How To Make A Newborn Go To Sleep At Night

What Is Safe To Sleep

Since the AAP’s recommendation, the rate of SIDS has dropped greatly. Still, it is the leading cause of death in young infants. The Safe Sleep campaign reminds parents and caregivers to put infants to sleep on their backs and provide a safe sleep environment.

Here’s how parents can help reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related deaths:

For parents and families who have experienced a SIDS death, many groups, including First Candle, can provide grief counseling, support, and referrals.

Week 1: Transition To The Crib

If youre using a bassinet or some type of crib made for the newest baby you may have noticed its getting a little bit smaller. Thats because your newborn is growing!

Most bassinets are safe for 3 months or younger. As you get closer to 12 weeks its good to consider transitioning your baby to the crib.

To start make sure your standard crib is set up properly and that the mattress is at the correct height. You dont need any bells or whistles like blankets, pillows or bumpers to keep your baby comfortable. Safety is essential and anything like that is not safe for a sleeping baby.

Some babies do just fine getting placed in the crib. Other newborns might need help with the transition. In that case, start small. Use naptimes to get your baby used to their new sleep space and gradually add in additional naps or bed-time. As always follow the same nap-time and bedtime routine and always lay your baby on their back.

Understand Your Babys Sleep Needs

During the first 2 months, your newborns need to eat overrules their need to sleep. They may feed almost every 2 hours if youre breastfeeding, and possibly a little less often if you bottle-feed.

Your baby may sleep from 10 to 18 hours a day, sometimes for 3 to 4 hours at a time. But babies dont know the difference between day and night. So they sleep with no regard for what time it is. That means your babys wide-awake time may be from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

By 3 to 6 months, many babies are able to sleep for a stretch of 6 hours. But just as you think your baby is getting into a nice routine usually between 6 and 9 months normal developmental stages can throw things off. For instance, when your baby begins to associate bedtime with being left alone, they may start crying just to keep you around.

Also Check: How To Soothe Newborn Constipation

Pikin Wey Say Mama No Go Sleep: Nigerian Mum Ties Her Baby To A Mannequin In Funny Video

• A mother could not contain her joy after testing out a new trick to keep her child peacefully in a place
• The smart mother placed the baby at the back of a mannequin and used an Ankara material to tie the child firmly
• After observing that the trick worked perfectly, the happy woman thanked whoever first found out about the trick

PAY ATTENTION: You can save a live of girl at risk. Donate to Legit Charity on Patreon. Your support matters!

A Nigerian mother identified as Kaotharomowumi on TikTok tried out a trick on her baby and it worked.

The woman who felt disturbed by her baby placed the child at the back of a mannequin and held him firmly with a wrapper.

To her surprise, the baby stayed calmly and even smiled at a point. She was so excited that the trick worked.

The happy mother shared the video on TikTok and thanked the first person who found out about such tactics to use on a child.

PAY ATTENTION: Join Legit.ng Telegram channel! Never miss important updates!

In her words:

“Pikin wey say em mama no go sleep. God bless who brought this idea.”

Understand Your Baby’s Sleep Needs

During the first 2 months, your newborn’s need to eat overrules their need to sleep. They may feed almost every 2 hours if you’re breastfeeding, and possibly a little less often if you bottle-feed.

Your baby may sleep from 10 to 18 hours a day, sometimes for 3 to 4 hours at a time. But babies donât know the difference between day and night. So they sleep with no regard for what time it is. That means your babyâs wide-awake time may be from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.

By 3 to 6 months, many babies are able to sleep for a stretch of 6 hours. But just as you think your baby is getting into a nice routine — usually between 6 and 9 months — normal developmental stages can throw things off. For instance, when your baby begins to associate bedtime with being left alone, they may start crying just to keep you around.

You May Like: How To Relieve Colic In Newborn

Your Baby Is Learning To Self Soothe

Just like adults, its normal for babies to stir or wake in the middle of the night. However, to get them sleeping through the night without crying out for you when they do wake up will require them to learn how to self-soothe. During the 4th trimester, you did whatever you could to help soothe your baby. Around 3-4 months, is a good time to start a consistent sleep routine during naps and bed time gradually teaching them to self soothe so that as they are 5 or 6 months they have a predictable sleep schedule, routine and are able to self soothe most of the times. The Zen Swaddle and Zen Sack are helpful aids as your baby learns to self soothe because thy mimic the gentle comfort of your touch. Your baby will feel your soothing touch even when youre not there and cycle from one sleep cycle to the next thus increase their overall sleep duration. Also check tips on healthy sleep routine and schedule.

Can A 2 Month Old Sleep 12 Hours At Night

It is possible for a 2-month-old to sleep for 12 hours at night, but this is not necessarily typical. Many 2-month-olds still wake up at least once during the night to feed. Some may sleep for longer stretches, while others may only sleep for short periods of time.

Babies sleep 9-11 hours at night and 2-5 hours at daybreak. Babies who are soothed by their own soothing sounds return to sleep quickly after awakening. Babies should be alone in a crib on their backs at all times. Make sure your baby is placed feet-to-foot whenever you use a blanket. Remove all of the pillows from the crib. If you have a young child, create a smoke-free zone around him or her. After six months of bedtime feedings, it is not recommended to include them in your bedtime routines. Babiesbest sleeping environments are those with a dark, cool, and quiet atmosphere. When your baby sleeps, its a good idea to nap him or her, and ask for help to get some sleep.

Also Check: How To Get Newborn To Like Bath

Put Your Sleepy Baby To Bed

Starting when your baby is 6 to 12 weeks old, soothe them until they are drowsy. When they are on the verge of sleep, put them down and let them drift off on their own. Don’t wait until they are fully asleep in your arms this could be a behavior that may become a struggle to get rid of later in their life.

This routine will teach your baby to soothe themselves to sleep, and you won’t need to rock or cuddle them to sleep every time they wake up during the night.

If your baby has trouble settling down, try moving their bedtime earlier, not later. Being overtired can make it hard to nod off.

What Else Should I Know

Being small or large at birth doesn’t mean a baby will be small or large later in childhood or as an adult. Plenty of tall teens began life as small babies, and the biggest baby in the family can grow up to be a petite adult.

By the time they’re adults, kids tend to resemble their parents in size. Genetics, as well as good nutrition and your attention, will play a large part in how your baby grows in the years to come.

Whether your baby starts out large, small, or average, in the next few months you can expect your little one to keep growing fast.

Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Gas In Newborn Baby

Let Your Baby Work It Out

If you immediately rush in to help your munchkin fall back to sleep at the first noise you hear, you could be creating a cycle that will be hard to break. “As long as you know that they can’t be hungry, you can pause before rushing in,” says Turgeon, who recommends starting a “soothing ladder” from as early as day one. When you hear your baby fuss, pause for a minute and see if they can work it out themselves. “If they can’t, go in and do the least intrusive thingpat or shush but don’t pick them up,” says Turgeon. If that doesn’t work, you gradually climb the soothing ladder until you get them back to sleep.

“The point of the soothing ladder isn’t to make a baby learn to self-soothe overnight, but to give them enough space to allow their self-soothing skills to unfold naturally, over time,” says Turgeon. Plus, it may help you avoid a more traumatic cry-it-out situation down the road.

When Thing Get Off Track With Newborn Sleep

As mentioned earlier life happens and things can get off track. Dont sweat it if it does. Stressing about getting a newborn to sleep when things are irregular adds extra stress! Here are some things you can do when newborn sleep goes astray:

• Remind yourself that getting off track is normal
• Try to figure out the source behind the change, growth spurt, teething, change in development, getting sick, traveling
• If your baby is under the weather or teething do what you need to do to keep your baby comfortable and get better
• If your newborn is going through a milestone make adjustments as needed. Earlier or later bedtime, reduce nap schedule, change feeding schedule, these can help with getting your baby to sleep
• If your baby appears fussy due to gassiness work out the bubbles and discomfort before bedtime
• If traveling try to replicate the routine as best you can
• When things seem to get back to normal re-introduce your regular routine

Getting a newborn to sleep at night takes time and patience, for both of you. Hopefully setting the stage, remaining consistent, and trying a few strategies will help you get on the road to the best sleep ever!

Read Also: What Bottle Nipples Are Best For Newborns

Try Not To Stimulate Your Baby

Many babies are easily stimulated. Just meeting your baby’s gaze can engage their attention and signal it’s playtime.

Try not to engage too much with your baby when they wake up this could inadvertently encourage them to snap out of their sleep zone. The more you interact with your baby during the night, the more they’re motivated to wake up.

Keep it low-key instead. If you go to your baby at night, don’t talk excitedly. Soothe them back to sleep with a quiet voice and gentle touch.

What Is Sleep Training

Sleep training refers to the practice of creating a bedtime routine designed to help your baby work on a 24-hour clock, the same way adults and children do. This can help them recognize when its time to sleep and when its time to be awake.

Sleep training can begin as soon as 4 months old when a baby is beginning to sleep for longer periods and is not as reliant on constant feeding .

You May Like: How Many Poopy Diapers Should A Newborn Have

You May Like: How To Activate Medicaid For Newborn Florida

Establishing Routine With A Newborn

Newborn babies will sleep on and off throughout the day and night. It can be helpful to have a pattern, but you can always change the routine to suit your needs. For example, you could try waking your baby for a feed just before you go to bed in the hope that you’ll get a long sleep before they wake up again.

Let Your Baby Cry It Out

One crying-it-out type of sleep training is the well-known Ferber Method, also known as “Progressive Watching” or “Graduated Extinction.” The goal is to teach your baby how to sleep on their own and put themselves back to sleep if they wake up during the night. Richard Ferber, MD, director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children’s Hospital Boston, developed this method. He advises parents not to start this training until their baby is at least 5 or 6 months old. Hereâs an overview of how itâs done:

• Put your baby in their crib — drowsy, but awake. Once you’ve finished their bedtime routine, leave the room.
• If your baby cries, wait a few minutes before you check on them. The amount of time you wait depends on you and your baby. You might start waiting somewhere between 1 and 5 minutes.
• When you re-enter your babyâs room, try to console them. But do not pick them up and do not stay for more than 2 or 3 minutes, even if they are still crying when you leave. Seeing your face will be enough to assure your baby that you are close by so they can eventually fall asleep on their own.
• If they continue crying, gradually increase the amount of time you wait before going in to check on them again. For instance, if you wait 3 minutes the first time, wait 5 minutes the second time, and 10 minutes each time after that.
• The next night, wait 5 minutes the first time, 10 minutes the second time, and 12 minutes each time after that.

Show Sources

Recommended Reading: How Do You Get A Newborn To Sleep

Settling Babies Aged 0 To 6 Months

Babies need to learn the skill of going to sleep and parents can help.

In the first 6 months, you could try holding your baby in your arms until they fall asleep. Use gentle rhythmic patting, rocking, stroking, talking, or softly singing before putting your baby into the cot asleep. These repetitions signal relaxation and sleep.

You could also try ‘hands-on settling’, where you place the baby in the cot awake and gently pat or stroke them till they fall asleep, comforting them with gentle ‘ssshhh’ sounds.

If your baby becomes or stays distressed, pick them up for a cuddle until calm or asleep before putting your baby back in the cot. Stay with them until they fall asleep.

Week : Look For Sleep Cues

Your cruising into having a 1-month-old! By now you might be feeling a bit more adjusted, recovered, and bonded to your infant.

Newborn sleep might be sporadic but now that you know your baby better, start looking for sleep cues. Take notice of the things your baby does to show that they are tired. Do they cry a certain way? Get fussy and then ratchet up the noise? Get extra snuggly or rub their eyes?

This newborn sleep tip will help you recognize when youre baby is telling you they want to sleep and will help you put them down with success!

Many times an over-tired infant is hard to get to sleep. However, when you see they are ready to sleep and you take action you will get better results!

Recommended Reading: How Much Formula Should A Newborn Drink In One Feeding

Make Sure Theyre Getting Enough Naps During The Day

Sleep deprived babies will sleep less, not more, so make sure to give them a chance to nap frequently.

During the first to eight weeks, they wont be able to stay awake much longer than 2 hours at a time. If they stay awake beyond that, they will get overtired, fussy and will have trouble falling asleep.

The ideal awake time for them will be at least 60 minutes, after which, you have to get them ready for a nap.

Is It Ok For Baby To Sleep 12 Hours At Night

Over time, the baby begins to fall asleep for extended periods of time. At night, a 4-month-old can sleep for six to eight hours, whereas a 6-month-old can sleep for ten to eleven hours. If she is one year old, your baby will sleep between 10 and 12 hours at night.

At night, a healthy Babywise baby should sleep between 9 and 10 hours. It is not necessary for babies to sleep for 12 hours at a time. Some babies require less sleep than expected. If your baby is happy and alert while only sleeping for 10 hours, he will most likely be able to sleep for that length. It does not mean that you are doing anything wrong or that your baby is sleeping poorly because he is not waking up at night for 12 hours. In ten years, we will be able to look back and consider todays concerns to be minor annoyances. Make certain you understand the milestones you should expect from your childs first year by reading my Babywise Baby First Year Overview.

Babies as young as three months of age are expected to sleep a total of 11 to 13 hours per day, with five to two hours at night and one to two hours during the day divided between two naps. Newborns will reach developmental milestones while sleeping, so providing the best possible environment for them is critical for their long-term growth and development.

Recommended Reading: How To Use Ring Sling Newborn