Photo by Yan Krukau: https://www.pexels.com/photo/baby-lying-and-sleeping-5791340/
When you have a baby, it’s so exciting, but at the same time, you’ll face many challenges. Some challenges will be a surprise, whilst others, like helping them sleep better, probably won’t be a surprise, as it’s a very common issue you hear from a lot of parents.
When you have a baby that doesn’t sleep very well, the nights can feel long as well as the day’s as you won’t be getting much sleep. Not to mention, when your baby gets ill, sleep is even more difficult, and it won’t be long until you are googling things like the best sleeping position for baby with stuffy nose in the hope of finding a solution that will have your baby sleeping a solid 8 hours, without waking up.
Good news, there are some ways to help your baby sleep better at night. From establishing a consistent bedtime routine, and learning your baby’s sleep cues to creating a comfortable sleep environment (this can include having a teddy bear) and avoiding overstimulation before bed, there are plenty of small things you can do to help your baby sleep that little longer at night, helping you rest and get a little more sleep yourself.
Below, we have put together our guide on tips for helping your baby sleep better at night. Keep on reading for five adaptations you could make, which could help you gain a few extra hours of sleep.
Establish a consistent bedtime routine
To start with, when you reflect on your baby’s routine, do you think they have a consistent bedtime? Babies thrive on routine, and creating a predictable bedtime ritual can signal that it’s time to wind down for the night. A bedtime routine doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be as simple as a warm bath, putting on pyjamas, reading a short story, and finishing with a feed or cuddle. Doing these activities in the same order each night helps create a strong routine that over time your baby will recognise, helping them go down a little easier and sleep for longer.
Learn your baby’s sleep cues
One of the most helpful ways to improve nighttime sleep is learning to recognise when your baby is getting tired. When they get tired, they can quickly switch to being overtired, which then makes it harder to put them down and reduces the amount of time they will sleep. Common sleep cues include rubbing their eyes, yawning, staring into the distance, becoming quieter, or fussing slightly. The more you look out for different signals, the easier it will be to spot the ones which indicate they are tired.
Create a comfortable sleep environment
This point is no different to adults or children really. When your environment is nice, tidy and comfortable, you sleep a lot better and longer, than if it feels messy and stressful. The environment your baby sleeps is no different and plays a big role in how well they sleep.
Start by making sure their room is dark and quiet. A lot of people buy black out curtains to keep out the light, especially in the summer months when the sun comes up early. The temperature of the room is also important, as you don’t want it too hot or too cold. If you think your little one will benefit from it, it can be useful to use a white noise machine, as babies can find this relaxing, instead of sleeping in complete silence.
Avoid overstimulating before bed
We all do it, get excited to see our baby, then accidentally get them too wound up that they can’t sleep – and don’t sleep as long. Over stimulating a baby is easily done and very common, which is why actively stopping it, can make a big difference.
Evening playtime should be calm and relaxing rather than energetic. Gentle cuddles, quiet songs, or reading a book can help your baby transition into sleep mode. Limiting screens, loud toys, and busy environments before bedtime can also make a noticeable difference in how quickly your baby settles. If you are letting them watch a screen before bed, try to make sure the colours are muted and that it’s a calming program instead of something highly energetic or vibrant as this can wake them up.
Put your baby down drowsy
A mistake a lot of parents do is rock their baby to sleep in their arms, then when they fall into a deep sleep, they put them down. Yes this works, and a lot of people do it, but this could be a big reason they don’t sleep through. Think about it this way, if you went to sleep and then woke up somewhere else, you would feel confused and uneasy, it’s the same for your baby.
Instead, try putting your baby down when they are drowsy but still awake. This allows them to become familiar with falling asleep in their cot rather than in your arms. Over time, they begin to associate their sleep space with the process of falling asleep, which can help them settle more independently when they wake during the night.
We know it can be stressful when your baby doesn’t sleep, but know there is hope. By making a few changes to your routine, you can make a big difference and before you know it, they will be sleeping a good 8 hours, and you’ll feel well rested. Start by making a couple of changes to their routine, such as putting them down drowsy and creating a comfortable sleeping environment and see how it goes. If it is a success, you could then introduce additional changes or, try something new if what you have tried doesn’t work – it’s very much trial and error!
What changes have you made recently to help your baby sleep better? Have you tried any of our tips above and had any luck with them? Are there any suggestions we haven’t mentioned which you think can make a big difference? Let us know in the comment box below. We look forward to hearing from you.