It is a tireless endeavor for every parent to help the newborn baby to sleep for longer. There is no standard formula to put a baby to sleep and have them sleep for a long stretch of time. However, with a combination of a few tips, you can get your baby to have longer stretches of sleep at night. After trying several things, you realize what works well with your baby. When your baby has enough sleep at night or during napping, it helps rest, relax, and be in a good mood. Therefore, it is prudent to learn how to make that precious baby enjoy longer sleep. The following tips go a long way in helping your baby sleep longer.
- Teach the baby to sleep independently
For a start, it is necessary to teach your baby to fall asleep independently. It will help the baby to fall asleep alone and for a longer time. When your baby learns to fall asleep independently, it helps fall back to sleep naturally after briefly waking up during sleep time. Otherwise, the baby will resort to crying without any particular need. In the process, a lot of sleep time elapses. When you teach your baby to fall asleep independently, it becomes easier to drift back to sleep in the night. As a result, the baby sleeps for a longer and better time. With the use of a routine sleep schedule, help your baby fall into a state of drowsiness, lay down while still awake, and gradually drift to sleep. Falling asleep independently and on quality bed from mattress warehouse will help your baby sleeper for longer.
- Develop a sleep time routine
Your baby’s world is usually chaotic unless you help put some order in it. Developing a consistent routine will help your baby to settle before and after sleep. Usually, your baby will thrive on a daily routine. Develop a bedtime routine for your baby. The bedtime routine may include a night bath, lullaby, swaddling, a simple message, or feeding. Adhering to a consistent routine will help the baby learn that sleep follows after given bedtime activities. The same is equally necessary during the day for effective napping. Daytime pre-nap routine may include carrying the baby to the room, shutting the room blinds, swaddling, and placing the baby in bed. At times you can have some soothing sleep music in the background. It will help the baby to drift to sleep. Developing a sleep time routine will help your baby to have a consistent and longer sleep time.
- Do not rush in
At times your baby wakes up during sleep, babble, or cry briefly, and falls back to sleep. Rushing in whenever the baby wakes up is not the ideal practice. Your rushing to watch the baby during such sleep interludes could be unknowingly encouraging a bad sleep habit. Interestingly, the baby can babble or cry in sleep. It is wise to give yourself some time and wait to see whether the baby settles back to sleep. It helps to avoid breaking sleep time. A monitored waiting to see if the baby has settled will always help. On the contrary, if the crying persists, it is high time to check on your baby and give the required attention. All in all, do not just rush in whenever your baby makes the slightest sign of waking up.
- Stick to the wake, eat, play, sleep cycle
Your baby usually wakes up hungry. Immediately the baby wakes, you are required to ensure that there is proper feeding. After eating, the baby stays awake for a while to play. In the process of playing, your baby will become drowsy and drift to sleep. After waking, the baby has the energy to feed, and it helps to stay longer between the feedings. Feeding your baby after sleep ensures that the baby does not relate food with sleep time. However, this does not prevent you from feeding your baby before sleeping if need be. After eating, your baby is not only energetic enough but also fully awake to play. Frequent feeding and playing enhance good sleep and the baby’s healthy growth and development. Therefore, consider sticking to wake, eat, play, sleep cycle for longer sleep time, and a healthy baby.
Sleep routine is so important! I’ve been fighting it so much, cause I have repetitive pattern at all, but I can totally say after almost 4 months – your baby needs it. You can fight it but it’s not gettin you anywhere. I got a book from my friend – How to teach a baby to fall asleep alone by Susan Urban and the says routine is a step one. And I can totally see a difference after just few weeks…