New parents often share their exasperation and helpless feeling, when their new baby will not sleep through the night. Many new parents have this fairytale image of parenthood and think their baby will be the one in one thousand who sleeps through the night from early on, only to be hit with reality at 1 AM, 2 AM, 3 AM and so on.
The truth is, most newborns wake up often, and their sleep periods are quite short, until a pattern is developed and they learn to get themselves back to sleep.
Learning to cope with this is the key. There are things that will help, but there are no tried and true solutions that will ultimately promise you 7 nights of peaceful eight hour sleep for a while to come, so it is best to be equipped and prepared to do what you can, to get the most sleep possible.
===> Secure a schedule for baby to sleep. A baby who is on a schedule will sleep much better and longer than a baby who sleeps here and there, whenever. Having regular naps during the day and a normal bedtime at night, will help baby to ease into a schedule.
===> Create bedtime rituals. Be it rocking, a bath, singing to them, or reading to them, doing the same thing every night, when it is time to go to sleep, will teach a pattern and will help baby to know it is now time to go to sleep.
===> Keep stimuli to daytime. Creating a calming, relaxing and boring atmosphere for baby's nighttime will help them to settle down more easily and quickly. If you offer playtime or other stimulating activities when they should be going to sleep, they will find it very hard to get into sleep mode.
===> Create a comfortable sleep environment. Baby's sleep area should be void of drafts or cold breezes. It should be moderately cool. Baby's room should also be dark and free of noise, so they can get a good sleep, without disturbance.
Soft music can be very soothing to an infant, and is not considered a noise that will wake a sleeping baby. Offering music in their sleep area can help to relax them and help them to stay asleep.
===> Once baby is asleep, let him try to ease himself back to sleep should he wake up. This helps him learn good sleep habits and saves you from getting up so often, once he has learned it. Should he seem too distraught to get himself back to sleep, go to his aid. But give him a moment or two, to see if possibly he is merely stirring a bit and will settle right down into good sleep.
===> If baby awakens and is not able to put himself back to sleep, comfort him, but do not visit with him. Baby will quickly learn that night time is for sleep, if mommy keeps their encounters short, sweet, and to the point (of sleep), when he awakens. Keep your tone mundane and soft, lights low or off, and offer quiet comfort to get him back to sleep.
===> If baby has a hard time falling asleep, swaddling is found to help many times. There are many swaddling blankets on the market for you to choose from. We have reviews of many brands within the review center. Swaddling helps a baby feel secure and will help even a colicky baby sleep better and longer.
===> Find what works for you and your baby - and stick to it. Well meaning folks will offer much advise, but you will be the one who knows your baby and what you are comfortable with. Don't let well meaning friends and family members coherse you into things you are not comfortable with. Be you and let your baby be himself, and find a pleasant balance for the two of you.
