Upon arriving home from the hospital, you may be anxious about your baby's sleep habits and find it necessary to have your newborn sleep with you or on you. But this routine may seriously disrupt your sleep, and soon you'll find it necessary to transition your newborn to sleeping alone. Naturally, after spending so much time snug and warm with his parents, newborns often reject this change in vents, and fuss and cry when sleeping alone. Knowing the correct bedtime routine protocol can help prepare your baby for sleeping alone in his crib.
Step 1
Place your baby in her crib when she is awake but drowsy, recommends the Mayo Clinic. Allowing your newborn to fall asleep while nursing, while rocking her or while sucking on a pacifier teaches her that she needs a comfort object in order to fall asleep. That means upon waking in the night, she'll need you to come soothe her. Teach her how to fall asleep without outside stimuli, so she knows how to self soothe herself when she wakes in the night.
Step 2
Swaddle your newborn before you put him down for the night. After months of being in the snug and warm atmosphere of the womb, a large crib can seem scary to a newborn. Swaddling him in receiving blankets can help him feel confined, warm and safe, and mimic the feeling of the womb for better sleep on his own, says EasyBabyLife.com.
Step 3
Use a white noise machine to drown out background noise and help your baby to sleep on her own. White noise sounds much like the "whooshing" sounds of the womb, comforting your newborn baby when she wakes to find herself alone. If you don't have a white noise machine, try using a radio turned to static.
Step 4
Follow a nightly quiet routine to prepare your baby for bed. With the utilization of the same routine each night, your baby learns to prepare for sleep and knows what will happen. It may take a few nights to institute the new routine, but once you've made it protocol, your baby will be better prepared for a longer sleep cycle, notes Pediatric Services.
Step 5
Switch your baby's large crib for a smaller bassinet. As long as your infant cannot sit unassisted or pull up on furniture, a bassinet may help her to feel more comforted in the night. She craves the feeling of warmth, and the smaller size of the bassinet can help her to sleep alone without the constant need of comfort from mommy or daddy.
Things You'll Need
- Bassinet
- Receiving blanket
- White noise machine
