If you are the weary parent of a newborn, getting your infant to sleep seems like the most important thing in the world. It also can sometimes seem to be the most impossible task you have ever faced. Sufficient sleep keeps your baby happy and healthy, so establishing an effective bedtime process and teaching your baby to fall asleep improves both your baby's life and your own.
Swaddling
Swaddle your baby before putting her into the crib. The restriction of movement reminds her of her time in the womb; as a newborn, she still longs for that feeling of physical security. Washington University in St. Louis has discovered that swaddling also helps babies fall sleep on their backs, which reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Pacifier or Thumb Sucking
Give your infant a pacifier---if he is at least 1 month old---or encourage him to suck his thumb. Sucking helps a newborn soothe himself so that he feels calm and settled enough to fall asleep. Using a pacifier while sleeping also helps prevent SIDS, so the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it.
Feeding
Feed your newborn just before putting her to bed; it helps her feel satiated and calm, whereas if she feels hungry, she will fret and have trouble sleeping. Newborns haven't yet established consistent eating patterns and tend to snack, but encourage your baby to drink her fill so that she doesn't wake up soon and want more.
Awake and Sleepy
Put your newborn to bed when he starts getting sleepy but before he actually falls asleep, advises Healthy Children. This way, you won't accidentally wake him when you transfer him to his crib. This also helps your baby get used to lying down in his crib so that he feels safe there and associates the crib with slumber.
White Noise
The University of Michigan Health System recommends using a white noise machine because it soothes your baby, helps to ensure that noises from outside the nursery don't wake her up and reminds her of the womb. Some white noise machines even have settings that mimic the sounds of the womb or the sound of your heartbeat, which can comfort your newborn as she adjusts to the world outside the uterus.
Darkness
Keep your infant's room darkened, suggests the University of Michigan Health System; this helps the baby calm down, whereas bright light can stimulate his senses too much. Darkness also prevents your baby from getting distracted by interesting sights in the room. Over time, this practice helps your baby develop an understanding that a dark room means bedtime.
Allow Fussing
Let your baby fuss for a while after you put her down. Healthy Children explains that your infant might fall asleep on her own after a few minutes of fussing. This way, your newborn---who is still developing sleep habits---learns that if you put her in the crib, then she must sleep and can't avoid bedtime by fussing. Many babies simply settle down by fussing, and if you interrupt the process, you could actually prolong the moment of slumber. If she begins truly crying or fusses for a long time, however, then you can check on her and soothe her before putting her back to bed.
References
- Washington University in St. Louis: Swaddling May Help Babies Sleep More Safely ... and Soundly
- Library of the National Medical Society: Behavior Problems in Infants
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Steps to Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death
- Healthy Children: What's the Best Way to Get My Child to Go to Sleep?
- University of Michigan Health System: Sleep Problems
