Miya Pearson
Getting a newborn to sleep can be a challenging task for new parents. Babies need to learn the skill of falling asleep, and there are several techniques that can help them settle. Responsive settling is one such method, which involves looking out for signs that your baby is getting tired and responding to their cues as you help them to settle. This can include holding your baby in your arms and gently rocking them until they're calm, or comforting them if they get upset when placed in their cot. It is important to ensure your baby has a full tummy, a fresh nappy, and has brought up any wind before settling them down. Creating a soothing bedtime routine, such as a bath, story, and milk in a dark room, can also help your baby calm down and prepare for sleep.
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What You'll Learn
Establish a bedtime routine
Establishing a bedtime routine is an effective way to settle your newborn to sleep. A routine can help your baby calm down and prepare for sleep. It can also help them sleep longer at night.
Firstly, it is important to ensure your baby has a full tummy. Feeding your baby before bedtime will help them settle and fall asleep. After feeding, ensure your baby brings up any wind as this will be much easier than calming them when the wind reaches their stomach or intestines.
Next, change your baby's nappy before settling them down. This will help them stay asleep for longer. You should also ensure that the room is cool and use light layers or an appropriate tog baby sleep bag or swaddle to keep your baby warm.
You can then begin your bedtime routine. This could include a bath, a story, and milk in a dark room. You could also try rocking your baby or using a dummy to soothe them. It is important to avoid anything that is too stimulating and to keep the room quiet and dark.
Over time, your baby will begin to recognize this routine, and you can adjust their bedtime to suit your schedule.
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Create a calm environment
Creating a calm environment is essential to settling a newborn to sleep. Here are some tips to achieve this:
Firstly, ensure your baby's room is quiet and dark. Keep the room cool and use light layers or an appropriate tog sleepsuit to regulate their body temperature, as newborns cannot regulate their temperature well. You can also try using white noise or shushing to create a soothing atmosphere.
Secondly, establish a calming bedtime routine. A consistent routine, such as a bath, story, and milk in a dim room, can signal to your baby that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep. This routine can be adapted as your baby grows and develops; for instance, you may include a nappy change, a cuddle, or playing soft music. The key is to keep the routine calming and relaxing, avoiding overstimulation.
Thirdly, pay attention to your baby's cues and signals. Babies give various signs when they are tired, and crying is often a sign of overtiredness. Look out for these cues and respond to them; for example, your baby may need a cuddle, or you may need to gently rock them until they calm down.
Finally, remember that all babies are different, and it's important to find what works best for you and your little one. Some parents choose to swaddle their babies or offer a dummy to help them settle, while others prefer to avoid these methods. Some babies may also benefit from having their hands held or being patted through the cot rails until they fall asleep. As your baby grows older, you can gradually teach them to fall asleep independently through techniques like 'camping out', where you remain by their side but don't physically help them fall asleep.
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Use comfort settling
Comfort settling, also known as controlled comforting, is recommended for babies aged 6 months and older. The aim of this method is to teach your baby to fall asleep on their own.
To begin, ensure that your baby is well-fed, has a clean nappy, and is calm and comfortable. You can then start with your usual sleep routine, such as a nappy change, a story, and a cuddle. Next, gently place your baby in their cot on their back and tell them it's sleep time. If your baby is calm, you can leave the room. If they are upset, stay and provide reassurance until they are calm.
Babbling, whinging, brief cries, and movement are common when your baby tries to settle. If your baby's cries go up and down in volume, wait a short time to see if they settle. If the noise continues to increase, return to your baby and offer comfort while they are still in the cot.
If you find that comfort settling is not working for your baby, you can try other methods such as hands-on settling or settling in arms. It is important to be consistent when trying to establish a new sleep method, and this can take anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.
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Try dream feeds
Dream feeds are based on the idea of scheduled awakening. This means rousing your baby from sleep, without fully waking them up, and feeding them one more time before you turn in for the night. The goal of a dream feed is to get your baby to sleep for longer stretches during the night and to sync your schedules so that you both sleep better.
Babies who go to sleep between 6 pm and 8 pm often wake up in the middle of the night out of hunger. Research has shown that an extra feed between 10 pm and midnight can reduce night wakings. This can become part of your baby's regular sleep schedule.
Dream feeds are particularly useful for babies who wake up hungry every night. Increasing daytime milk and boosting evening calories with a dream feed can help to eliminate or delay night wakings caused by hunger.
If your baby is younger than 12 weeks, they may be too young for this technique to work. If your baby won't take the feed, wait until they enter a lighter sleep (signalled by twitching or flickering eyes) and try again. If your baby wakes during the dream feed, it is recommended to put them back to bed awake, so they don't associate feeding with falling asleep. This technique is most effective for babies from 3 months to about 9 months.
Once your baby is consistently sleeping through the night, you can gradually move the feed earlier each night and then stop doing it. If your baby starts waking in the night or waking earlier, go back to doing the dream feed at the time you were doing it when they last slept through.
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Swaddling
- Choose a suitable blanket: Select a lightweight, breathable fabric that is not too thick or heavy. Ensure the blanket is large enough to wrap around your baby comfortably.
- Lay the blanket flat: Spread the blanket on a safe surface, such as a bed or a couch. Fold down one corner about halfway to create a straight edge.
- Place your baby on the blanket: Lay your baby on their back with their neck on the folded edge. Ensure their head remains uncovered, and their hips and legs have enough room to move naturally.
- Wrap your baby snugly: Gently pull one corner of the blanket across your baby's body and tuck it under their back. Then, pull the opposite corner over your baby's body and tuck it in on the other side.
- Secure the swaddle: Bring the bottom corner up and tuck it into the top folds. Ensure the swaddle is snug but not too tight, allowing room for your baby to move their hips and legs.
Remember, it is important to always place your swaddled baby on their back to sleep and ensure they are not too hot. It is also crucial to monitor your baby while they are swaddled and stop swaddling once they start trying to roll, as it can become unsafe.
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Frequently asked questions
Look out for the signs that your baby is getting tired. Babies give cues or signals when they're tired, such as crying, and if they get overtired, it can be harder for them to settle.
Make sure that they are comfortable, calm and relaxed. Ensure your baby has a full tummy, a fresh nappy, and that they have brought up any wind.
You may need to keep holding your baby until they fall asleep. If your baby gets upset when placed in the cot, comfort them until they're calm. You can also try sitting beside their cot and patting them through the rails.
Sleep training methods include controlled comforting (for babies aged 6 months and older), transition settling (for babies aged 6 months and older), and dream feeds (based on scheduled awakenings).
Establish a calming bedtime routine that includes a series of relaxing events, such as a bath, a story, and milk in a dark room. Over time, your baby will begin to associate the routine with sleep.
