Sleep Guide: All you need to know to get your baby to sleep
How can you get your baby to sleep?
Bringing home a baby is no doubt one of the most joyous occasions in parents’ lives. It also is a time where parents are tested to their limits, often sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, tearful, exhausted, and losing hope.
Getting your baby to sleep IS challenging. But, remember that sleep is a skill, and like other skills, it CAN be taught.
When parents struggle with getting their baby to sleep, we like to offer these 5 tips to start off:
Start early. Have a flexible nighttime routine starting from birth, which includes setting up their sleep environment at home: sleeping area, swaddling, home temperature, bath time, and pacifier use. Having a general plan since birth encourages good sleep habits early on and can make sleep training easier later. Usually, sleep training can start for most babies around 6 months. While we say this, we also want to remind you not to be too hard on yourself. It is okay to deviate from the routine, but having a routine in place can make things easier on you, especially as you adjust your life according to your newborn’s schedule. They definitely become kings and queens of your kingdom during this time - but you also have needs that must be met.
Have realistic expectations and be patient. Sleep training is a tumultuous marathon. It often takes weeks can causes many gray hairs in parents. There will be good days and bad days. Remind yourself that when things get rough and stay strong. Having good sleeping habits sets your child up for life-long good health (reduces risk of high blood pressure, obesity, & mood disorders as well as improves focus & school performance), so what you are doing is important and will pay off, though it may not seem so right now.
Stick to a routine and be persistent. We cannot stress the importance of this enough. Routine is the foundation of good sleeping habits. Have a regular routine that includes consistent feeding times, a bath/massage, story time or songs, and putting your baby to sleep at the SAME time every night. In our years of practice, we find that that starting at 2 months, putting your baby down to sleep around 7-8 pm works well for many parents.
Avoid tools. We actually don’t recommend sound machines, quiet noise apps, pacifiers, or other tools to get your baby to fall asleep. We have found that whatever tool you use ends up being the one that also wakes them up in the night. It also makes it hard for them to learn to sleep, as these tools become crutches, and when not present, they are unable to organically fall asleep.
Try a sleep program. At 6 months, for most babies, you can begin sleep training safely. If you still struggle, do not hesitate to use a sleep program. Research and pick one that you feel most comfortable with. They really do help!
When should you talk to your pediatrician about nighttime awakenings?
Nighttime awakenings can sometimes be a cause of concern for pediatricians. But, most of the time, there is usually nothing to worry about. Some things that you should bring up to your pediatrician in addition to the nighttime awakenings are if:
Your baby is not growing and gaining weight steadily.
Your baby is not feeding well. While this varies, a general gauge is about 8-12 times a day for breastfed babies and 5-8 times for bottle-fed & older babies.
Your baby is not making enough urine – generally around 4 wet diapers a day.
Your baby is not pooping enough – generally around 3 bowel movements a day. Remember, breastfed babies tend to have more frequent bowel movements.
In older kids, we also like to tell parents to consult their pediatrician if their child is awakening at night from headaches, as this may warrant more investigation.
When can you stop nighttime feeds?
This is a tricky question to answer as it really depends on the individual child and how they are growing. For that reason, we always recommend consulting your pediatrician on if and when would be okay to eliminate night feeds. In general, for the average child who is growing well and developing appropriately, parents can consider stopping night feeds at around 6 months.
What are some common sleep challenges parents face?
For babies, the most common challenge is sleeping through the night without having to feed. This one is a cause for much celebration for most parents, a light at the end of the tunnel of sleepless nights. We also see some sleep regressions when babies begin to teethe. For toddlers, getting them to sleep in their own bed can be a challenge too that parents have to work on patiently. For older kids, staying dry though the night is a big milestone. Unfortunately, we also see sleep regressions when kids change schools, with turbulence at home, and sometimes, when younger siblings go through regressions.
What can you do if your baby has reflux?
First, we like to remind parents that reflux is normal; all babies have reflux. At birth, their stomachs are approximately the size of a cherry. As their stomachs mature and expand in the first few months, spit up will decline. Reflux usually starts around 2-3 weeks of life and peaks at 4-5 months. Often, we advise parents to not overfeed their baby. Imagine putting 1-2oz of milk into a cherry-sized cup…that is definitely going to overflow. Instead, try smaller, frequent feeds. Remember to burp your baby during pauses in feeding and after feeds. Keep your baby upright for 30 minutes after feeds. For babies that spit up very frequently, you may try thickening their formula with some baby cereal UNDER the guidance of your pediatrician.
We also tell parents that if your baby is throwing up full feeds, not making enough wet or dirty diapers, or not growing well, talk to your pediatrician. Spit up that is projectile, green, accompanied by bloody stools, or by a lethargic baby are red flags and require immediate medical care.
What are some common sleep regressions?
It is true: sleep regressions are common. In the womb, it is dark and cozy, and babies can follow mom’s sleeping patterns. But, in the real world, as they develop their circadian rhythm, they have to learn how to sleep on their own. During the first year of life, their brains and bodies are undergoing rapid growth and development, and these tend to cause fluctuations in the body that can disturb sleep. On top of that, stressors like illness or disturbances at home can also cause regressions. The arrival of a new sibling, a recent move, and a change in environment or routine can easily do it.
Sleep regressions are different for each child, just as sleep habits or eating preferences. We personally see them at many different times, depending on the child. Some common ones we see are:
4–6 months (when food pattern is being established)
9–12 months (when separation anxiety is kicking in)
Around 18months–2 years of age (when it is harder to keep them in their beds)
When these occur, remember they usually do resolve in a week or two. Hang in there. You GOT this!
Your PediPals