Sleep is an important part of your baby's growth and development process. The average newborn needs as much as 16.5 hours of sleep every day, according to Parents magazine. The quality of sleep your baby gets during the night can also have a direct impact on your mood and energy level. Help your baby sleep better through the night by using a few tried-and-tested tactics.
Step 1
Swaddle your baby with a thin blanket before you lay him down for the night. Swaddling, in which you tightly wrap your baby in a blanket, is a practice endorsed by Dr. William Sears, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Experts such as Dr. Sears hypothesize that swaddling makes your baby feel more snug and secure and less likely to wake throughout the night. Lay your baby on a small receiving blanket with the top corner folded down. Wrap one side around your baby, tucking the end under his body. Flip the bottom corner up and wrap the loose side around him, tucking in the opposite side.
Step 2
Allow your baby to fuss a little when she wakes during the night, suggests BabyCenter. Decide beforehand a time limit that you're comfortable with, such as five minutes. When your baby wakes in the night and you go immediately to soothe her, you could be making her waking even worse. By allowing her time to settle when she wakes in the night, you teach her how to self-soothe. Self-soothing can help her fall back asleep more easily, making for better sleep overall.
Step 3
Develop a predictable sleep routine, says KidsHealth, a division of the Nemours Foundation. The website notes that an overtired infant is often more difficult to put to sleep, so make sure that your baby gets consistent and effective naps throughout the day. Although it might sound counter-intuitive, allowing your baby to nap can make for better sleep throughout the night. Before bedtime, begin soothing activities that let your baby know it's time for rest. Give him a bath, sing him a few songs or turn on a white noise machine to drown out background noise that may keep him awake.
Step 4
Lay your baby on her back whenever you put her to sleep. It's the safest position to prevent sudden infant death syndrome, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Follow safety protocol when placing your baby in bed each night. Although giving her a soft pillow or thick blanket may seem to make her more comfortable, the AAP advises against it. In fact, the AAP warns that you should never place in the crib anything that could cover your baby's nose and mouth. When your baby is old enough to roll herself over, she can begin to sleep in the position that is most comfortable for her.
Things You'll Need
- Swaddling blanket
- White noise machine
