While babies love to sleep, they rarely sleep with any rhyme or reason in their first weeks. This can become extremely frustrating to parents, especially when it comes to sleeping at night. Many infants simply do not understand the difference between night and day, which is understandable. However, you can help encourage your baby to learn this difference and understand that daytime is for play while nighttime is for sleep.
Step 1
Observe your baby's sleep behavior throughout the day and night. See when she sleeps and how long she sleeps for. If you catch her sleeping a lot during the day, it's quite possible that she's got daytime and nighttime mixed up. Also, if she sleeps too much close to her bedtime, it can have a negative impact on her ability to sleep at night.
Step 2
Create a nighttime routine for your baby. Include peaceful things that will allow you and your baby to relax together, such as a bath and a bedtime story. Follow this routine each night, and your baby will soon learn that this is the precursor to bedtime. This is his first indication that nighttime and daytime are different, so stick with this routine and help him to grasp this concept.
Step 3
Keep your baby awake as often as possible during the day. Spending time with her and playing with her will help to keep her occupied, which means you have more control over her nap schedule. Look for signs that she's tired, such as irritability or rubbing her eyes, and put her down for naps at those times. Don't let her sleep too long during the day; anything over three hours in a row at any given time can interfere with her nighttime sleep.
Step 4
Let your baby cry when he wakes up. Giving him a few minutes to cry is a good way to see if he really needs something or if he just wants your company. If he doesn't need anything, he'll fall asleep after a few minutes, and it's this skill of self-soothing that will help him learn how to sleep through the night. If his cries don't let up, feel free to go in and see what he needs.
Step 5
Minimize interaction with your baby during nighttime feedings. Don't engage her in any fun, and keep the lights low in the room where you're feeding her. Doing this will dissuade her from waking up in the middle of the night. Once she realizes that it's no fun to wake up in the middle of the night, she'll stay asleep for as long as she can.
Tips and Warnings
- Be patient with your little one. It will take him awhile to understand that sleep is supposed to be done in patterns, not just whenever he's tired. By sticking to a loose schedule, you'll be able to meet his sleep needs and regain a little of your sanity at the same time.
- Ensure that your baby's crib and room are as safe as possible. Keep the room at a reasonable temperature, and remove items that include cribs and teddy bears from her crib. These items can potentially cause suffocation or overheating and should not be anywhere near your baby while she's sleeping.
Things You'll Need
- Infant bathtub
- Story book
