Of all the challenges presented by parenting, helping your baby learn how to sleep through the night is one of the toughest. If his sleep habits aren't good, it can put a great deal of stress on both him and you. Though it may seem like you have little control over his ability to sleep through the night, you can take measures to encourage him to sleep for longer after you put him down at night.
Step 1
Develop and implement a nighttime routine for you and your baby. Include things that help her settle down and give you a little quality time together, like baths, songs and stories. Your routine helps your baby understand the difference between night and day, which is the first milestone in learning how to sleep through the night.
Step 2
Keep your baby's naps on a reasonable schedule, and use common sense. Limit his naps to a maximum of three hours, and don't let him nap too close to bedtime, because this can keep him from sleeping at night.
Step 3
Put your baby down at night while she's still awake. As she begins to nod off, place her in the crib and quietly leave the room. By letting her fall asleep on her own, you're giving her the tools she needs to soothe herself back to sleep if she wakes up. This also gives you the confidence to let her cry for a few minutes at night if she wakes up.
Step 4
Keep nighttime feedings all business. Leave the lights and TV off, and don't play with your baby. Your goal is to convince him that nighttime isn't any fun, so there's no point in waking up. He'll eventually get the hint and stay asleep longer.
Tips and Warnings
- It might take awhile for your baby to get used to putting herself to sleep or to understand that the nighttime routine immediately precedes her bedtime. Be patient; she'll make the connections eventually.
- Make sure your baby's crib is a safe environment for sleep. Heavy blankets and pillows can increase his risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and crib bumper pads are a suffocation risk.
