How to Make a Baby Sleep Better At Night?
Following fixed sleep routines, swaddling, and sleeping at an ideal room temperature might help the baby to sleep. According to research, 57% of 6-month-old babies don’t get proper sleep at night. (source: Science News)
RLT might also be an effective sleep therapy for babies. However, make sure a safe distance is maintained at all times.
Key Takeaways - Ways To Get Your Babies Sleep Faster And Better At Night
* The bedtime routine needs to be consistent.
* The baby’s surrounding environment needs to be comfortable.
* The baby needs to be fed right.
* Avoid any screen time or activities right before bedtime.
* Lullabies or soft music can help your baby get a quicker eye shut.
* Put in safe practices to ensure the baby stays healthy.
* Look for any health-related issues.
* Ensure the baby doesn’t take too many daytime naps.
* Swaddle your baby so that they feel safe and relaxed.
* Keep an ideal room temperature of 68° and 72°F
10 Ways You Can Make A Baby Sleep Better At Night
It can be challenging to get your baby to sleep better at night. So, here are some of the ways you can get your baby to sleep better and faster.
1. Keep a Consistent Bedtime Routine
A consistent bedtime routine keeps a balanced sleep cycle for your baby. You can start off with activities like giving the baby a warm bath or gentle massage.
This way your baby will feel much more relaxed and sleep better and faster at night. However, stick to this sleep routine to get faster and more effective results.
2. Create a Comfy Sleeping Environment
Keeping a comfy sleep environment is needed to help your baby to have a good eye-shut.
Always keep the room cool, quiet, and dark. For this, use certain blackout curtains so that outside lights don’t disturb your child’s sleep. Install some soft lighting as it will calm your baby even more!
3. Feed Your Baby Properly
Ensure your baby is well-fed before bedtime. A hungry baby is unlikely to sleep better. However, it’s a bad practice to feed your baby to make them fall asleep. This habit creates a sense of feeding dependency to fall asleep.
4. Limit Any Stimulation Before Bedtime
Reduce any stimulating activities before bedtime to help your baby wind down. Avoid any sort of screen time and active play at least an hour before bed.
Instead, you can engage in calming activities like cuddling or quiet play. This helps the baby transition from being active to a more restful and relaxed state.
5. Sing or Play Lullabies
White noise or even soft lullabies can help your baby sleep a lot better at night. Soft music around the baby makes them feel comfy and they tend to sleep faster. Make sure this sound isn’t too loud as it can easily disturb the baby’s sleep.
6. Implement Safe Sleep Practices
Go for any safe sleep practices to reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related drawbacks.
Always place the baby on their back while they sleep. You could even use a firm mattress as a bedding option. Keep the crib in your room for at least 6 months.
7. Address Any Health Issues
Respiratory infections, allergies, and reflux are some of the conditions that can easily take down your baby’s circadian rhythm. Therefore, when you see any such medical symptoms immediately consult with a pediatrician.
8. Avoid Excessive Daytime Sleep
Proper daytime sleep is necessary for your baby, but too much of it can interfere with the nighttime cycle. So, keep monitoring the baby's nap schedule and adjust the routine as needed. Both insufficient and excessive daytime sleep must be avoided.
9. Comfy Swaddles
Swaddling can give a sense of comfort and security to the baby. You could also go for a lightweight blanket to swaddle your baby.
This will keep the arms secured and even let them move their hips. Swaddling can also help reduce the startle reflex and help your baby sleep better.
10. Monitor Room Temperature
The right temperature plays a huge role in helping your baby get to sleep faster and better at night. The best temperature for a baby's sleep environment is between 68-72°F (20-22°C).
So, avoid overdressing your baby or using heavy blankets, as overheating can disrupt sleep.
Check out this video for better and easier tips
Possible Medical Reasons Baby Won’t Sleep At Night
Medical conditions can also be a reason for your baby to not sleep at night.
Check Out These Reddit Threads Of The Possible Medical Causes For Baby’s Sleep Disruptions
What are possible medical reasons for bad sleep in babies? : r/ScienceBasedParenting
Medical conditions? Baby won’t sleep : r/beyondthebump
Baby won’t sleep and I’m losing my mind. : r/daddit
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How To Put A Baby To Sleep In 40 Seconds?
The tissue paper method could be a remarkable method to put your baby to sleep. Gently stroke the forehead with tissue paper several times until the eyes close.
2. How To Make A 1-Month Baby Sleep At Night?
Reading, singing, and bathing can soothe your baby. You can also swaddle and give gentle cuddles to signal that it’s bedtime.
3. How To Make Baby Sleep Fast?
Create a soothing bedtime routine and use white noise or lullabies to get your babies to sleep faster and more effectively.
4. How To Get Newborn To Sleep Without Being Held?
Place your baby in the crib when sleepy. Now use a pacifier for comfort and then swaddle to mimic the feeling of being held. This will make the baby feel safe and they will sleep faster.
5. At What Age Do Babies Start Sleeping Better At Night?
When babies are around 6 months old, they tend to sleep better and faster at night. However, the timing can vary a lot among babies.