Newborns sleep up to 16 hours a day, according to BabyCenter, but it might not seem like your newborn sleeps at all. By three months, babies are supposed to have regular sleep/wake patterns, and by six months, they should know the difference between day and night. If your tot is still awake at night more than he is asleep, put your fears to rest with sure-fire methods to help your baby sleep.
Don't be Married to the Nursery
You may have spent months creating the perfect nursery for your newborn only to find he won't sleep in it. You have years to call the nursery your baby's home; now is the time to be flexible. If that little bundle of joy isn't sleeping in his nursery, try a different room. On his website, Dr. William Sears advises exhausted parents to be open to changing sleeping arrangements. Some babies sleep best in their cribs, while others prefer a co-sleeper arrangement. Other tots can catch Z's only in a bassinet in mom and dad's room. Try different rooms and sleeping styles until you and baby find the bed and room that are just right.
Try a Pacifier
Some babies sleep best when their sucking reflex is appeased, and a pacifier is made to do just that. Pacifiers have been used for generations to soothe babies. According to the Mayo Clinic, sucking a pacifier while sleeping may also help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Be advised, though, if your baby's pacifier rolls out of reach during the night, your little one may cry until you retrieve it for him. Some parents avoid this problem by stocking their baby's crib with a few pacifiers.
Rituals and Routines
Dr. Sears writes that babies thrive on rituals. Consistent bedtimes and before-bed routines help babies fall asleep and stay asleep. A good evening ritual can include a bath followed by a lullaby and then a short story or nursing before rocking the baby to sleep. Perform the ritual that works best for you and your baby at the same time every evening, and before you know it baby will start falling asleep and staying asleep without a fight. If your child wakes up in the middle of the night, use the same technique to get her back to sleep every time.
Spot the Signs
It's best to put your baby to sleep before he becomes overtired. The best way to do this is to learn to identify his signals. Every baby is different, but in his book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child," Dr. Marc Weissbluth identifies common drowsy signs as decreased activity, weaker or slower sucking, less-focused eyes, drooping eyelids and yawning. If you write down when these signs appear every night, you will see a pattern. Then you can start your bedtime ritual before your bundle of joy becomes tired, so you aren't trying to get him to sleep when he is overtired. An overtired baby will fight sleep.
References
- Ask Dr. Sears: 31 Ways to Get Your Baby to Go to Sleep and Stay Asleep Easier
- Mayo Clinic: Infant and Toddler Health
- "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"; Marc Weissbluth, M.D.; 1999
- BabyCenter: Baby Sleep Basics: Birth to Three Months
