Helping a newborn sleep through the night involves establishing good sleep habits and routines from an early age. Here's how:
Establishing a Bedtime Routine
- Follow a calming bedtime routine: According to the provided reference, your routine will initially be set by your baby. Pay attention to their cues and create a soothing routine around them. This could include a warm bath, gentle massage, feeding, and quiet time.
- Be consistent: Performing the same activities in the same order each night signals to your baby that it’s time to sleep.
Encouraging Independent Sleep
- Put your baby to bed drowsy, but awake: The reference highlights the importance of placing your baby in their crib when they are showing signs of tiredness, but are still awake. This helps them learn to fall asleep independently.
- Recognize tired signs: Look for cues such as eye rubbing, yawning, and fussiness.
Settling and Comforting
- Give your baby time to settle down: Avoid immediately picking up your baby when they fuss. Allow them a few minutes to settle themselves.
- Consider a pacifier: The reference suggests using a pacifier to help soothe your baby to sleep.
Summary Table of Newborn Sleep Strategies
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Calming Bedtime Routine | Consistent, soothing activities before bed, like a bath or massage. |
| Drowsy but Awake | Placing baby in crib when sleepy but awake to encourage independent sleep. |
| Time to Settle | Allowing baby a few minutes to self-soothe before intervening. |
| Pacifier | Using a pacifier for comfort and to help baby fall asleep. |
