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How to help your baby sleep through the night
Getting your baby to sleep through the night is one of the single biggest challenges faced by parents. Sleep is a learned skill, even on a SleepyCat baby mattress and letting your baby develop natural sleep triggers and a rhythm without external interference is key for good quality sleep. Only after four months will a baby identify what relaxes them and helps them fall asleep, so allow your baby to learn what works for them and adapt your approach accordingly.
Here are a few tips that will help start the process.
Have a regular bedtime routine
Establishing a bedtime routine with a warm water bath, reading a book and a night time feed will signal to your baby that sleep is approaching. Every baby is different, some might prefer a light massage or soothing music, so trial and error works best to know what works for your little snoozer. Having a consistent, healthy bedtime routine that is simple and sustainable will be beneficial for you and your child.
Teach your baby to self soothe
In the event that your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, check up on them and provide some comfort. Once your baby is drowsy but not asleep, place them back onto the cradle and let them soothe themselves into a peaceful slumber. Reducing the dependency of a parent will ensure both you and your baby get some much needed shut eye on the longer run.
Establish a daytime nap routine
Sleep patterns are interrelated, and your baby’s daytime naps may dictate whether they will be able to sleep through the night. Reinforce your baby’s internal clock by establishing a daytime nap routine to track the sleep your baby receives. By doing so, you’ll ensure that your baby won’t be wide awake when it’s time to sleep and can sleep through the night uninterrupted.
Eliminate the fear of the dark
The ideal setting for your baby to sleep is in a dark, comfortable and calm environment. Normalize the dark by playing games, rewarding and praising your baby for every night they have successfully slept through. Eliminating fear of the dark is an important lesson so that if they wake up at night, your baby will be able to soothe themselves back to sleep.
Keep a calming ambiance
Your baby’s room should be kept at a comfortable temperature, stays dark and should have some white noise in the background. Babies can wake up to even the softest sounds, and white noise can provide that consistent, soothing sound that’ll keep them asleep by drowning out any other noise.
Getting your baby to sleep through the night is a lengthy process, so your patience will pay dividends on the longer run. Manage your expectations by remembering that your baby should be capable of sleeping independently before you start the process. Every baby is different, and studies have shown that parents do best when they follow their baby’s schedule and preferences, so keep adapting your approach and learn what works best.