If they wake up at 5 am, don’t let them sleep until 7 am. This will just teach them that it’s okay to wake up when you are scheduled to be awake and vice versa, which may lead to trouble later on.
Another thing you can do is limit their naps in the morning if they have trouble sleeping at night. It can be tempting for new parents who want to spend time with their child during the day or get some much-needed shut eye themselves after tiring nighttime feedings but this will only cause more problems down the road. When babies are tired from not getting enough sleep at night, it makes sense for them to take extra naps during the day but if these extra naps become regular habits then it might lead into bad nighttime sleep patterns as well!
A few tricks can help your baby get a better night’s sleep — and give you one, too!
- Your baby’s sleep patterns are different from adults’, and they’re different from other babies’.
- Sleep habits change as babies grow. While it’s true that some babies may take longer to develop sleep skills, what works well for one child won’t necessarily be right for another.
- There is no right or wrong way to get your baby to sleep — our goal is simply to help you understand your baby’s unique needs and support them in getting the rest they need. The best way to do this is by following their natural sleeping patterns, rather than imposing a “schedule” that doesn’t sync with their circadian rhythm (a 24-hour cycle).
Conclusion
The good news is that it’s never too late to start. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all this new information, remember that every day is a new opportunity to make a change. Even if your baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet, there are lots of things you can do to help her feel more comfortable and get better sleep — like dimming the lights in her room or following a soothing bedtime routine. And remember: The most important thing is for both of you to stay consistent in your approach!
