A baby sleeping through the night isn’t the norm.
That’s why sleep trying is a significant milestone for most new parents. It can be challenging because their need to eat usually overrides their need to sleep.
You might be lucky to get a couple of hours of sleep before hearing that cry.
However, it’s possible. With these tips, you can still train your baby to sleep through the night.
Establish A Daily Routine
Developing a predictable daily routine might be the secret to getting your baby to sleep the whole night. Most babies crave consistency; this can be a great pattern to follow.
So you can have things to do when the baby is awake.
That way, when it’s time to sleep, there won’t be any distractions.
Ensure your baby can easily recognise the daily patterns you put in place. Remember, a routine is not a strict time-based schedule.
Your baby needs flexibility significantly since they are still growing. Having a strict schedule can be harmful, so your practice should have room for error.
The best way to start developing a routine is to focus on the baby’s morning wake-up time.
Have the Baby Sleep in the Same Room as You
You dedicated time to decorating the nursery and making it welcoming for the baby. But for the time being, consider having the baby in your room.
Have them in a baby crib because adult beds aren’t necessarily safe for babies.
However, the progress might be slower when you sleep train in the same room. Babies can hear or even smell you in the bedroom and might want your help to fall back to sleep every time.
Plus, sharing a space for the first few months helps reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Encourage Good Sleeping Habits
There are some things you can do to encourage a full night’s sleep. For example, putting your baby to bed drowsy but awake is a great place to start.
Be sure to put them down before the baby is fully asleep. They can cry or fuss when finding the best position to sleep.
Don’t pick them up when they cry for a bit. The light in the nursery should be dim when administering care at night. Try to use a soft voice and avoid noisy distractions.
A calming, consistent bedtime routine is excellent for encouraging sleep. But ensure the bedtime routine is something simple and sustainable.
Prepare an Adequate Sleeping Environment
Ensure the baby has a safe and comfortable place that stimulates sleep. You should get a good quality cot mattress and baby pillow.
A pillow with memory foam supports the baby’s neck, and a firm mattress increases comfort.
The temperature in the room should also be suitable. It’s the little things that are going to help you in the long run. You should also try to avoid over-stimulating activities like watching TV before bedtime.
Creating a sleep-friendly environment will do almost half of the job when sleep training. But be careful not to fill the baby’s crib with unnecessary items. The right pillow and mattress are usually enough.
Try To Be Patient
Your baby might have been sleeping perfectly through the night and suddenly stopped.
Sleep regression happens all the time. Focus on the fact that the reversal won’t last long. Be patient and try to establish a routine all over again.
When you remain consistent, your baby might be back to sleeping through the night in a few days. Most babies enjoy bathing before sleep.
These are some of the things that might help the baby’s sleep pattern return to normal. You understand your baby’s needs better than anyone.
You can tell which strategies are worth implementing and which ones aren’t.
Stretch Out Night Feedings
Babies have to eat every two hours or so. But you can stretch the time between feedings to help the baby sleep longer.
Ensure you feed the baby right before bed, but take your time with solids. Some parents might rush into solids early, thinking the baby will be extra full and sleep longer.
Solids might hinder sleep and trigger stomach issues. So, get a go-ahead from the healthcare professional when you feel it’s the right time to start.
Also, babies sleep in short cycles of around forty minutes. So don’t assume the baby is hungry every time they wake up. Sometimes a little soothing can do the trick.
It might be tempting to soothe your baby all the time, but you must try as much as possible to resist.
Final Thoughts
Sleep training can seem impossible, but with the right tips, you can have your baby sleeping through the night in no time.
You have to implement sustainable strategies that can work for a long time. Be flexible because the baby is still growing and need room for growth.
When you’re too rigid with the tactics, it affects the baby.
Start slowly and improve as time passes; you don’t have to implement everything at once.