As a new parent, you are likely to be faced with some tough decisions when it comes to your baby’s nighttime sleeping patterns. Although some babies will sleep through the night within a few months of age, most will struggle a little to find some kind of schedule. Remember, your little one cannot tell the difference between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Therefore, in the initial weeks of bringing your baby home from the hospital, much of what you do will determine how well your child sleeps.
To help relax your baby, you might try bathing him or her about 30 minutes before bedtime and then sing the baby to sleep while feeding. Once you baby is down, you will have the decision on how to handle all the awake times. Typically, a newborn will want to feed between two and four hours, which is normal. However, if you find your baby is waking every 30 minutes to an hour, something will need to be done so you can get the sleep you need.
Yes, some parents will pick the child up every time he/she awakens but if you know the baby’s tummy is full, diaper is dry, and the room temperature is right, you might enter the room quietly without turning on any lights and gently pat the legs or tummy to see if the baby will go back to sleep. If you find your baby is waking every night, pay attention to nap time during the day. For this, try shortening the amount of daytime sleep so the baby will be more tired at night.
Additionally, some parents will use a little white noise to help create distraction for the baby, thus providing a relaxing and restful environment. You can purchase various baby items specifically for this or consider a fan, putting it on low and facing it away from the baby. Additionally, keep the fan far from the crib and choose one with an automatic shut-off for safety purposes. Many times, just having background noise is all it takes.
The most effective thing you can do is be consistent. Once you find something that works, stick with it. For instance, when you put your baby down for the evening, say something such as “Time to go to bed”, teaching your child to relate those words to being put in the crib. The decisions you make on how to handle a waking baby will make a difference. After all, a well rested baby and parent makes for a much happier situation.