How to Help Baby Fall Asleep
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Learn how to support your baby to sleep without “Cry It Out”
One of the biggest challenges of being a parent is getting your baby to fall asleep at night. It can be exhausting and frustrating when you're up all night trying to soothe your little one to sleep. But don't worry, you're not alone! I've been there, and I'm here to share some tips and tricks that have worked for our family.
First things first, don’t expect too much of your baby too soon. Newborns aren’t able to find any rhythm sleeping, so catch sleep while you can and stick with it! Your little one will get better at sleeping as they get older. That being said, some wonder-babies fall asleep at 7-weeks old and never look back. Night Sleep and Day Sleep (naps) develop in two different parts of the brain, and at two different sets of timing, so try to be patient as your baby gets the hang of reading their new body’s demands. Night Sleep may get better around 3 or 4 months, but Day Sleep isn’t usually regulated until closer to 6 months.
Once your baby gets to about 3 months, you can begin creating a routine. Babies thrive on routine and predictability, so establishing a consistent bedtime routine can be really helpful in getting them to fall asleep faster. This can include a bath, a lullaby, and a story; the simpler the better. Whatever works for you and your baby, just make sure you stick to the same routine every night.
Although it may be counterintuitive, one way to better your baby’s night sleep is to have them sleep more during the day. (I know, it’s weird to think more day sleep would equal more night sleep, but stick with me here).
We met with a Sleep Consultant for our Bean and she confirmed: one quick fix for our guy’s night sleep was to be sure he slept more during the day. When babies don’t get enough sleep during the day, they get overtired, and an overtired baby is at risk of entering the dreaded “overtired cycle”.
When a baby is overtired, it becomes more difficult for them to fall asleep because they get overwhelmed so easily. A double wammy: when they do fall asleep, it’s more difficult for them to stay asleep. Your baby may be at the point where they are actually napping during the day, but if they aren’t napping for over 45 minutes at a time, you are probably experiencing what we did with our Bean, and your baby is having trouble connecting their sleep cycles. Don’t worry, that’s normal and something your baby will get better at over time and with practice.
Trying to break this pattern is tough, but stick with it, support your baby to get enough sleep during the day and they will get back on track! When I say “enough sleep” during the day, these are ranges of sleep to aim for with your little one:
3-5 hours at 3 months
2-4 hours at 6 months
Enough about over-tiredness, let’s talk about some other tips and tricks. Another thing that has worked for us is using a white noise machine. We use the Hatch and it has been a game-changer. The constant hum of white noise helps drown out any sudden noises that might startle your baby awake. Plus, it's also been shown to be soothing and comforting for babies.
Investing in a good swaddle or sleep sack can also make a big difference. We found that our baby slept much better when he was swaddled, as it helped prevent him from startling himself awake. The startle reflex goes away somewhere between 4-6 months, so it’s important to have quite a few swaddles on hand the first several months. We used the SwaddleMe brand and the Love To Dream which are awesome, but there are many different options out there to choose from.
When it comes to feeding, try not to let your baby fall asleep while they're nursing or taking a bottle. This can create a dependency on feeding as a sleep aid, which can be hard to break later on. Instead, try to keep your baby awake during feedings by keeping the lights on, tickling their feet or talking to them.
Also, try getting your little one out and about during the day. Depending on where you live and the time of year, your baby will appreciate some fresh are and getting out of the house. The stimulation of new places is perfect to help tire them out later on for naps and night sleep.
One (more pricey) route you can also go is to explore a soothing bassinet. The Snoo is amazing, and helped our Bean in those early months learn how to start to connect sleep cycles. I remember those early days when my husband and I were willing to try anything for more than 3 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The Snoo was the answer for us. (My husband like to joke that if the Snoo were the only thing on our Baby Registry, we still would have been fine in those early days)
That beings said, there are other soothing bassinets that don’t come with as pricey of a tag, like the 4Moms Bassinet. In times of desperation, these soothing bassinets are a lifesaver in helping your baby learn positive sleep habits. Just make sure to learn about how to wean them off when it comes time to move baby to their crib!
Lastly, (and most importantly) be patient and don't give up! It can take time for your baby to adjust to a new routine and learn how to self-soothe. But with consistency and patience, you'll get there.
I hope these tips are helpful for you and your little one. Remember, every baby is different and what works for one may not work for another. Keep trying different things until you find what works for you and your family. And if you have any tips or tricks that have worked for you, please share them in the comments below!
Happy sleeping!
