Babies are not born knowing how to sleep on a schedule. Parents often wonder where the phrase "sleep like a baby" comes from after spending many days and nights struggling to get their little one to rest. Changing your baby's sleep pattern may be necessary because he has his days mixed up with his nights. When a baby is not getting the sleep he requires, it may be time for parental intervention to help him get things sorted. Sleep patterns take time to change and establish.
Step 1
Have proper expectations about your baby and his sleep patterns. The Mayo Clinic points out that until your baby is 3 months old, she may not be ready to sleep for several hours at a time. A newborn will sleep about 16 hours in a day, but she will do it in small chunks of time. After the first few months, a baby may begin sleeping five hours at a time.
Step 2
Decide how you want to change your baby's sleep pattern. For example, decide if you are trying to get him to go to bed earlier or later. Decide if you want him to take more or fewer naps.
Step 3
Start in the morning after your baby first wakes up. Be sure to spend plenty of time playing with him. This is especially important if you want him to get to bed earlier. He will need to expend his energy to be sleepy earlier. Over stimulation is possible, so do not overdo it. Instill a bedtime routine before bed that consists of soothing activities, like a bath, rocking and/or a book. Repeat the bedtime routine every night to help your baby associate sleep with the activities.
Step 4
Slowly make adjustments to each nap time or bed time. Make a five- or 10-minute change to each. Start small, and adjust the time based on how your baby responds. If he seems to go to sleep at the new time, then try it again. Be patient as your baby may have created these patterns in the womb.
Step 5
Continue making small changes to the sleep times until your baby is sleeping according to the pattern you prefer. This may be accomplished in a matter of days or it may take weeks or months for other babies.
Tips and Warnings
- Put your baby to bed while he is still awake. Look for early cues of sleepiness, including eye-rubbing, hair-rubbing or yawning. Let your baby fuss a little bit after you put him in his bed. Sometimes a few seconds or minutes are part of your baby's self-soothing techniques.
