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BEST SELLING PRODUCTS
One of the biggest challenges for new parents is getting their newborn to sleep well. While newborns have unpredictable sleep patterns at first, there are ways to encourage longer and more restful sleep. Here are some expert-backed tips to help your baby sleep through the night.
1. Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine
A predictable routine helps signal to your baby that it’s time to sleep. Try following these steps every night:
✔ Warm bath – Helps relax your baby before bed.
✔ Gentle massage – Promotes relaxation and bonding.
✔ Quiet feeding – Whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, keep the environment calm.
✔ Soft lullabies or white noise – Mimics the womb and soothes your baby.
✔ Dim the lights – Helps regulate your baby’s internal clock.
By repeating these steps consistently, your baby will start associating them with sleep.
2. Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment
Setting up the right sleep environment can make a big difference:
✔ Keep the room dark – Use blackout curtains to minimize light.
✔ Maintain a comfortable temperature – Between 68-72°F (20-22°C) is ideal.
✔ Use white noise – A sound machine can drown out background noises and help your baby sleep longer.
✔ Swaddle your newborn – Helps them feel secure and prevents startle reflexes from waking them.
3. Follow Safe Sleep Guidelines
To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), always follow safe sleep practices:
✔ Place your baby on their back to sleep.
✔ Use a firm mattress with a fitted sheet in a crib or bassinet.
✔ Keep the crib free of loose blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals.
✔ Avoid overheating—dress your baby in light sleepwear.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing (but not bed-sharing) for at least the first six months.
4. Encourage Day & Night Differentiation
Newborns don’t know the difference between day and night, but you can help them adjust:
✔ During the day, keep the house bright and active.
✔ Engage in playtime and interactions when your baby is awake.
✔ During nighttime feedings, keep the lights dim and voices soft.
This helps your baby understand that nighttime is for sleeping and daytime is for being awake.
5. Teach Your Baby to Self-Soothe
Instead of immediately picking up your baby at the first whimper, give them a moment to settle. Gentle ways to encourage self-soothing include:
✔ Offering a pacifier (if recommended by your pediatrician).
✔ Patting their tummy gently instead of picking them up.
✔ Letting them fall asleep in the crib rather than in your arms.
At around 3-4 months, babies start learning how to soothe themselves, which can lead to longer sleep stretches.
6. Be Mindful of Sleep Cues
Understanding your baby’s sleep signals can help prevent overtiredness, which makes it harder to fall asleep. Look for signs like:
✔ Yawning
✔ Rubbing eyes
✔ Fussiness
✔ Staring blankly
As soon as you notice these cues, start your baby’s bedtime routine.
7. Adjust Expectations
Newborns wake up frequently for feedings because their tiny stomachs can’t hold much milk. While some babies naturally sleep longer stretches earlier, most don’t sleep through the night until 3-6 months old. Be patient and remember that sleep habits take time to develop.
Final Thoughts
Helping your newborn sleep better takes consistency and patience. By creating a cozy and safe sleep environment, following a soothing routine, and encouraging healthy sleep habits, you can make nights easier for both you and your baby.
At My Cozy Baby Nest, we offer soft swaddle blankets, cozy sleep sacks, and soothing white noise machines to help your baby sleep better.