Tips to Get a Newborn to Sleep
Sleepless nights are familiar and despairing aspects of parenthood for parents of newborns. Newborns sleep for a period of 16 hours or more a day in one- to two- hour intervals. These intervals can increase to, at least, five hours, by the time babies are three months, to nine to 12 hours when they are six months old. With some techniques, you can make your newborn a good sleeper and catch up on some good sleep for yourself, too.
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Keep Baby Busy During the Day
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Keep him active when he is awake. Talk to him and sing and play with him to keep him engaged. Draw up window blinds and let light in and surround him with sounds of normal daytime household activities so that your baby associates lights and such noises with being busy and not sleeping.
Establish Sleep Routine
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Babies that have consistent sleep schedules and nighttime rituals usually fall asleep easily and sleep longer, according to Ask Dr Sears. Set bedtimes and follow them consistently. Create a bedtime routine of a warm bath followed by rocking or cuddling, and singling lullabies or reading stories. You could also consider playing soft music in the background. Put your baby to bed when he is drowsy but awake. Sleep routines condition the baby to associate bedtime activities and drowsiness with the process of drifting off to asleep. This way, he automatically goes to sleep as you carry out bedtime routines.
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Create Sleep-Friendly Atmosphere
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Dim lights and block noises, such as a barking dog, ringing phones or a squeaking crib. Sometimes such noises can startle babies to an awakened state. If she awakens for feeding or for other reasons, such as a wet diaper during the night, tend to her needs and put her back to bed with dimmed lights, a crooning voice and gentle movements. This will convey to her that it is time to go to sleep and not time to play.
Be Patient
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Your baby needs to settle down before she can fall asleep. Give her the time to do it. She may fuss, cry or make noise before going to sleep. She may squirm, wriggle or twitch in her sleep. It is all part of the process of settling down. Wait for a few minutes to let her settle down to a comfortable position for sleeping. Just be there beside her crib. Sometimes, your baby may just need some reassurance, and your presence does it. Consider giving her a pacifier if she finds it difficult to settle down and keeps making noises. If she is still crying, maybe she is hungry.
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References
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