Most new parents tend to have one complaint regarding their new bundle of joy: The baby does not sleep through the night and the parents are sleep deprived as a result. Babies tend to wake every two to four hours throughout the night for various reasons such as hunger and diaper changes. Colicky babies tend to wake more often and are more difficult to lull back to peaceful slumber. Following a few guidelines may help your baby sleep through the night.
Step 1
Bathe and massage your baby before bedtime. This will relax your little one and help her associate bathing and massage with sleep, letting her internal clock know that it is time for a longer sleep as compared to a short nap.
Step 2
Reduce the amount and time length of daily naps. In order to do this, allow your baby to rest in a well lit room. This will promote shorter naps and more stimulation to the baby's brain. At night the baby will be ready to sleep all night.
Step 3
Avoid nighttime stimulation. Colorful toys, tickling and play should be saved for daylight hours. This will help ease the baby into a relaxed state and sleep.
Step 4
Swaddle your baby tightly. In the early months of a baby's life, this simulates the feeling of the womb and comforts your baby, helping aid in peacefulness.
Step 5
Go to bed in the same room and at the same time as your baby every night. Once the baby sees that you are going to sleep in the same room as him, then he will feel more comfortable and his little body will get used to this pattern at bedtime, helping ease him to sleep easily and promoting longer sleep patterns.
Tips and Warnings
- Babies need to learn day and night patterns early in infancy. Establish bedtime rituals to help your baby establish restful sleeping patterns.
- According to the St. Louis University School of Medicine you should not allow your baby to sleep in the bed with you. This poses a 40 percent higher risk of suffocation to the baby.
