Expert Guide on How to Get Your Newborn Baby to Sleep

The universal woe of new parents: how to make newborn baby sleep? New parents always struggle to make their baby sleep. The first few weeks with newborns are hard, especially because the baby consistently makes sounds throughout the night. Staying awake with babies can be an exhausting job, depleting your energy levels for the next day. In this article, we’ll discuss some tips on how to make newborn baby sleep to make your life easier.

8 Tips on How to Make Newborn Baby Sleep

Here are 8 tips you can follow to help your newborn baby fall and stay asleep:

1. Clear The Clutter

Keep your baby’s cradle free of toys and other knick-knacks just like you keep your bed clear and tidy. It is important to keep their crib mess-free as these things can distract your baby and stimulate their senses. The clearer their sleeping area is, the easier and calmer they will sleep.

2. Room-share But Don't Bed-share

It is recommended to make your baby sleep in the same room as you for at least the first six months of life and even up to a year. However, you should not make them sleep in the same bed as you. You can follow the ABC safe sleeping technique. Make baby sleep Alone, on the Back, and in a Crib. Avoid making a baby sleep sideways or on the tummy.

3. Keep Baby Cool

Your baby will sleep soundly if the room temperature is cool and consistent. Overheating the room temperature can trouble your baby’s sleep. Check on the room temperature and make sure it is good enough for newborns. While sleeping, make sure the face and head of your newborn are not covered.

4. Try Swaddling

Swaddling can help your baby sleep more soundly and for a longer duration in the initial few months of life. It can help your baby feel safe, protected and cozy. So, if your baby responds well to swaddling and sleeps better, then you can make it a part of nighttime routine.

5. Soothe With Sound

Listening to peaceful and consistent sounds can help your baby fall asleep faster. You can try a white noise machine or baby sleep music to help cancel out any disturbances that may cause your baby to stay up.

6. Dim The Lights

Your baby can associate light with daytime, which may keep them from falling asleep. So, try to block out all the light from the room and avoid using any night lamps as well to help your baby fall asleep faster and for longer.

7. Let Baby Self-soothe

Instead of rushing to pick up your baby at every fuss or cry, allow your baby to fall back asleep on their own. Babies over the age of 4 months learn to fall asleep independently and you can encourage them by letting them soothe themselves if they wake up crying. Most importantly, you must refrain from picking them up.

8. Start Separating

Once your baby crosses the six months mark, you can start separating them gradually. Start by trying to put them for a nap in their own nursery to help them acclimatize to the surroundings. This will encourage your baby to sleep independently and fall back asleep on their own, in case they wake up in between.

How Long Should a Baby Sleep?

Newborn babies usually sleep around 14-18 hours a day. In the initial days, their sleep patterns are erratic because they tend to wake up frequently out of hunger. But as their stomach grows in size, they are able to sleep longer without feeling hungry and begin to develop a sleep pattern. A 3-month-old baby should take nearly 3 naps during the day and should be able to sleep through the night.

While your baby sleeping through the night may seem like a far-fetched dream right now but as you follow these expert tips on how to make newborn baby sleep, you and your baby will get there in no time.