Every new parent would love to have their newborn sleep through the night as soon as possible. There are many things that parents have to do for the newborn baby that are really exhausting. There are ways to encourage your baby to sleep through the night and it is good to experiment with a few techniques to find out which one is right for you and your child.
Here are some tips to help you through the night:
Have a routine- Feeding, bath, and then bed is the recommended routine that new parents need to instill into their newborns to get them to sleep through the night. For babies, the routine is as comforting as a soft snuggly blanket. It is warm and they expect it. The routine gives them a feeling of stability and consistency and will enable them to have less stress about falling asleep.
Don’t rush- Snuggle your baby before you put them into their crib or bassinette. Allowing your child to fall asleep while snuggling gives them a sense of security and allows them to fall into a deep and productive sleep that lasts longer. Really. Try rocking your baby asleep each night in a rocking chair. This is a blood pressure lowering activity that is good for the baby and the parent. (Just don't fall asleep yourself!)
To comfort or let them cry? - There are varying schools of thought on letting your child cry versus comforting them. Really, this is up to you. If your child is crying uncontrollably and you know they are not hungry or that their diaper is not wet it is up to you if you want to comfort them. For many parents, the sound of a crying child is an immediate alarm that needs to be silenced through comfort and attention. Other parents may consider that they need to sleep for at least a solid hour at a time and may feel less inclined to wake up for every little cry. Some parents may set a mental time limit such as: I will go and comfort my child after they have cried for 5 minutes.
If all else fails, consult with your pediatrician as to how to encourage better sleep patterns for your child. And remember, it is all temporary. Eventually every child grows up enough to sleep through the night so you can too.
