How to get your baby to sleep thru the night
You have been up for hours and the baby, as cute as they are, need to be sleeping just as much as you do. We have all been there. It is frustrating, exhausting and memorable, all rolled up in one.
There has to be a better way to get the baby to sleep.
Many new parents struggle to get their babies to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. However, there are several things you can do that will help your baby sleep through the night. This blog post will cover 10 rules for getting your baby to sleep through the night in no particular order.
Rule #1
The first rule in the night time routine is that, any change will not be over night! I know this is hard to hear. Stick with me here. The baby has to be prodded and trained in specific behaviors. Essentially, we are tricking the baby into doing something that we want it to do.
Rule #2
Create a soothing environment with soft lights, music, and scent-free lotion. Make sure the room is dark and quiet so that there are no distractions from anything else going on around them. If you need to, use a sound machine to reduce outside noises.
Rule #3
Have your partner take over nighttime feedings if possible. If you are a breast feeding family, mom usually stays up with baby. Invest in a breast milk pump, if needed, to shift this responsibility. The mom will not be able to go a complete night but partners can switch shifts.
Rule #4
Create a bedtime routine that your baby will be able to anticipate and get excited about. This means, put your baby to bed at the same time every night. There is nothing more confusing to a baby than having to make a change in when they are supposed to sleep.
Rule #5
Keep a consistent bedtime routine. We have already established bedtime. The routine is the broader part of that. brush teeth, wash up, change into pajamas, read books with the lights low, take a bath, etc. Maintain a consistent expectation.
Rule #6
Swaddle the baby. This is one of the most important things to do with a baby. They need sleep and when they are unable to move freely, they sleep better. It was explained once that a tight, proper, swaddle would remind the baby of being back in the womb.
Here is a video that we generated to demonstrate how to swaddle a baby.
The arms are the most important part. They need to be tucked in and included in the swaddle, they will often end up flailing if not tightly tucked in the swaddle.
Rule #7
Put your baby in their crib when they are drowsy, but not asleep. One of the biggest mistakes that new parents make is to let the baby fall asleep on them night after night. This will become one of the toughest habits to break. Before the baby falls asleep, set them in their crib in a swaddle and some other blankets according to temperature conditions.
Rule #8
Feed your baby before they go to sleep so that they are not hungry when it is time to sleep. most baby's start to fall asleep during this time, try transitioning the feed time before the bath and teeth brushing and snuggle them to drowsy. This is a little backwards from conventional thinking, however, the baby will get used to any habit put on them.
Rule #9
Give them something comforting like a pacifier or stuffed animal to help them fall asleep more easily. The use of items as comfort can be a double edge sword. The baby will start to rely on these items to sleep thru the night. Use these only if needed as a distraction but it is cautioned not to let them become a crutch.
Pro Tip:
Don't put anything in a baby's crib to help them sleep thru the night with them except for tight clothing they are wearing, a very small tightly woven fabric toy and blankets; this includes bulky toys, books, and pillows. Take caution when using crib liners.
Rule #10
Don't fall asleep with the baby. We discussed this previously, however this is crucial. If the baby gets used to sleeping on someone, it is extremely difficult to get them out of the habit of needing someone to snuggle with them even in to the toddler and adolescent stages of life.
Recap on the 10 rules to get your baby to sleep thru the night
We have shared with you the 10 rules we used in our house that has helped get our babies sleeping through the night. Not every night is perfect and some baby's took a lot longer than others to develop great sleeping habits, some are still working on it. One of the biggest keys is to have patient. Another big key is to be persistent, even when summer hits and the sun's ups...