All newborns come with their own personality quirks and tendencies. Their sleep habits are no different. Before she was born, you may have been able to predict that she would be more alert at night, given her level of activity and movement inside your womb.
Teach your baby to develop sleeping patterns that allow her to get most of her sleep at night. Keep in mind that she will mix up days and nights for the first few weeks. It's up to you to help her know the difference so you and your spouse can sleep as well.
Step 1
Develop a consistent routine in the evening so you help your baby transition from wakefulness to nighttime sleepiness. Some examples of activities that help him transition to sleep include rocking, singing quiet lullabies or reading to your baby, writes the University of Illinois extension service.
Step 2
Learn what your baby's sleep patterns are. Some babies sleep in long stretches--up to 16 hours a day. Others take shorter naps and others take cat naps. Depending on your baby's needs, her nervous system needs to mature in order to become more consistent, according to the Mayo Clinic website. By the age of three months, she may be sleeping up to five hours at night.
Step 3
Encourage more physical activity for your baby earlier in the day so you stimulate him. During the times he is awake, give him mental stimulation by talking and singing to him. Play with him. Stimulating your baby mentally and physically helps him to sleep more soundly at night, writes the Mayo Clinic website.
Step 4
Learn the signals your baby gives you when she's tired and wants to go to bed. She might rub her eyes or yawn repeatedly, suggests the Baby Center website. When you spot these signs, put her down for a nap.
Very young babies--those less than two months old--may not be able to stay up for more than two hours at a time. If you try to keep her awake for longer by trying to move more sleep hours to nighttime, you're defeating the purpose. Rather than becoming sleepier later in the day, she'll only be overstimulated, cranky and unable to fall asleep.
Step 5
Teach your baby the difference between nighttime and daytime. During the first two weeks after his birth, you won't be able to do much about getting him to recognize that daytime is when he "should" stay awake. Once he's past the two-week mark, start exposing him to the normal sounds in your home--the washer, dryer and vacuum cleaner. Wake him up as much as possible for his daytime feedings, recommends the Baby Center website.
When he wakes at night for feedings or diaper changes, don't wake him fully. Instead, keep a nightlight on in his room so you can see when you go in to him. Keep the noise and stimulation level lower than you would during the daytime and try not to wake him fully when you feed and change him. Limit how much you talk to him.
Tips and Warnings
- Establish a bedtime routine right from the start. When she reaches the six-to-eight week point, start encouraging her to fall asleep on her own. Simply put her to bed when she is sleepy, but not fully asleep.
- Don't fall into the habit of nursing or rocking your baby to sleep. Even at very young ages, babies are able to start forming sleep habits that are hard to break. If you don't want to be rocking him to sleep at two years of age, don't get him used to this habit as a newborn.
