Getting your baby to sleep and ensuring they have regular sleeping habits can be very challenging for new parents, but here are some tips to get you started:
Put your baby down for sleep when their drowsy
According to the experts at House Call Doctor, instead of waiting until your baby has fallen asleep, put them down when they’re drowsy. This helps babies to learn how to fall asleep on their own. It also prevents the baby becoming upset or confused when they wake because things are different to when they fell asleep.
Don’t assume that your baby is hungry
Babies sleep for short periods and will wake frequently during the night. Give the baby some time to settle before feeding. You can try singing or rubbing their belly to soothe them.
Babies will benefit from having a consistent bedtime routine. You can try baths, stories, music and dim lighting to get your baby to sleep.
Stretch out the night-time feeds
Babies need to be fed every two to three hours, but as they get older, they’ll slowly stretch out the time between feeds. You can use this to your advantage by making sure your baby is full before they go to bed.
Don’t introduce solids too early
Introducing solids early may seem like a good idea as it will make your baby full, reducing the chance of them waking during the night. Solids can hinder good sleep as it can lead to gastrointestinal issues and potentially trigger food allergies. There is no research suggesting the introduction of solids leads to better sleep, and babies are not ready for solids until the age of six months.
Learn from your baby’s sleep signs
Your baby will have signs that they are ready for sleep, such as rubbing their eyes or yawning. Try to identify these signs and then you can plan your baby’s sleep schedule around them.