4 Tips on How to Get a Newborn to Sleep at Night
As a new parent, there's plenty of questions you still want to ask. But one seems to stay at the top of your mind: How can you get a newborn to sleep at night? Putting a baby to sleep and having them stay asleep can sometimes feel like an impossible task. Oftentimes, just when you think you're all set, you hear sounds from the baby monitor and you're back to square one.
You've asked your friends and loved ones, searched online and searched through your parenting books. But it seems like everyone has a different "go to" method for helping your baby sleep. The truth is that no two babies are alike, but there are some baby sleep tips that can be applied across the board.
So, say goodbye to those sleepless nights and your third cup of morning coffee. We're here to give you some baby sleep advice that will help your entire family be more well rested. If you're wondering the best ways to put an infant to sleep, keep reading to find the answers.
1. Sound Can Be the Answer
One of the easiest baby sleep tips is using sound to soothe your baby. Unlike adults, babies have a harder time with noise at night. Traffic, creaks in the house or a dog barking can disrupt your baby's entire night. What can you do? Try picking up a white noise machine.
This machine can help drown out the other noises at night. But there's another benefit. Over time, your baby will begin to associate the white noise machine with sleep. Before you know it, your baby will be soothed by the sound and have a more consistent sleep schedule. Be sure not to turn up the sound too high and set up the machine in a corner of the room for the best effect.
2. Keeping it Cool
If you're wondering how to get a newborn to sleep at night, the room's temperature could help. Did you know that a baby sleeps best when the temperature is between 69 and 73 degrees? Being cool can help your baby stay asleep during the night. That means you should do your best to not over-bundle them. Try dressing them in thin layers, so you can easily adjust how warm or cold they’re feeling.
Make sure your baby's crib isn't directly around a heating or air conditioning vent. Not only will this help you keep your baby comfortable, but you also won’t have to worry about sudden changes in temperature that may startle them. After a couple of weeks, you'll start to notice your baby's temperature preferences and adjust the room temperate to their liking.
3. Data Can Be Your Best Friend
How to put an infant to sleep is a question that can be answered with data! Start by keeping a log of everything surrounding your baby’s sleep habits. Keep track of their mood, diet and behaviors leading up to each night before bed. After a couple of weeks, sit down and look to see if there are any patterns.
For example, if your baby has trouble sleeping every night after eating a certain food, changing that part of their diet could help. Keep in mind that you might not find something right away. This piece of advice takes a little patience, but keeping track of this information will pay off in the long-run and can be useful for other parts of parenting as your child ages!
4. Teach Your Baby to Self-Soothe
Of all the baby sleep tips, this one is sometimes the hardest to follow. When your baby wakes up at night, it's okay to check on them. But self-soothing means letting your baby learn how to fall back asleep on their own.
We know it's tempting when your baby is crying to pick them up and spend time with them. But if you want them to learn to self-soothe try to limit that time and give them a chance to calm themselves down. Some good baby sleep advice is to place your hand on their chest for a few minutes and then leave the room. That contact can have a calming effect on your baby. Once your baby learns to self-soothe, you'll be getting up a lot less during the night.
New Parents and Expectant Mothers Trust King's Daughters' Health
If you're expecting, knowing these baby sleep tips can help everyone in your family feel more well rested. But this is only one of the common questions our expert OBGYN's get asked. Contact us today or schedule an appointment to discover how our doctors use a knowledgeable and compassionate approach to help you have a healthy pregnancy. At Kings Daughters' Health, you and your baby are treated like family. Call today at 812-801-0856 .