Miya Pearson
It is important to get your newborn baby to sleep in a bassinet as it is the safest place for them to sleep. However, this can be challenging as newborns are used to the constant motion, snugness, and sounds they experienced in the womb. They often prefer to sleep while being held or in your arms. Here are some tips to help your newborn sleep in a bassinet: establish a bedtime routine, ensure they are well-fed, create a safe and optimal sleep environment, be consistent, and give it time and practice.
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What You'll Learn
Ensure the bassinet is a safe sleep space
To ensure the bassinet is a safe sleep space, it is important to follow these guidelines:
Firstly, always place your baby on their back to sleep. This position keeps their airways open and reduces the risk of rebreathing exhaled air, which contains less oxygen. It also gives them plenty of space around their mouth and nose, keeping their airways clear. Once your baby can roll over easily (at around 4-6 months), you can let them find their preferred sleeping position, but always place them on their back to begin with.
Secondly, create a safe sleep surface. The bassinet should have a firm, flat, and level surface, with a well-fitting, firm mattress and a tight-fitting sheet. Avoid soft or padded mattress protectors, and ensure there are no soft objects such as pillows, nests, loungers, or stuffed toys in the bassinet, as these can pose a suffocation or strangulation risk.
Thirdly, maintain a comfortable temperature. Avoid overdressing your baby or using beanies or hats, as these can cause overheating. Keep the room at a moderate temperature, and ensure any heating or cooling is directed away from the baby. Do not use electric blankets or hot water bottles.
Additionally, create a clear space around the bassinet. Ensure there are no items within your baby's reach, such as plastic, blind cords, mosquito nets, or electrical cords.
Finally, be mindful of your baby's weight and height. Check that your baby still fits within the recommended size guidelines for the bassinet, and size up if necessary. This ensures your baby has enough space and support to sleep comfortably and safely.
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Establish a bedtime routine
Establishing a bedtime routine is one way to cue your newborn's brain that sleep is coming. Even before your baby begins to recognize the routine, the calming effects can be helpful in keeping your baby from becoming overstimulated. Here are some tips to establish a bedtime routine:
Create a sleep environment
Make sure the room is dark, with blackout curtains or blinds drawn. You can also use a white noise machine to create a peaceful and calming atmosphere. Ensure the bassinet is safe and comfortable for your baby. It should have a firm, flat, and level surface with a well-fitting, firm mattress and a tight-fitting waterproof mattress protector. The room should be well-ventilated and moderately warm, and your baby should be dressed in clothing that is warm but not hot.
Feed your baby
A well-fed baby is more likely to feel satisfied and comfortable, allowing for longer and more restful stretches of sleep. Feed your baby on demand throughout the day, watching for early hunger signs such as rooting or sucking motions. Feed your baby at the beginning of their awake times, rather than right before nap time, to maximize their daytime intake and minimize night feedings.
Wind down with a consistent routine
You can start by giving your baby a bath, reading a bedtime story, or singing lullabies. Swaddling your baby may also help to decrease the startle-wake reflex and make them feel secure. Be consistent with your routine and try to stick to specific sleep and wake times.
Put your baby down drowsy but awake
Most sleep experts recommend that whenever possible, you lay your baby down drowsy but awake to help them learn how to self-soothe to sleep. This will help your baby get used to falling asleep independently in their bassinet.
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Feed your baby at the beginning of their awake times
One of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to train your newborn to sleep in a bassinet is to feed them at the beginning of their awake times. This is because newborns have very short sleep cycles and cannot make it through the night without eating.
The period of time your baby can comfortably be awake before they need to go down for their next sleep is called a "wake window". Most babies' wake times fall into a specific range, and once you learn your baby's wake windows, you can start to put them to bed before that window closes, avoiding overtired bassinet-refusal. For example, babies who are 1 to 2 months old can generally be awake for one to two hours before it's time to sleep again.
If your baby is overtired, it's probably not the best time to try the bassinet again. Signs of overtiredness include multiple night wakings every two hours or more, causing sleepless nights, and only taking 30-minute naps. If your baby is overtired, they are more likely to cry at pretty much everything.
It's also important to note that newborns don't understand object permanence, so having them in your room is unlikely to help them sleep better, but it will be more convenient for you. If your baby is less than 8 weeks old, observe their behaviour to see if there could be reflux or gas making them uncomfortable.
To help your baby sleep in their bassinet, you can use a motion-enabled bassinet like the SNOO Smart Sleeper, which safely mimics the sensation of being held with gentle rocking and calming white noise. It usually takes about three to four days for caregivers to begin to see less fussing and more sleep when newborns start using the SNOO.
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Try swaddling
Swaddling is a great way to help your newborn sleep in a bassinet. It is a method of snugly wrapping your baby in a blanket, which can help to calm fussiness and improve sleep. When done correctly, the blanket should stay secure around the baby. The technique has been used for a long time and is considered safe for babies. It is also known to promote sleep by making babies recall the familiar feeling of being in the womb.
There are a few things to keep in mind when swaddling your baby. Firstly, make sure you are using the right type of swaddle. You can use a simple blanket and create a cozy cocoon by folding and tucking it around your baby. There are also "ready-made" swaddle blankets with zippers and velcro available in the market. Avoid using weighted swaddles as they are not safe. For bigger newborns, you may need a larger blanket or a zippered swaddle to ensure that the swaddle stays secure.
Additionally, it is important to layer your baby's PJs and swaddle properly to prevent overheating. You should also stop swaddling as soon as your baby starts trying to roll over. The risk of suffocation increases if a swaddled baby rolls onto their stomach. Look out for signs such as rolling onto their shoulder or side, kicking one leg over the other, and twisting their upper and lower body in different directions.
Swaddling can be a great way to help your newborn sleep in a bassinet, but it may not work for all babies. Some babies may resist swaddling initially, but with a little rocking and shushing, they can calm down and the wrapping can keep them peaceful and happy for longer.
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Find their sweet spot for sleep
Finding your baby's sweet spot for sleep can help them sleep more easily in their bassinet or crib. This involves making sure their daytime wake windows are age-appropriate and being mindful of their sleepy cues. For example, a baby who isn't quite ready for sleep or is overtired may struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep.
To help your baby sleep for longer stretches at night, you can maximize their daytime feeds by feeding them on demand throughout the day. Watch for early hunger signs, such as rooting or sucking motions, and initiate feeds promptly to prevent fussiness and irritability. Feed your baby at the beginning of their awake times, rather than right before nap time, so they have the opportunity to eat until they're full.
If your baby is a sleepy eater, they may snack all day, which can make it hard for them to get the calories they need to sleep well. If your baby is getting a huge chunk of their daily sleep during the day, they won't need as much sleep at night.
Newborns often wake when laid in a crib or bassinet due to the major shift in environment. They may also be awakened by things like the startle reflex, gas, or sudden movements. Make sure your baby is burped, changed, and dry when you lay them down. Swaddling your baby may help decrease the startle-wake reflex.
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Frequently asked questions
Newborns are often woken by things like the startle reflex, gas, or sudden movements when you lay them down. Make sure your baby is well-fed, burped, changed, and dry when you lay them down. Swaddling your baby may also help decrease the startle-wake reflex.
It is recommended that you lay your baby down drowsy but awake to help them learn how to self-soothe to sleep. Other tips include:
- Ensuring your baby is well-fed, burped, changed, and dry
- Swaddling your baby
- Creating a bedtime routine
- Ensuring the bassinet is safe and comfortable
- Giving it time and being consistent
Yes, it is very common for newborns to prefer sleeping on their parents. This is because they find comfort in the constant motion, snugness, and sound they experienced in the womb.
You can gradually diminish the amount of time you spend holding your baby so that they are going into their bassinet sleepy but still awake. You can also try to establish a consistent bedtime routine and optimal sleep environment.
The safest sleep position for your baby is on their back. Their sleep space should be clear of anything that might stop them from breathing easily, including pillows, stuffed toys, and loose blankets. Their clothing should be warm but not hot, and the room should be a moderate temperature.
