New parents bring their eagerly-awaited baby home from the hospital, then wonder why they feel so tired when the baby has kept them awake most of the night. It can be an exhausting venture to begin raising a new life, especially when that new life has flipped his nights and days around--and yours. It's normal for a newborn baby to seem mixed up about day and night because he gets hungry, dirty and wet day and night. When he does, he'll wake up and want mommy or daddy to help soothe him back to sleep.
Step 1
Allow your baby to wake when she's hungry, wet or when she wants you to soothe her during her first six weeks of life. Don't try to put her on a true sleep schedule at this early stage. When she's hungry, she wants to eat and when her diaper is full, she wants it changed. She doesn't know that she's gotten her days and nights mixed up. When you put her in her crib, make sure to swaddle her before lying her on her back. Start putting a small stuffed animal or blanket next to her when you put her down as well.
Step 2
Keep your baby awake later in the afternoon starting at 4 months of age if he hasn't started to sleep through the night. He should safely be able to stay in his crib all night long. If you need to, start increasing the amount of his final feeding of the day and ask his doctor about starting rice cereal. This can help keep him full through the night.
Step 3
Begin getting your baby used to a nighttime routine with a bath, a story or time with you in a rocking chair. Make sure you put her down while she's still awake, but sleepy. If you wait to put her in her crib until she's asleep, she won't learn the skill of self-soothing.
Step 4
Continue to help your baby adjust to your evening schedule. As he gets older, try to maintain a consistent nighttime ritual so he knows what to expect when you put him in his tub, dress him in his pajamas, give him a bottle in a dimmed room and sing him a soft lullaby. Try to get him to bed at the same time every night so his body begins to make the adjustment as well.
Tips and Warnings
- During the first weeks home from the hospital, get up with your baby and take care of her needs. This period of time is important for her to get to know she can rely on you for love and care. Start getting your baby used to a sleep schedule as early as 4 months.
- If you're beginning to get frustrated because your baby is not going to sleep when you want him to, get your spouse's help. Give the baby to your spouse as you leave the room to calm down. It is better to allow someone else to take over than to get so frustrated you're tempted to hurt your baby.
Things You'll Need
- Small stuffed animal or blanket
