While being a parent can be an exciting and joy-filled experience, it can also be very stressful. One area that causes a great deal of strain on most parents is adjusting to the sleep schedule--or lack thereof--of their children. If your baby has trouble sleeping, it can have serious implications on your life. You may have difficulty finding time to rest, which can then impair your ability to work or take care of your child. However, there are some ways to help your baby learn how to become a better sleeper.
Step 1
Develop a nap schedule, and a set bedtime for your baby. This is very difficult for newborns and very young babies, but it's something you can build towards. For example, for a 3-month-old baby, you might notice that he takes three naps during the day and goes to bed around 8 p.m. every night. Having an idea of how your baby's day will unfold can help you plan ahead and will also help him to train his biological clock to stay awake during the day and sleep at night.
Step 2
Create a bedtime routine that you can follow each night. The routine doesn't have to be anything elaborate; it's just something that lets your baby know it's bedtime and that she should go to sleep. A simple routine for your child could be a story, some music and a bath. You may want to create a separate routine for naps so that your baby doesn't confuse nap time with nighttime.
Step 3
Ensure that your baby is comfortable and secure. Many babies, especially newborns, prefer to be swaddled, according to "American Baby" magazine. They may also like to sleep in certain ways, which you can accomplish with the aid of a sleep positioner. Your baby may wake up looking for something to suck on; if so, you can give him a pacifier. It's okay if he falls asleep with the pacifier in his mouth; either he'll breathe through his nose, or the pacifier will fall out as he sleeps.
Step 4
Let your baby cry a little if she wakes up. Your baby needs to learn how to self-soothe, and if you run in every time she cries, she'll never figure out how to settle herself down. Give her a few minutes, and see how things go. If she's still crying after 10 minutes, she probably needs a diaper change or a feeding. However, if she falls back asleep, it means she's learning that you're not going to come in every time she cries and she'll be that much more likely to sleep for longer.
Step 5
Keep after-hours interaction to an absolute minimum. If your baby thinks it's fun to be up at 2 a.m., he's going to wake up at 2 a.m. every night. If you have to feed him, don't play with him. Keep the lights low, and try to leave the TV off if you can. These actions will let him know that nighttime is for sleep, not for play.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't get discouraged if your baby doesn't immediately begin sleeping better. It takes time to properly train her to understand the difference between night and day and nap time and bedtime. Stick with your routine, and she'll eventually figure it out. It's okay if your baby wakes up during the night. Experts define "sleeping through the night" as five to six hours of uninterrupted sleep, according to BabyCenter. If your baby is getting that much, you're on the right track. If she isn't, keep trying; over time, she will begin to sleep for longer periods of time.
- Make sure your baby's sleeping environment is safe. Take special care to avoid potential risks for sudden infant death syndrome, which include putting your baby on his stomach to sleep, putting a heavy blanket in his crib and installing bumpers on the sides of his crib.
Things You'll Need
- Lullaby CD
- Story book
- Blanket
- Pacifier
- Sleep positioner
