Tips to Help Your Baby Fall Asleep

Having a baby is one of the greatest joys in life. It also can be the most exhausting time in your life. Though many people brag about their babies who sleep through the night when they are just a few weeks old, they are not the norm. More babies struggle to sleep for weeks, months, and even years.

Because of this, many moms and dads struggle to get through their days due to being sleep-deprived. Some of them can barely function, as they wait for the morning that their baby slept through the night!

However, it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some ways to help your baby fall asleep.

Get consistent with nap and bedtimes.

It really does help when your baby knows when he or she is expected to sleep. Babies with more consistent nap times also tend to sleep better at night. Their bodies will learn to know when it is time to relax and go to sleep.

Have consistent feedings during the day.

Many babies, as they get older, are too excited to be up and playing that they don’t eat as much as they should. To make up for this, they end up getting up every few hours throughout the night.

Instead, make sure that your baby eats every few hours all day long! Even if he or she fights it, you need to make sure that your baby is getting enough to eat throughout the day. You may need to go into another room to do so, but it will be worth it when your baby is full enough to sleep through the night.

Feed your baby a bottle before putting him or her down to sleep.

This will ensure that your baby has a full belly before bedtime. You want to make sure that he or she is full, but not overly full. The simple truth is that babies with full bellies are more likely to sleep longer at night. A little extra food may just get you an extra hour of sleep at night – which is worth it!

Have a consistent bedtime routine.

Bedtime routines help children get ready for sleep. Warm baths, cuddle time with parents, songs, and stories let babies know that it is time to get ready for bed. Their bodies will learn that, when you start this routine, it is time to relax and get ready to sleep.

Make sure that your baby’s room is just right.

It is important that your baby’s room is the right temperature for a comfortable sleep. You don't want it to be too hot that they wake up sweating. It also can't be so cold that they can't fall asleep.

You should keep it dark enough so that your baby sleeps. Some babies need absolute quiet at night, while others do well with some music or quiet noise. You will just have to play around with some things until you find out what helps your baby to sleep at night.

It can be so hard when your baby doesn’t want to sleep well. However, the sooner that you are consistent with your feedings, nap times, and bedtimes, the sooner your baby will know what to expect. His or her baby will notice that you are starting the bedtime routine and will start to unwind.

It is also important to make sure that your baby gets enough to eat during the day. Too many can't focus on eating, so they have to make up for it overnight. You may even want to feed your baby a bottle right before you put him or her to bed. A full belly will help your baby sleep longer!

It also helps if you have your baby’s room just right. You don’t want your baby to wake up just because he or she gets too hot or cold. Some prefer some music, while others need absolute silence to get any sleep!

Previously Published on Medium.