Newborn Sleep Tips- Sleep Consultant Vancouver BC

When your newborn baby gets up at night, you may wonder why she does it (and how to get her to stop). It can be frustrating for parents, who may worry that their child isn't getting enough sleep or growing properly. But there's no need for concern—here are some of the most common reasons why newborn babies wake up so frequently during the night and what you can do about them.

Don't worry if your baby isn't sleeping through the night, even at 2 months old.

Don't worry if your baby isn't sleeping through the night, even at 2 months old.

Your newborn will sleep in a predictable pattern for several months. Then the pattern will change overnight—and it may feel like you've been thrown into a bad dream. Your little one may go from sleeping 5 hours at once to waking up every few hours and needing extra help to get back to sleep again. This is normal! Babies don't usually start sleeping through the night until they're at least 3 months old and sometimes even older than that.

Don't worry if you can't get your baby to sleep through the night either--this is also normal! Babies wake up throughout the night for many reasons: hunger, discomfort or just because his brain needs more stimulation (which means he'll be alert for long periods).

Some babies begin to sleep through the night between 4 and 6 months of age.

Most babies do not begin to sleep through the night until they are between 4 and 6 months old. However, some babies may be able to sleep through the night earlier or later than this. This is normal and does not mean that your child is doing anything wrong!

There's usually no reason for concern if your baby wakes up several times during the night.

You don't need to be concerned if your baby wakes up several times during the night. Babies sleep in short spurts, so it's normal for them to wake up often.

Your newborn may need a feeding or a diaper change, or she may just be curious about her surroundings and want to see what's going on in the world outside her crib. Either way, don't worry—it doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with your child! She just needs a little extra attention (and love).

Encourage your baby to fall asleep on her own.

• Don't rock or nurse your baby to sleep.

• Don't fall into the habit of putting your baby down to sleep with a bottle.

• Don't allow your newborn to fall asleep in your arms, which can make it difficult for him to wake up when it's time for his next feeding (which will likely be every 2–3 hours during the day).

If a routine helps, create one, but don't stress about it too much.

For some parents, a routine can be helpful. This can help you and your baby feel more relaxed and secure in the early days. If a routine helps, create one, but don't stress about it too much. Babies are going to sleep better when they're ready—and that might not be at the exact same time every day or on their own specific schedule.

Consider your baby's needs when setting up a bedtime routine.

A bedtime routine is a calming series of steps you follow before your baby goes to sleep. For example, you can read a book, sing a song and turn on lullaby music as you cuddle with your baby in his crib or bassinet. A bedtime routine helps him develop a healthy sleep schedule and teaches him how to fall asleep on his own. It also gives you time to relax and unwind after putting your baby down for the night.

If you're having trouble getting your newborn to sleep through the night, try using these tips:

• Make sure he's comfortable in his crib or bassinet by keeping it at an appropriate temperature for newborns (around 21 egress C/70 degrees F).

• Swaddle him tightly so he feels secure at night—this will help prevent him from waking up during the night because he can't move freely or control his arms or legs. Swaddling also helps maintain muscle tone during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep—the most restful stage of slumber—which may help make it easier for him to fall back into deep sleep when necessary later on in life (and thus reduce awakenings).

Newborns have very different sleep habits than older babies and toddlers, so you shouldn’t expect overnight success right away.

Newborns have very different sleep habits than older babies and toddlers, so you shouldn’t expect overnight success right away.

Your newborn will need to eat every 2-3 hours, which means it can be a challenge for them to fall asleep on their own. They may also sleep for shorter periods of time, making it difficult for you to get much rest yourself. And because newborns often wake up several times at night, you may find yourself getting up with your baby in the middle of the night—this can cause your own sleeping patterns and daytime energy level to suffer as well!

It’s important not to get discouraged if your little one isn’t sleeping quite as much as you had hoped after birth—it doesn’t mean they don't love being held all day long (and night). In fact, newborns actually spend more time sleeping than adults do!

Conclusion

Hopefully, these newborn sleep tips have given you some ideas for how to get your baby to sleep. If you’re worried about your baby’s sleep habits or need more information about how to help him fall asleep, you may want to work with a baby sleep consultant. I offer newborn sleep packages, which help you set good sleep foundations from the start!