Newborns may sleep 16 or more hours per day, states KidsHealth.org. Often this is spread into three- to four-hour spurts. Parents may find that their infant will snooze readily throughout the day, but when it comes to nighttime rest, a newborn may require more assistance. Helping your newborn sleep through the night begins with setting proper expectations. Newborns do not have the skills to soothe themselves to sleep yet. They also don't have a concept of night or day. Instead, they sleep when they feel tired. Having proper expectations and implementing a few simple techniques can help your newborn sleep.
Step 1
Swaddle your baby with a commercial swaddling blanket or large receiving blanket. Your newborn spent 10 months tightly snuggled in the warmth of the womb. Being able to move freely may not be comfortable to your infant just yet. For some newborns, being tightly swaddled will lead to sleep.
Step 2
Keep your baby comfortably warm. Newborns have trouble regulating their own body temperature soon after birth. Keep them dressed appropriately. This means one layer more than what you are wearing in the winter and about the same in warm summer months. Your infant may be chilly in an air-conditioned environment. Keep him wrapped in a blanket if you find that his skin is cool to the touch. Use a newborn hat to keep his head covered.
Step 3
Recreate the womb for a while longer. Transitioning to the real world will take some time. Keep the lights low; the womb was a dark place. Rock or move your baby to help lull him to sleep. Repetitive motion can help soothe your infant to sleep. Soft noise or music can help drown out distracting sounds or remind your infant of the noises he heard before birth. You can also try to lull him to sleep by making a moderately loud shushing sound at the same volume level as you would when speaking.
Step 4
Check your baby's diaper and offer him some milk or formula. He may not respond to other soothing methods because he is wet, dirty or hungry. Sometimes a full belly is all that a baby needs to drift off to sleep.
Tips and Warnings
- Try a swing or baby bouncer seat to get your baby to sleep. A short drive in the car may help too. Avoid getting tense or stressed when trying to get your newborn to sleep. He can sense this and can become uptight as well.
- Do not attempt to use a sleep-training method at this early age. Newborns should only sleep for four hours at a time to ensure that they are eating enough throughout the day. Wait until your pediatrician approves of letting your infant sleep through the night without eating.
Things You'll Need
- Swaddle blanket or large receiving blanket
