As a pediatric visiting nurse, one of the most asked questions from new moms is:
What can I do to make my baby sleep at night?
When a new mom asks me that question, I always like to start by explaining that babies sleep throughout the day for short periods (three to four hours) without a circadian rhythm, which means they cannot distinguish day from night.
Only around 3-5 months of age, babies start making the hormone melatonin. This hormone helps maintain the body’s normal sleep cycle known as the circadian rhythm, that internal clock we all have running 24 hours per day.
In the meantime, it is essential for parents to create a routine to help the circadian rhythm in which will help the baby sleep at night. The lack of a daily routine is one of the main mistakes parents make with their child’s sleep patterns.
During the day:
Maintain natural lighting and normal house noise while baby sleeps.
During the night:
Keep only a night light and interact with the baby calmly, just to feed and change the diaper.
4 Myths About Infant Sleep
Myth 1 – It is necessary to leave the child without naps during the day so that he sleeps all night.
Myth 2 – The baby does not feel loved if he does not sleep being lulled or in the arms of the father/mother.
Myth 3 – The baby who sleeps all night does not need naps during the day.
Myth 4 – A good night’s sleep does not depend on a well-done sleep ritual but on how tired the baby is.
Facts
Fact 1 – Daily naps are necessary and essential for night sleep to be peaceful; the lack of naps can increase cortisol levels, leaving the baby stressed, which disrupts the quality of night’s sleep.
Fact 2 – The bond created between parents, and the baby can be nourished daily in several ways; with affection, daily care, bathing, diaper changing, feeding, playing, and words of love and encouragement. So let’s all rest assured that the baby does not stop feeling loved when he sleeps or self soothes; after all, he has already received all the love and affection throughout the day.
Fact 3 – Even with a good night’s sleep, naps should be maintained so that the next night’s sleep is a peaceful one.
Fact 4 – A good night’s sleep is a direct result of a day with the right amount of naps, quality food, the right amount of awake hours, and a nighttime ritual with lots of love.
Importance of Baby Sleep
While they sleep, babies grow and build intelligence, produce growth hormones, activate memory and learning abilities. Sleep can benefit the heart, weight, mind, and other important organs. It is essential because it is the energy source that keeps the mind alert and calm, like a recharged battery after a night’s sleep. Sleep is something that, like water, food, and the air we breathe, is essential to life.
Sleep Tight!
Great info here! As a new mom, I wish I knew this sooner 🙂
Getting the baby to sleep can be so hard and stressful. I felt like this laid out some important things to keep in mind during this difficult time. It was perfect for tired mothers who need a little extra support broken down into bite size pieces ❤️.
I can always remember our kids as babies. Most of them didn’t hit that important sleep through the night milestone until about 5 or 6 months. It takes time but they get there.
Yes, they do!
Loved how you broke it down in easy understandable points. My baby is two now and most of this is still true for me. When he doesn’t get his 1 nap during the day the night time is very rough for us.
Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback!
I am a mom of 4, and with my 2 older ones, I made quite a few mistakes. So when we got the twins 4 years ago, we decided we would switch things up. All went well until we changed their rooms, and now we have to retrain them where sleep habits are concerned. I will implement these tips, and hopefully, they can stop pacing the corridors at night.
Hi there,
I hope it does work for you!
Nice and straight to the point! Thanks for laying out the myths and facts so plainly.
Thank you, Gwen!
Super helpful tips! I had no idea about the circadian rhythm in babies. Everyone should hear that!
Thank you Tyanne
I loved white noise for my baby. It helped her be able to sleep while I still did stuff around the house. I found having the room completely dark as well helped. My daughter is 2 now and is still such a good sleeper! When all three of us had a good night sleep we were all happier.
Yes! Keeping the room dark is a plus!
Great tips for new Moms. My first really struggled with days vs nights but eventually got better and now she is a great sleeper. Waiting for my second to follow suit as she is not yet! Thanks for the great information!
Thank you, Rachael, and good luck!