Parents will do all it takes to ensure their babies are always in a good mood and comfortable. Keeping a baby happy is more than a full-time commitment. This entails having to pull funny faces to get them to laugh, feed them every hour, and change diapers.
Even so, getting a newborn baby to sleep fast is one of the most difficult and hardest challenges most parents face.
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It’s more complex than it might appear, especially because your child will likely outgrow the methods you used to successfully put them to sleep within only a couple of months.
Some effective ways to get your baby sleep fast.
1. Infancy
- If your baby sleeps well during the day, you can assist them in sleeping better at night by reducing their sleep time by waking them up frequently and making the room darker.
- Because it makes babies feel safe and comfortable, swaddling is generally recommended as the quickest method for putting a baby to sleep.
- Give your infant a pacifier and work on getting them used to sleeping on their back if they resist.
- Swaddling your infant can ease the transition from the bassinet to the crib.
- Try making your baby’s crib feel like an extension of the womb.
2. Ages 4 to 6 months
- Check for soiled or damp diapers, which could make the newborn uncomfortable in their sleep.
- Encourage sleep with calming actions like cuddling, rocking, lullabies, nursing, swimming, story time, or bathing.
- Establish a regular bedtime regimen and stick to it.
3. Aged 6–12 months
- To reduce the number of times your baby needs to be fed throughout the night, try introducing semi-solid foods to their diet, especially right before bedtime.
- Give your baby a massage approximately 2 hours before bed. This will help them wind down and get ready for sleep.
Experts in the field of baby sleep say that massaging babies is one of the most effective techniques to put them to sleep.
- If you think that daytime naps are a contributing factor, try to limit them.
- Lower the lights and adjust the room temperature to your baby’s liking for a restful night’s sleep.
- Even though your child needs to spend their first few nights with you, you should begin to pay less attention to them approximately one hour before bed. Also, try to teach them how to fall and stay asleep on their own.
4. Toddlerhood
- In order to prevent your infant from experiencing discomfort while sleeping, check that the room in which they sleep is at the appropriate temperature and has good air quality.
- A qualified acupuncturist can help you find the right acupressure spots to help put your baby to sleep. Babies often sleep more easily after receiving a foot massage and soothing strokes between the eyebrows.
- Maintain a consistent nap and bedtime routine for your infant.
- Make massage time a regular part of your toddler’s routine to help them feel calm and ready for bed.
- Maintaining a routine will help reduce your baby’s fear of being apart. You should also praise your child when they start sleeping on their own. A simple hug or ten minutes of playtime the following day are great rewards.
- If you don’t want your child to wake up at 3 a.m. crying, feed them a healthy meal before bed.
- To ensure that your child sleeps soundly without fear, monitor the lighting and noise level in the room.
5. Teething period
- If you’ve tried home remedies that haven’t helped, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever.
- An infant with sore gums may benefit from a cool treat before bedtime. You can use a cool towel or pop the baby’s chew toy in the freezer.
- Use a white noise machine to divert the baby’s attention away from the source of their discomfort.
- To soothe your teething baby, rub and knead his gums gently.
- Give your infant a teether or pacifier to chew on before bed to ease the discomfort of teething.
Do’s and don’ts as you help your baby to sleep fast
Here are some additional guidelines for putting your kid to sleep fast without your help.
- Recognize your baby’s sleep requirements, but avoid encouraging your infant to fall into the habit of relying on nightly hugs and cuddles to fall asleep.
- Don’t stick to just one baby sleep technique; combine various approaches to find what works best for you and your child.
- Switching your baby too soon from their bassinet to their crib could disrupt their sleep routine. Plan the transition to the crib.
- Avoid making eye contact when comforting a fussy infant by picking them up and rocking or stroking them, whichever method works best.
- Training your child’s daily rhythm to adhere to consistent bedtimes and wake hours is an essential parenting skill.
- Babies don’t start sleeping through the night overnight. Allow them time to master the art of sleeping alone and be ready for the occasional restless night. Also, be patient and mindful of their needs.
- It’s typical for babies to refuse a pacifier, even though they aid many infants. The same might be said for massage or even white noise. If your infant isn’t comfortable, don’t try to force them.
- Establish a soothing bed time routine and stick to it religiously while you train your baby to sleep.
- If your baby is sleeping for longer stretches during the day, reduce the number of naps they take from 3 to just 1 or 2. You can also try waking them up after only 30 to 45 minutes of sleep.
However, it would help if you did not leave your infant awake for the entirety of the day. This could cause your infant to get overtired and give them sore muscles.
- There is no magic age when you have to start sleep-training your child. Putting your newborn to sleep does not include leaving them to cry.
The takeaway
When your child becomes bigger and more able to soothe themselves, you’ll both be able to sleep through the night again.
Even though it may feel like the weeks are dragging on forever and you’re barely surviving from one coffee to the next, remember to be kind to yourself and your loved ones as you work through one of the most trying periods of parenting.
If you or your child is sick, get professional help right away. As any exhausted parent will tell you, there are no such things as stupid questions when raising children.