Lack of sleep can be the most challenging part when becoming a new parent. If your little one is keeping you up at night, here are some tips that’ll hopefully get your baby to sleep – and stay asleep.
How much sleep?
How much sleep a baby needs varies by age and the individual needs of a child. According the National Sleep Foundation, the recommended hours of sleep are:
Hours
Newborn: 0-3 months 14-17
Infant: 4-11 months 12-15
Toddler: 1-2 years 11-14
Preschooler: 3-5 years 10-13
The younger your baby, the more restless and odd the sleeping patterns will be. By encouraging good sleeping patterns early on, you’re more likely to get some rest as your baby grows.
Getting baby to sleep
Condition sleep
Get your baby used to different sleep associations. Gently rock your baby while playing white noise. After a few weeks, your baby may begin to fall asleep with the white noise alone. The key is to move from sleep associations that don’t require your presence, so you can both rest soundly.
Set bed rituals
Try to get your baby to bed at a set time, every day. Babies with consistent bedtimes will go to sleep more easily and stay asleep for longer. Get into a night pattern before bed, such as a bath, nursing, followed by rocking. This regular pattern will help remind your baby that bedtime is coming.
Make the most of the day
Teach your baby that daytimes are for eating. Try cluster feeding during the waking hours so they don’t get in the habit of waking up in the night with the need to feed. Encourage activity during the day by singing, talking and playing. Keeping your baby calm and active during the day can help promote better sleep at night.
Set a nap routine
From the age of 3-4 months, get your baby used to a predictable daytime nap routine. Look out for sleep signals and structure naps so they occur roughly at the same time every day. They’re more likely to sleep longer stretches at night this way. Better still, coincide day naps with when you’re most tired so you can get some rest too.
Consider a pacifier
Some babies find comfort in pacifiers and fall asleep more quickly with them. The downside to this is that if your baby loses the pacifier in the middle of the night, you might have to get up regularly and find it.
Rethink allergies
Some babies won’t settle in synthetic sleepwear, so try pure cotton instead. Your baby might also have allergies to detergents, softeners or airborne irritants, so consider using a HEPA filter (which has the added benefit of white noise).
Wear your baby out
If your baby has trouble winding down after an energetic day, carry him or her around in a baby sling half an hour before the designated bedtime. When your baby falls asleep in the sling, ease them into the bed. Both mums and dads can do this – meaning there’s no pressure on one parent...
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