How to Get a Baby to Sleep
Taking care of babies can give us an endless source of joy–or an endless source of frustration. A fussy baby who won’t stop crying can be one of the most difficult challenges a caretaker can be faced with, especially when they’re crying in the middle of the night. Learn how to soothe a crying baby with these suggestions:
How Many Hours of Sleep?
Some parents may worry that their babies are having too little or too much sleep compared to other babies. The average number of sleep time a baby should get depends on their age, as illustrated below:
Newborns to Three Weeks Old: 16 to 20 hours a day
Three to Six Weeks Old: 16 to 18 hours a day
Six Weeks to Four Months: 16 to 18 hours a day, with longer night sleeps and shorter naps
Nine Months: 11-12 hours per night with two naps of around an hour each
Don’t worry if your baby sleeps a little less or a little more of the average sleep time. The point of this list is to help you determine if your baby is getting enough rest and sleep.
Helping Baby Sleep
While it’s true that some babies are fussier than others, you can all apply the suggestions mentioned for your baby. Using a combined approach of the different suggestions and having someone to help you out during the more difficult moments can help ease off the stress. Here’s some suggestions:
Night and Day. Babies, especially newborn ones, don’t know how to differentiate night from day. When they can differentiate the two, they may become less fussy and restless. While most babies need more sleep than fully-grown adults, you can help them be familiar with daytime by talking to them softly and having bright lights around. During nighttime, try to keep the noise and your voice down and dim the lights. Another tip is to nap when your baby naps. By having your baby get used to your sleep patterns, the more likelihood that your baby will be active during the daytime and docile during the nighttime.
Sleep and Awake. Having your baby caught in a perpetual fussy half-sleep can be solved by establishing when the baby should be awake. Encourage your baby to awake by playing or talking to him when he’s just woken, and encourage him to sleep when he should be sleeping.
Establish a Ritual. A warm bath, fresh soft clothes and a soothing lullaby just before bedtime will help your baby cue in on when to go to sleep.
Sleep Next to the Baby. If you can, put the crib or the cot where your baby sleeps in near yours. The baby will feel much better knowing you are within sight.
Give Different Responses. Babies cry to signal that something is wrong: he or she may be hungry, needs to be changed, is uncomfortable or may be feeling unwell. It’s recommended that you do not always follow the same pattern of response when picking up your baby. Rather, try a variety of responses and range it from minor (a few movements, soothing noises) to more active responses such as picking up the baby and singing to him. If you make the baby get used to an active response all the time, minor responses won’t soothe him in the future. Generally, though, you can mix up your responses with feeding, tummy-patting, singing, rocking, snuggling and reassuring the baby.
Make Baby Comfortable. Babies can be very sensitive, and discomfort can really keep him or her wailing all throughout the night. Check their noses for blockage, their sleepwear and check if there are certain things that they may be allergic to, like air freshener or the detergent that you use to launder the baby clothes. Your baby may also be allergic to something, so check with your pediatrician or an allergist to help you determine what the allergens may be.
Baby’s Favorite Toy. Having a blanket or a stuffed toy nearby for baby to clutch to can also help him or her go to sleep. These items are sometimes called “transition toys” which help the baby become more comfortable and transition easier into sleeping.
Love the Cot. Make the baby more comfortable in the cot or crib he or she is sleeping in by not taking him or her out of the cot immediately when you don’t have to. If you do, your baby will quickly realize that the cot equals sleep and may put up a bigger fuss about getting back in the cot than she should.