Sleepy parents of newborns all tend to have the same question: How do I get my newborn to sleep at night? Studies show that newborns, on average, sleep 15-17 hours in a 24-hour period, but it can be frustrating when all of their hours spent asleep seem to be when you want to go to bed!
So, how do you get your little one to sleep at night? The key is to keep them awake during a larger portion of the day. Here are a few tricks that work to keep your little ones asleep at night:
Rule Out GERD
Some babies have GERD, which means that after they eat their stomach acid comes up their esophagus and wakes them up. These babies do best by going on medication for GERD and by sleeping on an incline (a rock and play worked best for our family).
Give them a Bath
Baths help little ones to relax and wind down before they fall asleep for the night. They also tend to tire newborns out, so they do not have the energy to fuss at night. As your newborn grows older, they are an important part of the bedtime routine.
Don’t Bundle Them Up
Because newborns are so tiny and do not have a large amount of fat reserves, new parents bundle them up. The more bundled up they are, the more likely they are to be sleepy. Strip of a few of the layers and see if this helps your little one be more alert during the day (of course, monitor them to make sure they are not too cold).
Strip Them Down and Bring Them Outside
Babies have a circadian rhythm (which is the scientific term for the natural internal clock in the brain which instructs humans as to when they are sleepy and when they are not). This internal clock is influenced by habit, as well as by light and darkness. When there is light outside, it signals the brain to be awake and alert, and when it is dark, it signals the brain to create melatonin. To influence your little one’s circadian rhythm, wake them up at the time you designate as their morning, strip them down and bring them outside to expose them to light. This will help the hypothalamus in the brain to recognize that it is daytime, and will influence their circadian rhythm schedule.
Turn the Lights Up
Just because you have a newborn, does not mean you have to live in a cave. Turn the lights on, open the curtains, and (hopefully) watch your little on wake up a bit more during the day.
Tickle Them
Tickling your newborn’s feet and sides can help to keep them awake during the day. They may squirm a little bit and fuss, but sometimes it’s better to trade a slightly squirmy/fussy baby during the day for a sleepy baby at night.
I hope the above tips help you get your newborn on a regular sleeptime schedule. Comment and let me know if you have any questions, ideas, or if any of these tips worked for you!
XOXO
Charlotte