Question: How Can I Get My Baby to Sleep Through the Night?
Answer: Here are some tips to help you get your baby to sleep for longer periods of time at night:
Create a Consistent Routine
Try to find a stable routine and stick with it. Putting baby down at the same time each night and waking him at the same time each morning can go a long way towards promoting night time sleep.Have Realistic Expectations of Your Baby
Try to be practical, and know the difference between how much sleep you'd like to have and how much your child is likely to sleep each night. Newborns can sleep around 15-19 hours per day, but they won't do this all in one stretch. Their stomachs are small, so they still become hungry in the night until they are somewhere around six months. At this time, you will find that your baby is able to sleep longer without waking to eat.Institute More Daytime Feedings
Try to feed your child more during the day. Even though your child will likely still wake during the night at least once, you can try to get him to eat more during the day so that most of his nutritional needs are met then, instead of during the night. This is especially true if your child's daytime feedings are short or if he is easily distracted during this time.Help Your Baby Relax Before Bedtime
Allow your child to unwind. As adults, we often cannot just hop into bed and fall fast asleep. We generally take some time to relax, read, watch tv or whatever else helps us wind down before we begin to fall asleep. Before baby's bedtime, keep noise and activity to a minimum and create some comfort rituals for him like reading a book or singing a quiet song.Don't Be in a Rush
Take the extra time needed to get your baby into deep sleep. The first fifteen to twenty minutes of baby's sleep is actually rather light. You may find that after feeding and rocking him to sleep, he wakes just as you lay him down in his crib. This is because he wasn't fully asleep. If you take the extra five or ten minutes to assure he is in a deep sleep mode, the difference in how much longer you both will be able to sleep could well be worth it.Be Aware of Special Situations
Remember, too, that there will be times when your baby will wake up during the night, no matter what. Be aware during these times, especially if the change in his sleeping pattern is sudden. This may indicate he is going through a growth spurt and needs extra feedings, or it could be the first signs of an oncoming illness.
Do you have a question you'd like to see answered? You can send your questions to me at babyparenting.guide@about.com and I will answer them here on the site.
More Toddlers Q&A