How to get a baby to sleep through the night?

  If a baby does not sleep well at night, the sleep quality of his mother also will be affected by the restless baby’s sleep. From infancy to old age, the effects of inadequate sleep can profoundly affect memory, learning, creativity, productivity, and emotional stability, as well as physical health. 

  Sleeping through the night is important for both parents and babies. It can help support the growth of a baby. On the other hand, when the baby is asleep, it can be possible for mothers to have their own time to be free to take some rest, go shopping or visit some friends.

  Today’s article will offer some helpful sleeping tips and introduce how to get a baby to sleep through the night? Please kindly read on.

1. How much sleep do babies need?

  Age-related changes in babies’ sleep patterns as well. Babies have different sleep needs at different ages. Usually, sleep needs are decreased by age.

  The World Health Organization have published a guideline on children's sleep. Infants from newborn to three months of age should get 14-17 hours of sleep per day. Infants from four to eleven months of age should get 12-16 hours of quality sleep per day, including the time of nap. Children from one to two years of age should get 11-14 hours of quality sleep per day, including napping time. Children from three to four years of age should get 10-13 hours of quality sleep one day. Please kindly check the below chart for reference:

Baby Sleep Needs (Hours) Per Day
Age	# of Sleep
newborn to 3 months	14-17
4 months to 11 months	12-16
1 year to 2 years	11-14
3 years to 4 years	10-13

2. Why some babies can not sleep through the night?

  There are many reasons that infants and toddlers can not sleep through the night and usually have the below three aspects:

  The nervous system of a baby is not well developed yet. So the baby is easy to wake up at night.

  Some babies have the habit of taking night milk. The hunger causes babies to frequent night wakings, which prevent them from sleeping through sleep.

  Babies do not have the ability to keep sleeping automatically and are easy to wake up from one sleep cycle to the next.

3. How to get a baby to sleep through the night?

  The below list of some sleeping tips to get a baby sleep solution at night for references：

3.1 Create a bedtime routine

  It is necessary to get a baby used to a bedtime routine early on. It is a kind of sleep training. Parents can try to set the same time every day - start babies’ bedtime routine at the same time each day and maintain a regular sleep time.

  After establishing a bedtime routine, most babies can develop a regular sleep pattern and the ability to sleep through the night. Some researchers even found that babies’ moods improved. It helps babies to get the proper amount of sleep and will help to make them feel safe at night.

  How to create a bedtime routine? As bedtime approaches in the evening, parents can develop a relaxing routine, like reading a storybook and playing soothing music for babies, in order to make them know that it is time to sleep and help them slow down.

  You also can take a bath for the baby before going to bed and massage your baby’s back or abdomen gently. Then turn off the lights in the room and play lullabies to let the baby fall asleep on his own in a comfortable, quiet and warm environment.

3.2 Teach babies to self-soothe

  Sometimes, some babies who wake at night always expect to be parented back to sleep by their parents. You can try to wear your baby an “ARMS UP” swaddling sleep sack. It can help your little one to sleep in a natural arms-up sleeping position, which is safe and convenient for the baby to sleep. In addition, sleeveless sleep sacks are beneficial for your little one to suck on his fingers and stroke the cheek for self-soothing.

  Kaiya Baby swaddling sleep sacks are lightweight that can scatter babies’ body pressure. The ergonomic design simulates the uterine environment and gives the baby a safe feeling to prevent startles. Babies can have a longer, more restful sleep.

3.3 Start weaning the night feedings

  Night feeding is one of the most important factors that can affect sleep. Generally speaking, parents may consider weaning the night feedings for their babies after baby feeding for 10 months. This is a step-by-step process. Parents can make their babies gradually wean the night feedings.

3.4 Establish the right conditions for babies to feel relaxed and able to sleep

1) Create a safe and comfortable place to sleep

  One problem every novice parent can encounter is that a newborn will not sleep. They need some newborn sleeping tips and tricks. What parents should try is to create a silent, cool, dark sleep environment that can make it easier for babies to sleep.

2) Give your baby a sleep sack

  Kaiya Baby sleep sacks that are made of natural, healthy, environmentally friendly fabric can give every baby a gentle feeling of being close to his sensitive skin.

  The suitable TOG degrees of sleep sacks are perfect for babies to wear, which can provide the right amount of warmth for babies and help stabilize their body temperature. Choosing fit sleep sacks with suitable TOG degrees can prevent babies from catching a cold in an air-conditioned room. Also, your baby will have no risks of overheating. Like tog 1.0 sleep sacks are suitable for four seasons.

  People usually use blankets to cover their babies during sleep before. But as time went by, people gradually found that the blanket or a quilt was not an ideal item for babies. Because blankets and quilts are easy to be kicked off by babies, babies may catch a cold during sleep. On the other hand, newborns can not move the covers when they are overheated. Blankets and quilts also may increase the risk of suffocation for babies. Because blankets are easy to cover newborns’ faces, they can not move blankets by themselves. It is dangerous.

  Kaiya Baby Products Recommendations:

• Stage One: Organic Newborn Sleep Sacks With Mesh Cotton
• Stage Two: Short Sleeves Baby Sleep Sack With Mesh Cotton
• Stage Three: Long Sleeve Split-Leg Sleep Sack

  These three sleep sacks contain three different stages of a baby. Newborns can wear the swaddling sleep sacks. Babies who can crawl are suitable for the transitional one-piece sleep sacks. Babies who are learning to walk can choose footed sleep sacks.

3) Smoke-free environments

  Besides, for babies’ health, fathers need to give up smoking. High concentrations of many of these chemicals are found in secondhand smoke. Falling victim to passive smoking, women and babies are more at risk from the cigarette. Sometimes, it even can increase the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

4) Let the baby sleep alone in his own crib

  Letting your baby sleep alone in his own crib is a good way to keep the baby safe during sleep. Parents can put the crib next to their own bed in the same bedroom. On the one hand, babies have no risk of being hurt by their parents. On the other hand, parents can take care of their little ones more conveniently, even in the middle of the night.

  In addition, you should try to keep the baby crib empty. Do not put too many things in the crib, like quilts, blankets, soft toys, etc. All these things will increase the risk of suffocation to your baby.

3.5 Help babies distinguish between day and night

  Parents should help their babies to establish the concept of day and night gradually. The baby needs to have a clear distinction between day and night by distinguishing between areas of light and dark. People should ensure adequate light during the day. Do not need to hang up curtains when your baby is having a nap. Also, do not need to create a completely quiet environment. In the evening, you can turn off the lights in time or dim the lights. So the baby can clearly feel that it is time to sleep at night.

3.6 Do not disturb a sleeping baby

  Sometimes, parents may wake their sleeping babies by accident. Disturbing a sleeping baby will have a negative impact on his sleep process and will make the baby unable to develop good sleep habits. Parents should be more careful when they are changing diapers or clothes for their babies during babies’ sleep.

3.7 Avoid your baby being extreme exhaustion and missing the best time to fall asleep

  Usually, babies will send out sleep signals when they want to sleep, such as rubbing their eyes, yawning, having dazzling eyes, crying, etc. At this time, parents have to soothe them to sleep in time. It will be more difficult for babies to fall asleep once parents miss the best time for taking them to fall asleep. It will also affect the overall quality of sleep for babies.

  For more information, please kindly check Kaiya Baby Blog.