The ever-changing sleep schedule of your baby is probably the biggest change you'll experience as a new parent. Although babies sleep frequently, it's not uncommon for babies to be unable to sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. A baby with developing sleep habits can put a tremendous amount of strain on you and your relationship with your baby. Fortunately, there are ways to help your infant to sleep for longer, which eventually will lead to him sleeping through the night.
Step 1
Monitor your baby's sleep during the day. If you find that she is getting a lot of sleep during the day and not as much at night, it could be a sign that she has nighttime and daytime mixed up. Try to keep her engaged as much as possible during the day, and don't let her nap for more than 3 hours at a time.
Step 2
Establish a nighttime routine for your baby. This will help him realize it's bedtime, which means he will understand that it's time for sleep and a time when you won't be with him. The routine doesn't need to be elaborate; even a simple story and some time in the rocking chair is sufficient. Be consistent with the routine, though. You can implement a routine about the time he is 2 months old, and your baby should quickly connect the routine with his bedtime.
Step 3
Let your baby determine if she needs to be woken up during the night. If she is sleeping, it's a sign that she is content and that all of her needs are met. When she wakes up, it's probably because she wants something, such as a diaper change or a feeding. Let her reveal these cues to you instead of waking her up on a set schedule. Waking her up only sends a message that she is supposed to be up at that time, which conflicts with your efforts to get her to sleep longer.
Step 4
Let your baby cry if he does wake up. Hearing your baby cry and not rushing in to console him doesn't make you a bad parent. In fact, you're actually doing him a favor. By teaching him to self-soothe, you're giving him the tools he needs to put himself back to sleep, which will significantly aid him in sleeping for longer periods of time. He might be able to settle himself down after a few minutes, which is a sign that he is learning to fall asleep on his own. If 10 minutes pass and he is still crying, it's usually a sign that he needs something.
Step 5
Keep things as dull as possible when attending to your baby at night. If you have to get up for a feeding or a diaper change, try to avoid playing with the baby, because this will convince her that nighttime is fun. Also, keep lighting to a minimum, and keep the television off if you can. By providing a boring experience, you're essentially showing her that nighttime is for sleep and daytime is for fun.
Tips and Warnings
- Be patient with your baby. Remember that he doesn't know he's doing anything wrong by waking up frequently at night. Stick with your nighttime routine, and try not to get discouraged. If you have to wake up with your baby in the middle of the night, have a plan ready. Knowing exactly what you're going to do will help foster the boring environment you're trying to create for late-night encounters.
Things You'll Need
- Blanket
- Story book
- Infant monitor
