How to make your baby sleep through the night?

Once you welcome your little bundle of joy, you will be very happy and excited. Then comes the responsibility of taking care of your newborn. 

One of the hardest part of taking care of your baby is making your baby sleep through the night. You cannot sleep if your baby isn't sleeping. Sleeplessness can make you feel tired and cranky. So the best way to make your baby sleep through the night is by sleep training your baby. 

Newborn babies sleep a lot, 16 to 17 hours a day. Babies sleep for 2 to 3 hours continuously then be awake for 1 or 2 hours. It may happen even at night times when your baby wakes up for feedings. By 8 weeks babies sleep less during the day and more at night. Most babies sleep through the night by 4 to 6 months. 

Do not make the mistake of keeping your baby awake in the day to improve night sleep. The more sleep he/she will get  during the day, the better he/she will sleep at night. 

Some reasons why babies may not sleep:

Hunger: 

If your baby is hungry, then there may be trouble in falling asleep. 

Colic: 

Gas or acidity problem in babies will lead to stomachache. Burp your baby after every feeding. Consult a pediatrician if colic persists even after burping. 

Dirty diaper: 

Dirty diaper will make your baby feel uncomfortable. Before making your baby sleep, check his/her diaper. Make sure it isn't dirty. 

Tight clothes: 

Make sure that your baby’s clothing isn't tight. Choose clothes that are comfortable for your baby. 

Illness: 

If your baby is ill, he/she may oversleep or find it hard to sleep. Make sure your baby is in good health. 

Start sleep training your baby once he/she reaches 3 or 4 months of age. Making your baby sleep through the night is an exhaustive task if you don't sleep train your baby. 

10 tips to make your baby sleep through the night:

Follow a routine: 

Do some tasks before making your baby sleep like playing, feeding, giving a warm bath before sleep. Follow these tasks daily. 

Day and night difference: 

To make your baby understand the difference between day and night, you must keep the baby's room bright during the day and dim at night. During the day, interact with your baby as much as you can. Don't worry about daytime noises. Don't play with your baby during night wakings. 

Swaddle: 

Swaddling your baby makes your baby feel warm and comfortable. But do not cover your baby with more clothing. Ensure that your baby is comfortable and not sweating. 

Check room temperature:

Do not make your baby’s room too hot or too cold. Too cold or too warm temperatures can make your baby uncomfortable. 

Well-fed: 

Make sure that your baby isn't hungry and is well fed before making your baby sleep. 

Self soothing: 

Newborn babies tend to wake up every 2 to 3 hours for feedings. Teach your baby self soothing techniques to fall asleep after feedings. Self soothing is when your baby awakes, calms down and then go to sleep again. 

Put your baby to bed drowsy but awake:

This technique will help your baby to learn self soothing. 

Being consistent: 

Be consistent in maintaining a sleep routine. After following the same routine for some days, your baby will get used to sleep at the same time daily. 

Do not make eye contact: 

When your baby is trying to sleep, do not make eye contact with the baby as it will make the baby abort mission. 

Read the signs if your baby is tired: 

Rubbing eyes, pulling on ears, being fussy. If you observe these signs, then its time for a nap. 

These tips will help you sleep train your baby. Once your baby is sleep trained it will be easier for you to make your baby sleep through the night. Also don't forget to take some time for yourself when your baby is asleep. You will feel rejuvenated and get the energy to take care of your baby by taking some time for yourself. All the best for your parenting journey.