A Good Night's Sleep
If you're one of those lucky parents whose new baby is sleeping through the night after just a few weeks, congratulations! Lots of mums and dads have to wait a good number of months before they can enjoy an unbroken night's sleep. There are however lots of strategies you can try to encourage your little one into good sleep habits.
Understanding baby sleep
Although it may not feel like it at times, babies actually sleep far more than older children and adults. In fact, a newborn can sleep for roughly 18 hours a day compared with seven or eight hours for an adult.
What makes your baby seem so wakeful is the fact that he never sleeps for more than a few hours at a stretch. That's because he has such a tiny stomach he needs to wake up regularly for feeds. The good news is that most babies are sleeping through the night by the time they are about six months old.
Your baby's bedtime routine
A good bedtime routine is a crucial part of getting your baby into good sleep habits. You can set a bedtime for your baby and start to follow a regular routine from as early as six to eight weeks. What you include in his routine is up to you, but you may want to try:
- A nappy-free kick to use up spare energy before bed.
- A warm bath.
- A song or story (it's never too soon to start reading to your baby).
- A cuddle and/or feed.
- Some soothing music.
- A goodnight kiss.
Whatever you choose to include in your routine, the trick is to do everything at the same time and in the same order every night. Knowing exactly what to expect each night will help your baby to relax and wind down ready for sleep.
Top baby sleep tips
Here are a few more tried-and-tested strategies to encourage your baby into a healthy sleep pattern.
- Learn to tell when he's tired – he may grizzle, rub his eyes or yawn to tell you he's ready for a sleep.
- Try letting him settle himself to sleep – that way he'll learn to drop off without relying on you to feed, cuddle or rock him.
- Teach him the difference between day and night – keep lights low and feeds and nappy changes low-key during the night to give him the message that nighttime is for sleeping.
- Set up regular naps and bedtimes – having a regular daily routine from about three months will reassure your baby and encourage him into a predictable sleep pattern.
- Wake him up in the morning – once he's a little older don't be afraid to wake him if regular lie-ins are starting to affect his daily routine.
- Try giving him a cuddly – the sight and smell of a familiar soft toy or blanket may help your baby settle for sleep.