Getting your Baby to Sleep Through the Night: Practical Tips for New Parents

Parenthood is all about overcoming certain challenges. Most parents would agree that the first hurdle they face when having a baby is getting them to sleep comfortably throughout the night. If the baby isn’t sleeping well, then no one in the house is going to sleep well.

There are a number of tips that new parents can try to assist their child in sleeping through the night. In this article, we’ll look at some tips for new parents, and explain how your child’s bed-wear can help your baby sleep soundly.

Baby Bed-Wear: Baby Gowns

One of the more important decisions to make when putting your baby to sleep is choosing what they wear. One of the most common types of baby bed-wear is baby gowns. These one-piece outfits cover the baby’s torso tightly while leaving the legs free. Therefore, your baby is kept warm and is still given the freedom to move. These baby gowns are great, as the baby is kept warm and is not restricted in their movements. However, you may want to find an alternative for winter, as the baby gown is more of a summer option. Plus, baby gowns can ride up, causing your baby to become uncomfortable and cry out. This means that a parent will need to keep rectifying these situations if you have a lively sleeper. So, what’s our next option?

Baby Wearable Blankets

A baby wearable blanket is exactly what it sounds like. It is a blanket that a baby wears in bed. Sometimes called a baby sleep sack, this all-encompassing sleeping bag is a warm and cuddly blanket that fits snugly over the baby’s head and body. With baby sleep sacks, there are no loose materials left to cover your baby’s face, which makes them safer to wear in bed. What’s more, these baby wearable blankets cannot be kicked off during the night, which lessens the chance of your baby waking up. Anyone curious about baby sleep sacks can find them at Babysoy, one of the best sites to find sustainable baby clothes and accessories covering your newborn from head to toe.

Changing Baby Naptimes

Deviating away from nightwear, let’s look at some of the behaviours you can avoid when trying to get your baby to sleep throughout the night. Baby’s need to nap and a good way to achieve this is by putting them to bed between two and four times a day. This choice will depend on your baby, of course, but the most important part of baby naps is keeping the timing consistent. Make sure that your baby is napping at the same times every day, and not too soon after eating. Babies require consistency, and cutting out a rest they are accustomed to can disrupt their body clock, making it hard for them to relax at night. Also, try not to arrange naps too close to their bedtime.

Self-Soothing

It is natural for a new parent to rush to their child’s aid every time they cry. However, at night you may want to hesitate before soothing your child back to sleep. This practice is called self-soothing and it aims to teach babies to fall asleep by themselves. Therefore, it is imperative to take your baby to bed when they are starting to look drowsy and not when they have already fallen asleep. Then, leave them to go to sleep of their own accord, thus teaching them to soothe independently. Babies that self-soothe are more likely to put themselves back to sleep when they wake in the middle of the night, giving both parties a full night’s sleep.

Routine

A healthy routine is not just paramount to getting your baby to sleep through the night. A routine is a good way to charter your parenting journey and ensure consistency among your baby’s day-to-day activities. As we discussed with naptime, your baby should be placed in their bed at the same time every night. It goes further than this, though. Parents should repeat the same process for putting their child to bed for the night. This includes the time they are fed, the time you go for a walk, and even what activities you engage in. It is wise to start creating a relaxed environment before your baby’s bedtime. This routine can entail tuning off the T.V or radio, not making any sudden sounds and keeping your voices at a low and calm register. Once the child is asleep, you can go back to your original activities, but you may want to refrain from raising your voices until they are in R.E.M sleep. You’d be surprised how a change in behaviour can rapidly determine how your child sleeps and help you understand your newborn’s needs.