Tips For Getting Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
First, it’s important to remember that very young babies canât sleep through the night, as they need feeds, nappy changes and sometimes just a little comforting.
Still, from about the time your little one is 3 months old there are some things you can do to encourage your little one to sleep for longer stretches at night:
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Help your baby learn the difference between day and night by keeping things bright and active during the day, but dark and quiet in the night. At night keep feeds and nappy changes calm and quiet.
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Establish a bedtime routine. This could include calming activities like a warm bath, massage, cuddling, bedtime stories or lullabies. Soon your baby will start to recognise and expect the routine youâve established and associate it with bedtime.
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If your baby wakes up in the night, give your little one some time to settle before checking on him or her. If you baby isnât settled, a few reassuring words softly spoken from the bedroom doorway or a loving pat may be enough. If a feeding or nappy change is needed, keep the atmosphere calm and place your little one back to sleep in his or her cot afterwards.
Dont Let Your Newborn Sleep In The Car Seat
This is a contentious one, because weve all been there: Your baby conks out in the car seat while youre driving home or running errands, and the beauty of the bucket seat is that you can pop it out and transfer your sleeping infant inside for the remainder of her nap. But according to the AAP, allowing an infant to sleep in a bucket car seat thats been placed on the floor or clicked into a stroller is a safety hazard, as the babys head can fall forward and cause something called positional asphyxiation. Due to the angle of the seat design, its much safer to let your newborn nap in the car seat while its attached to the base and installed in the car. Letting your baby sleep in a car seat overnight when youre not awake enough to check on her is a serious baby sleep mistake. In fact, experts actually recommend limiting the time your baby spends in a car seat, bouncer or swing to 30 minutes, mostly for developmental reasons and the risk of developing positional plagiocephaly . However, wed like to acknowledge that this 30-minute maximum is downright impossible on road trips, for parents who have long work or daycare commutes, or when the swing is truly the only place you can get your infant to nap. Wed love to see some more research on this recommendation.
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Newborns really can sleep long stretches during the day and at night you simply have to use appropriate, gentle techniques to get there! Our newborn e-book, Essential Keys to Your Newborns Sleep, outlines a number of gentle, baby-centered ways you can encourage better sleep from your newborn. Learn how to create sleep-inducing routines and schedules, how to bond and communicate with your newborn, and more!
Persistent nighttime struggles demand a more intensive approach. Check out The 3 Step System to Help Your Baby Sleep. Using the same unique approach and practical tools for success, this e-book helps you and your baby sleep through the night.
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Learn More: Sleep Training
Read our complete Sleep Training Guide and our Q+A with Sleep Consultant Taking Cara Babies to learn more about sleep training and how it can help your family.
Use these tips if youre having trouble getting baby to fall asleep. And remember, the Zen Swaddle and Zen Sack are effective tools for helping babies sleep better and longer and they could be the key to teaching your little one to self-soothe!
‘sleeping Through The Night’: What That Actually Means
Sleeping through the night is usually defined as sleeping six to eight straight hours overnight.
But remember, thats only a fraction of the total 10 to 12 hours of sleep babies generally need at night, depending on age and stage, in addition to daytime naps. Meaning that even if your baby is sleeping through the night at 3 to 6 months old, you probably wont be for a while .
Infants under 6 months old can usually sleep anywhere from three to eight hours at night, depending on age and stage. And babies between 4 and 6 months old are developmentally able to sleep through the night without a feeding, but whether they do is another story. Babies, like adults, eat for comfort and pleasure, not just nourishment.
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Typical Sleep Patterns By Age Group
Your baby’s age is a key factor in when and how long your little one sleeps. The typical scenarios below can help give you a rough idea of how your babyâs sleep patterns could develop, and at what age he or she might start to sleep all night.
Keep in mind, though, that every babyâs sleep routine will develop at a different pace. For more personalised advice itâs best to speak to your health visitor or your babyâs doctor.
Baby And Children Sleep Chart
How much sleep does your baby need? When will your child sleep through the night? How many naps are normal now? Check out our age-by-age sleep guide.
Here’s a ballpark estimate for how much your baby or child should be sleeping, but remember that all kids are different, and some may need a little more or less than others.
Newborn-4 months
Naps: 7-9 hours
4-12 months
Naps: 4-5 hours
1-2 years
Naps: 2-3 hours
3-5 years
Nighttime Sleep: 10-13 hours
Naps: 0-1 hours
6-12 years
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When Can I Drop The 10pm Feed
Many babies right up to about 9 months old will struggle to sleep through from 7pm until morning without getting hungry by 4-5am. So we recommend doing a feed at about 10pm to ensure your baby has a full tummy to last until morning.
If your baby is over 10 weeks old, we recommend you try this feed as a ‘dreamfeed’. This means feeding your baby while they are asleep. This can help baby remain in a deeper sleep and it anticipates the feed before your baby wakes crying for it! It also means your baby doesn’t rely on the feed to fall back to sleep. for more info on dream-feeding.
Once your baby is sleeping through the night, you can gradually bring the time of the dreamfeed earlier…say by 10 mins each night. If she carries on sleeping through, you can then drop the 10pm feed.
How Long Do Newborns Typically Sleep
Most newborns sleep for around 89 hours during the day and 8 hours at night. Most also wake up at least every 3 hours to feed.
However, this timing varies widely. Some newborns may only sleep for 11 hours per day, while others may sleep for up to 19 hours per day. Also, newborns may sleep more or less than usual when they are sick or when they experience a disruption to their regular routine.
Most newborns also do not sleep in one stretch. They usually sleep for only about 12 hours at a time, though some may sleep a little more or less than this. In the first couple of weeks, it is normal for a newborn to wake up to feed and then go right back to sleep.
As newborns grow into infants, they begin to develop a schedule. They eventually start sleeping longer at night, though they may still wake several times to feed.
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At Night: Newborn Sleep And Waking
In the first few months, newborns usually wake several times a night for feeds.
Between one and three months, your baby might start waking less often and have a longer period of sleep at night.
By the time your baby is around three months old, they might regularly be having a longer sleep at night for example, around 4-5 hours. But you can expect that your baby will still wake at least once each night.
If your baby is premature or low birth weight, your paediatrician or child and family health nurse might recommend that you let your baby sleep for only a certain amount of time at night before you wake them for a feed.
When To Wake A Baby For Feeding
Newborns often cluster-feed, which means that they may eat several times over the course of 12 hours or nurse for an extended period. Most newborns should eat every 23 hours or more if a pediatrician recommends so or if the baby is not gaining enough weight.
Feeding a newborn whenever they show hunger cues such as rooting, sucking, or sticking out their tongue is the best way to ensure that they get enough food.
It is not necessary to wake most older newborns up to eat. However, those younger than 1 month old or so may not wake up when they feel hungry. Babies younger than 4 weeks old should not go longer than 45 hours without food.
To wake a baby up to eat, try brushing the side of their cheek. This can trigger the rooting reflex. Most babies dislike having their feet stroked. So, if stroking the cheek does not work, try gently wiggling the babys toes or gently stroking the bottoms of their feet.
Food needs vary from baby to baby. Parents and caregivers should consult a pediatrician or nursing expert, who can offer individual advice based on the needs and development of the baby.
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Safe Sleep Practices For Infants
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Practice the ABCs of safe sleep: Babies should always sleep Alone, on their Backs, in a Crib. Place your baby on his or her back for every sleep, night time and nap time.
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Do not put your baby to sleep on his side or tummy.
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Once your baby can roll from his back to tummy and tummy to back, your baby can stay in the sleep position that he assumes. But always place your baby to sleep on his back.
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Place your baby on a firm mattress in a safety-approved crib with slats no greater than 2-3/8 inches apart.
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Make sure your babys face and head stay uncovered and clear of blankets and other coverings during sleep. If a blanket is used make sure your baby is placed feet-to-foot in the crib. Remove all pillows from the crib.
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Create a smoke-free-zone around your baby.
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Avoid overheating during sleep and maintain your babys bedroom at a temperature comfortable for an average adult.
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Remove all mobiles and hanging crib toys by about the age of 5 months, when your baby begins to pull up in the crib.
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Remove crib bumpers by about 12 months, when your baby can begin to climb
For additional safe sleep practices for infants including information and video on choking, making a safe home environment, resources, swaddling and tummy time, click here.
Teach Your Baby To Self
When your baby wakes in the middle of the night and cries for you, its always okay to go check on them. However, try and limit your time in there with them. Make it clear that its still time to sleep, not play or eat. Place your hand on their chest for a few moments to calm them, then leave the room . The Zen Swaddle and Zen Sack are gently weighted on the chest and sides, which make your baby feel like youre still there. This can help ease separation anxiety, break the sleep association to be held to fall back asleep, and help your baby learn to self-soothe.
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How To Take Care Of Yourself When Baby Wont Sleep
There is nothing like the exhaustion new parents experience. Youre desperate for sleep. Its hard! But this too shall pass. Right now you may be asking yourself when do babies sleep through the night, but someday your teenager will be glued to his/her bed and youll long for the good old days. ?
In the meantime, if youre dealing with exhaustion, put these ideas into action, and hopefully youll catch a few more ?:
- Nap when the baby naps .
- Consider hiring a postpartum doula.
- Establish a shift schedule with your partner during the night.
- Eat healthy and stay hydrated.
- Exerciseeven simple walks with your baby can infuse you with fresh air and a boost in your heart rate
- Practice meditation or calming yoga to keep your stress levels low.
- Remove the temptation of technology from your bedroom so you arent distracted when you have an opportunity to sleep.
- Learn about your own sleep cycle so you can maximize the sleep you do get.
- Embrace self-care by doing your favorite activities or scheduling outings with friends.
- Practice safe co-sleeping. Some moms get more sleep this way others feel they get less. Try it out and see if it works for you.
- Try nursing on your side.
- Ask for help. It takes a Village to raise and child and we all need help. Find a sitter, friend or family. member to relieve you from time to time so you can SLEEP.
And perhaps most of all, dont stress! Easier said than done, I know. Babies arent easy. As they struggle to adjust, you will too. And thats okay.
How To Improve An Infants Sleep
The following tips can help an infant learn to sleep through the night:
- Prevent the infant from becoming overtired: Look for signs that the infant is getting sleepy. Signs can include drooping eyelids, slow movements, yawning, and rubbing the eyes. Taking naps during the day can help stop an infant from becoming overtired by bedtime.
- Keep a distinction between night and day: This helps the infant learn that nighttime is for sleeping. In the evening, dim the lights, use blackout curtains, keep noise to a minimum, and speak softly.
- Keep a consistent bedtime: This can help create a routine.
- Create a simple, relaxing bedtime routine: This could include a bath, a short massage, a story, or gentle music. Most infants will learn to link a bedtime routine to sleep.
- Connect a bed with sleeping: If the infant always falls asleep being held or fed, they may link this to sleep and not be able to fall asleep in bed.
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