How can I help my baby sleep through the night?

Benefits of a good nights’ sleep

Babies are such a blessing, but many parents struggle with the difficulties of sleep deprivation and wonder when their baby should be sleeping through the night. Mums can get desperate when they have to cope with other children during the day, and feel tired and miserable.

Most mothers can cope much better with my baby if they have a good nights’ sleep. They can respond more positively and have more energy and enthusiasm. A happy mum means a happy baby, so getting the baby to sleep through the night is worth the one to two weeks of training the baby to settle themselves.

13 ways to help your baby sleep through

Babies can sleep through the night at 3 months, but not all babies do. Here are a range of things that you may find helpful:

1. A full tummy

Give your baby a good feed in the evening (some babies, who are breast-fed want to be fed from about 5 till 7!). In the hope of a good nights’ sleep maybe let them stock up! Eventually, when about six months a final feed of solids about an hour before bedtime may help them settle.

2. Feed before bath

Think about letting your baby have a play and a bath after the feed. Although they may be drowsy after the feed it may be best if they learn to settle themselves in their cot, not rely on a feed to make them sleepy.

3. A comfort toy or blanket

Consider a comfort blanket, long-haired soft baby sheepskin or a silky sheet. Babies are sensory beings and love the soft feel against their skin it helps to settle them quickly. Find out what your baby loves. Eventually, a favourite blanket or soft toy will emerge that will help the baby to feel secure and reassured when they go to sleep.

4. Cuddling, swaying and patting

Encourage your husband or partner to spend time with each baby near bedtime and gradually go from play to cuddling, swaying and rhythmic patting. Some partners are very good at being patient in the evening, whereas if you have looked after the baby all day you may need some space. If you are a single parent you will need to stay calm and patient a little longer to settle the baby yourself.

5. Relaxing sounds

You may find soothing music near bedtime sets the mood. You can try classical music, relaxing melodies or just soothing sounds such as waves breaking or natural womb sounds

6. Put into cot awake

If you can, put the baby in the cot when they were awake but sleepy. Some babies cry a little, but the hope is that the baby will learn to go to sleep by themselves.

7. A dream feed

If your baby is less than three months old, consider waking them just before you go to sleep and offer a final feed. If you are tired and your husband or partner is willing it may be an idea to let them settle the baby whilst you go to bed. This way you will manage to get the longest stretch of sleep possible.

8. Be boring at night

If the baby wakes for a feed in the middle of the night, speak very little. Keep the lights dim, change the baby’s nappy (diaper), and then feed the baby and leave.

9. After-lunch nap

Consider putting the baby down for a nap after lunch. If your baby sleeps well you may like to try not to do any activities that interfere with this. This maybe your best chance of catching up with some sleep if you need it or getting on with things.

10. Consider using a dummy

You may consider using a dummy or pacifier if your baby likes to suck to get off to sleep. However, a word of warning. If your baby associates sleep with sucking you may need to get up in the night to put the dummy back in their mouth! If that happens, you may need to ditch the dummy, and encourage your baby to settle themselves.

11. Sleep in separate rooms

In the early weeks, you may prefer to let the baby sleep in a cot or Moses basket next to your bed. However, after a few months, you may prefer to move them to their own room. To avoid them waking you when they make little noises or just whimper in the night.

12. Give less attention at night

Under 6 weeks old, a baby needs regular feeds and will need to wake during the night for milk. When your baby is between 6 weeks and 3 months, if they have had a feed in the last 2 hours and their nappy is dry, try not to give them much attention between the hours of 9 PM and 6 AM.

At this age, if they wake again within 2 hours of feeding you may like to allow them to cry for between 10 and 20 minutes. Then give them minimal attention when you go into them for 2 minutes. This will help the baby learn to start settling themselves.

13. Drop the night feed, and offer water

If your baby is three months or more and a healthy weight try to drop the night time feed by offering water at night. When you start doing this you may need to offer the minimal feed to get your baby to sleep until 7 am. Then gradually change to just water.

When your baby has been sleeping through the night and unexpectedly wakes up …

• Go to their room, keep the light subdued and talk to them gently to let them know you are there. If they keep crying they may benefit from some gentle rhythmic patting
• When your baby is crying loudly, you may need to check their nappy and offer them a bottle of water. (If you offer a feed the baby may start to expect a feed and start to wake regularly)
• If the baby has a raised temperature or you think they may be in pain, they may need a pain-killer. Babies older than 3 months, may have Paracetamol or Nurofen for babies. Or an elixir of paracetamol and anti-histamine (such as Medised)  if they have a cold or cough. (My babies often settled and stopped crying the moment they tasted the medicine! Possibly a placebo effect, but in the middle of the night I was happy that it worked for me!)

Good luck, and all the best, Do not forget about yourself, parents sleeping tips.

Elizabeth

Additional Help: Baby Sleep Coaching Package

Unfortunately, I am not able to provide a free service answering individual questions about baby sleep.

However, if your baby is 6 months or older, for £500 you can book my ‘baby sleep package’ which includes:

• An initial phone call to discuss your baby’s sleep patterns.
• A detailed analysis of the baby sleep diary you’ll complete.
• A tailor-made 60 minute Skype session – for you and your partner – to work out the issues, help you understand your baby’s sleep, explore what your baby needs, and provide you with a detailed sleep plan.
• A daily text service, to find out how your night was, and offer expert advice until your baby sleeps through for 10 hours, for five nights’ running.

Please contact me to arrange your initial call.
Please note, spaces are limited, so you may need to go on a waiting list.