A common concern for new parents is how to get enough sleep to avoid exhaustion. Some babies are capable of sleeping though the night as early as 6 weeks old, but for many it won’t happen until 4 to 6 months of age. Here are some healthy sleep habits that you can develop early on with your little one to help everyone get more sleep.
Create a Consistent Routine: A series of activities such as reading a book, lullabies, rocking, swaddling, bathing, and feeding that occur in the same order each night help set the stage for night sleeping. Babies thrive on routine and consistency.
Make Daytime Feedings More Social: And by contrast, night feedings quiet and efficient to help differentiate day from night.
Help Your Baby Relax Before Bedtime: Give your baby a chance to unwind prior to bedtime, with quiet time and calm activities.
Have Realistic Expectations of Your Baby: Remember that your baby will wake during the night more frequently in the first months for feedings, gradually reducing that as your baby’s stomach grows. Each baby is different.
Stay Flexible: Remember that there will be times when your baby wakes during the night in spite of normally sleeping throughout the night, such as being sick, teething, or going through a growth spurt.
For additional advice, please view this video by Dr Tanya Altmann titled “SleepTips with Dr. Altmann: Help your baby sleep all night long”.
Do you have any tips that have worked to help your baby sleep through the night?