Newborn Sleep Tips To Help Your Newborn Have A Good Night's Rest
photo by: @sophia_illich
One of the challenges almost every new parent struggles with is getting their baby to sleep at night. With their tiny tummies, newborns need to eat every two to three hours so they wake up throughout the night to get the nourishment they need, and it's not until a baby is 3 months old that they may be able to sleep through the night without waking for a feeding.
But even if your baby is too young to sleep through the night, there are tips for newborn sleeping that will make your newborn fall asleep faster and sleep longer. This article explains:
- Why do babies wake up throughout the night
- How to get your baby to sleep through the night
- What makes newborns go to sleep faster
If you need tips to get your newborn to sleep, you’re not alone. Our sleep tips for newborns can help your baby develop healthy sleeping habits so they—and you!—can get the rest you need.
How Do You Get a Newborn to Sleep at Night?
Developmentally, it’s not possible for a newborn to sleep for eight hours straight—whether you’re bottle feeding or breastfeeding, babies from 0 to 2 months have to eat around the clock so they will wake up for a feeding anywhere from two to five times throughout the night. But there tips for newborn sleep that you can do to make the most of the windows of sleep that your newborn does get. Keep these tips to get a newborn to sleep in mind as you’re getting ready for bed every evening:
Establish a bedtime routine
Even very little babies can benefit from a familiar routine that eases the transition from being awake to being asleep, so establish a bedtime routine early. This can be as simple as reading a book and singing a lullaby before dimming the lights or a more intense routine that involves a bath, baby massage, and play time. Whatever routine you land on, be sure to be consistent to signal to your baby that it’s time to sleep. You can check out The Ultimate Baby Bedtime Routine for more newborn sleep tips on setting up a routine that will help your baby get to sleep.
Create a Setting for Sleep
A great newborn sleep tip is that the right environment matters. Make sure your baby has a calming sleeping space that’s safe and soothing, and remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that you have your baby sleep in your room but in their own bassinet or crib in for the first six to 12 months.
Take Our Quiz!
Need more help getting your baby to get their best rest? Take our newborn sleep quiz and get personalized newborn sleeping tips sleep tips delivered right to your inbox.
The Right Ambiance and Bassinet for Better Nights
What’s one of the best tips for newborn sleep? Make your baby’s sleep space conducive to sleeping by creating an environment that’s safe, familiar, and relaxing. Dim the lights, make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, and play white noise to soothe your baby to sleep.
The right bassinet can make all the difference in creating healthy sleeping habits for your newborn. While it can be a pricy investment, a bassinet like the MamaRoo Sleep® Bassinet makes it easy to provide your baby with their own safe sleep space in your bedroom like the AAP recommends. With its natural bounce and sway motions that move just like you do, the MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet features 5 unique motions, 5 speeds, and 4 white noise options so you can completely customize your baby’s sleep.
To learn more about how the MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet can help your baby sleep better, read Tips to Improve Baby's Sleep With the MamaRoo Sleep Bassinet.
Better Rest for You and Baby
If you’re having trouble getting your newborn to fall asleep, our sleep tips for newborns can help you teach your baby to sleep through the night, fall asleep faster, and learn to fall asleep even when they’re not being held in your arms.
And remember the most important tip for newborn sleeping: Patience is key. It may take some time to find the sleep routine that works for your family, but eventually your baby will sleep through the night—and when your baby can sleep through the night, you will too!