A newborn baby doesn’t know the meaning of what night and day is. A sleep routine for a newborn is wildly unpredictable. In case you’re reading this in anticipation of the birth of your first child, you should expect to be woken up persistently, no matter what time of night. Here are some effective new parent tips to help your baby start sleeping better.

New babies most often are not able to sleep through the night until they have at least doubled their weight. Partly, this is due to the fact that a baby’s stomach carries a maximum of 3 to 4 hour’s worth of nutrition.

So every few hours she will be waking up and crying. Without wanting to sound cruel, you should whenever possible try and implement the fact that night is for sleep from very early on.  This does not mean letting her cry when she needs attention but rather doing things in a way that gives her less attention than she would expect in the daytime (example: try and keep the lights off for instance.)

What Makes Babies Sleep at Night?

You can try and make her nap a little less in the afternoon time as this will naturally tire her out more during the night time and help her sleep better.

Did you know that for a lot of adults with persistent sleep problems stem from the early development years of a child’s life? This is the exact reason why it’s so important for your child to associate sleep with a sense of restfulness and peace. You can help create those conditions.

11 Essential New Parent Tips

1. When your baby naps in the day time use a well-lit area. This will help keep the naps shorter and may encourage him to sleep better after bedtime. A baby sleep aid worth trying.   

2. Feed your baby more during the day. This will help her meet her needs during the night so that she is likely to sleep better. Every minute counts when it comes to sleep within the first few weeks of birth.  

3. Carry your baby more. Particularly in the evenings as this keeps the body relaxed which is likely to lead to a more restless transition to Snoozeland. Better sleep through the night for a relaxed baby.

4. Remain patient and stay flexible. If the sleep routine you are trying does not seem to be working then do not be afraid to try something new. Try and try again. The only way to know what works is by testing.

5. Be observant. Where do you notice your baby sleeping well? If there is a “special place” that she dozes off quicker, try and make that her sleeping place. Maybe a certain baby sleep song or sounds will get the job done.  

6. Try and ensure your baby has a pleasant day. As odd as it may sound, the more peaceful your baby’s day, the greater the chance your baby will also enjoy a good night’s sleep. Some research suggests that babies that are held more during the day sleep better at night.

7. Depending on the baby, sometimes a warm bath and massage can lull babies into sleep at bedtime. You do need to see if this is right for her as this method can actually make some babies more stimulated. Trial and error is the best way to find out.

8. A blend of soothing stimuli can help your baby sleep better too. For instance after a warm bath and massage, hugging your baby and then breastfeeding her is very soothing and can help bring the onset of sleep naturally.

9. What your baby wears during sleep can also be a factor. Babies in the early months are known to prefer sleeping slightly tighter (snugly wrapped in a nice baby blanket or baby swaddle). If your baby is prone to allergies it may irritate her more during the night – when this is the case remember to use pure cotton sleepwear.

10. Try and minimize chances for physical discomforts. Things such as having a peaceful and quiet environment, ensuring diapers are dry and comfortable and making sure that the air is free or irritants are all very important.

11. The room temperature can also have a significant impact on your baby’s sleep. Apart from ensuring that the bed is suitably warm, the best temperature for sleep is 70 degrees with a 50% humidity.

Where Do Babies Sleep At Night?

You also need to decide exactly where your baby should be sleeping. Some parents insist your baby sleeps in her own crib and in her own room. Still other parents want their baby in their bedroom. Neither is right or wrong and there are advantages to both.

If your baby sleeps in her room you will likely get more rest for yourself since you won’t be disturbed by the sleeping noises that newborn babies make. Your baby may wake less often if she is in her own room but this is not always the case.  

If your baby is sleeping in the same room as you, you might find it less disturbing and worrisome. And easy to be able to attend to tend your baby’s needs as soon as they get fussy. If you not only have your baby in the same room as you but also in the same bed, you should be aware of some of the dangers of sleeping in the same bed together.

The jury is still out on which experts are correct. Baby experts are completely divided over the issue of sharing the same bed with your baby. You will have to research the safety versus the emotional issues and decide for yourself if you are going to be bringing your baby into bed with you.

When Do Babies Sleep Well At Night?

You will most likely need more sleep than your new baby. You may be completely exhausted each and every day but keep pushing forward. New babies most often are not able to sleep through the night until they have at least doubled their weight. This usually happens when your baby is between 4 and 5 months old.

The following table shows the amount of sleep that babies should be getting. Keep in mind that this is just a guideline. Don’t be discouraged if your baby doesn’t fall within the norm. For example, think of the sleep routine for a 2 month old as more of a moving average for these numbers.

Baby’s Age (Days) / Hours Sleep Daily (including naps):

1-15 days 16-22

3 weeks 16-18

6 weeks 15-16

4-6 months 14-16

9 months 13-16

1 year 12-15

Best Baby Sleep Aid? Get A Routine

Once you decide how you’re going to handle where your baby sleeps and just how much sleep the charts say she’ll need, you’ll want to think about getting into some sort of routine. Whether she’s going to sleep any better or not, start to guide early evenings into some kind of nightly pattern.  

A sleep routine can be a soothing and comforting part of your baby’s night time ritual. It is a way for you and your family to incorporate sleep into the daily routine without it becoming a battle of mind over baby. As your baby grows she’ll understand that bedtime comes after bath time and may start to settle down if she is comforted by the bedtime routine.

If you cuddle your baby, lay down with her, or sing to her as you put her to bed, she will come to expect that anytime she isn’t ready for sleep. All she has to do is fuss and the pleasure of that routine will happen again.

You are not trying to play a game of control with her or deny her your affection after she has been put into bed. After all, it’s normal for her to want to be with you. What you are trying to do is make her understand that after the bedtime routine is complete, it is time to sleep.

When Do Babies Stop Feeding At Night?

A quick note on nighttime feedings, if you are feeding your baby during the night you won’t be able to establish that bedtime routine. If your baby’s needs include having to feed at night, you may have to delay a good sleeping pattern until she is ready to stop feeding during the night. Most babies stop feeding at night around 5 to 6 months.

Baby’s Sleeping Position & Bedding

Next we have to discuss the hotly debated topic of the baby’s sleeping position. It is worth seeing your family doctor for advice on this as there seems to be no one agreement for what a baby’s sleep position should be. Initially, it was thought that placing a baby on her stomach was the best position as it was thought to prevent baby aspiration (which is when food is sucked into the windpipe).

Recent studies seem to now indicate that the back is a better position as it is thought to reduce the chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In addition, an infant placed on her back is also able to breathe better. Again, it is worth visiting your family doctor or pediatrician for further discussion of this matter.

It’s also recommended that you refrain from placing your baby on soft bedding items such as pillows and quilts. The reason is that her breathing passage may become obstructed if her face is deep into a pillow or quilt – the safest thing to do is use a good brand of crib and check that the mattress is firm.

Baby Sleep Dynamics

There are further issues that could be covered under the “sleep” topic but over time you will discover your own bedtime rules and new parent tips. The best sleep routine for a newborn is done through trial and error. As your baby grows older you will find that her sleep patterns are constantly changing.

What you’ll have established with the use of baths and lullabies are certain characteristics that can be adapted to whatever bedtime routine you come up with to fit to your baby’s needs. With a lot of patience and love you will able to make it through the ever-changing world of baby’s sleep.