Parenting Tips: How To Put A Newborn To Sleep

As a parent, one of your primary concerns is ensuring that your newborn gets enough rest. However, putting a newborn to sleep can be challenging, especially if you are a first-time parent. In this article, we will provide sleep training tips and techniques for helping your newborn fall asleep and stay asleep. We will cover topics such as swaddling, white noise, and bedtime routines, as well as address common sleep challenges and safety considerations. By following these newborn sleep tips, you can help your child get the rest they need and ensure a peaceful night's sleep for both of you.

How Much Sleep Does a Baby Need?

Newborns need to get plenty of sleep to support their physical and mental development. Newborns generally sleep between 16 and 18 hours per day, with most of this sleep occurring in short stretches of 2-4 hours at a time. However, every baby is different, and some may sleep more or less than others. 

It is important to note that newborns do not have fully developed sleep patterns and may sleep at any time of the day or night. As your baby grows and develops, their sleep patterns will become more regular, and they will sleep for longer periods of time. 

Establishing good sleep habits from the start and creating a safe and comfortable sleep environment for your baby is essential. With adequate sleep training and practice, this process doesn't have to be overly challenging. 

Parenting Tips: How to Put a Newborn to Sleep

As infants grow and become more aware of the world around them, it is common for them to become overstimulated. During the early months of life, an infant's emotional, social, and intellectual skills are slowly developing. These experiences can lead to new things for the baby to think about, worry about, and be afraid of. This means that a baby's daytime stressors can affect their sleep at night. 

To get a newborn to sleep and get some rest, parents need to provide comfort and establish good sleep habits. That said, the following newborn sleep tips should provide guidelines on how to help babies sleep easier.

Keep the Nursery Clutter-Free

To create a sleep-friendly environment for your baby, it is essential to clear the clutter in the nursery. Make the room a place for sleep, not play, and keep the toys and other major distractions away from the space around the crib. 

These distractions can confuse the baby and make them wonder whether the crib is a place for play or sleep. It is best to keep the crib area simple and focused on sleep time to help the baby understand that it is a place for rest.

Share the Room But Not the Bed

It is recommended that babies sleep in the same room as their parents for the first half of the year, minimum, but without actually sharing the same bed. This practice can encourage breastfeeding, help the baby sleep for extended periods, and reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). 

When parents are nearby, it can help regulate the baby's breathing, nervous system reactions, and temperature. It is essential to follow safe newborn sleep tips to ensure your baby gets the rest they need and reduce the risk of any sleep-related accidents.

Make Sure the Baby Feels Cool

To get your newborn to sleep well, maintain a consistent, cool temperature in the room (69-73 degrees Fahrenheit). The baby should wear approximately the same number of layers as you do, plus one additional layer, such as a sleep sack. Overbundling the child can make them too warm, so dressing them in layers that can be adjusted to regulate their temperature and comfort levels is better.

Also, consider the crib's location when creating a comfortable sleep environment for the baby. The crib should not be in the direct path of heating or air conditioning vents, as sudden shifts in temperature can disturb the child. Place the crib away from the windows to avoid drafts and outside noise issues.

Swaddling May Be Helpful

Swaddling can be a helpful sleep training technique for promoting longer and more restful sleep in newborns during the early months of life. Some babies respond well to swaddling, while others do not. Pay attention to your baby's response to swaddling and adjust your approach accordingly. 

If the baby responds well to swaddling, it can be a useful tool for promoting sleep. However, if the baby does not respond well to this practice, it is okay to stop it. 

Keep in mind that what works for your baby at one point may not work at another, as infant sleep is constantly evolving. Be flexible and open to different approaches when it comes to putting your newborn to sleep.

Try a White Noise Machine

In addition to creating a visually calming environment for your baby, it is also essential to consider the sounds they are exposed to. White noise machines can help promote sleep by canceling out distracting sounds from the environment, such as household noise or car sounds. The constant, consistent sound of the white noise machine can help the baby associate it with sleep. 

While some white noise machines can also play lullabies or nature sounds, simple white noise can be rather effective when putting a newborn to sleep. It can help the baby feel like they are back in the womb, which can be a soothing experience. 

Regarding parenting tips for using a white noise machine, remember to keep the volume at a safe level for the baby's sensitive ears and place the device in a corner. A portable white noise machine can be helpful when you are away from home, as it allows you to recreate the sounds of the nursery.

Cut Out All the Lights

Light signals to babies that it is daytime, so it is helpful to block out the sun to get your newborn to sleep. To create a dark and sleep-friendly environment for your baby, you should eliminate as much light as possible. This includes turning off the night light, as babies do not typically fear the dark until around 18 months. 

If you need to nurse the baby at night, you can install a dimmer switch in the nursery and gradually turn it on and off to provide a low level of light. This can help the baby sleep better and maintain a regular sleep pattern.

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