It has been said that you can always tell a new parent by the bags under her eyes. While this is not always the case, it is definitely true that the addition of a new child can cause many sleepless nights and long days. Although a newer baby will need to wake up during the night in order to eat, a baby that has reached 6 months should be able to sleep for the entire night, giving you the rest that you need. Taking the right steps for an optimal sleeping environment will help you and your baby sleep (and feel) better.
During the Day
Just as for adults, the activities during the day can promote a good night's sleep. Be sure that your baby gets adequate nap time during the day, as an irregular daytime sleeping pattern can throw off a good night. Talk to your pediatrician if you are unsure about your child's napping schedule. When your baby is up, spend time playing, singing songs and providing stimulating activities. Also, go for a walk or sit by a sunny window to soak up some of that sunlight.
A Bedtime Routine
Providing your child with a regular bedtime routine will help her to know that a good night's sleep is drawing nigh. Mayo Clinic experts recommend activities such as giving your child a warm bath, singing or reading to her or playing her soft music. If any of these activities cause your child to become overly excited, do not include those in the nighttime routine.
Separate Bedrooms
Up to this point, you may have been sharing a room with your little one to make those nighttime feedings a little easier. Now that your baby is old enough to sleep through the night, it is time for your baby to move to his own room. This will provide a good night's sleep for him because he won't hear you toss and turn. You will also sleep better because you won't hear every little sigh or whimper that he makes.
Self-Soothing
Your baby is also old enough to soothe herself to sleep at night. Up to this point, you most likely rocked your child to sleep then laid her down. Initially, you can still rock your baby until she is sleepy, then gently lay her in her bed to finish the task on her own. At this point, you can quietly leave the room or you can stand there and sing or speak softly, pat her back or simply stand there. The more your baby practices, the better she will become at soothing herself to sleep.
Midnight Fussiness
It is not uncommon for your baby to continue to wake up in the night. Just like adults, babies rarely have completely sound sleep. Do not rush into your baby's room at the first sign of disturbance. Instead, allow your child a little bit of time to soothe himself back to sleep. If you do need to step in and assist, keep things calm, quiet and dimly lit to prevent waking him up even more.
If your child is having difficulties sleeping through the night, there are many causes, such as illness or teething. Do not feel like a poor parent just because your child doesn't sleep well through the night. If you continue to have problems or are concerned about your child's sleeping patterns, consult your pediatrician.
