When you have a baby that wakes up in the wee hours of the morning, it can be hard to adjust. Although infants require a lot of sleep, their sleep patterns may not be in sync to yours. You can do certain things to encourage the baby to sleep for longer stretches. However, it is important to keep in mind that you can only encourage the baby to sleep longer and that the child may not cooperate. If you are worried about the baby not getting enough rest, speak to your pediatrician.
Step 1
Set a nighttime routine. Babies will respond well to a routine that you perform each night to help them fall asleep. Choose a comfort technique and use it to help the baby fall asleep. It could be nursing the baby to sleep, rocking him to sleep or singing him a song.
Step 2
Keep the baby on a regular naptime schedule. Set naptimes can help the baby sleep longer at night. According to the Ask Dr. Sears website, babies that have the same naptimes each day are more likely to sleep longer at night.
Step 3
Put the baby to bed at the same time each evening. Try not to adjust the time that you lay the baby down at night. In some cases, it may be advantageous to put the baby to bed later. For instance, a baby put down at 7 p.m. may only sleep until 5 or 6 a.m. Pushing the bedtime to 8 p.m. can make a significant difference.
Step 4
Use an overnight diaper. Some babies may wake up frequently due to discomfort from a full diaper. Diaper manufacturers now make absorbent diapers to be worn only during sleeping hours at night.
Step 5
Set the mood in his nursery. Use darkening shades and make sure loud and disturbing noises are blocked from his sleeping quarters. Soothing sounds, like a fish tank, white noise player and a ceiling fan can help the baby sleep longer.
Tips and Warnings
- Newborns need to eat every two to four hours and will not usually sleep for long stretches at night.
