How to make a baby sleep at night | Philips (2024)

If you’re struggling with sleepless nights and are curious about how to make a baby sleep fast, this article has some tried and tested tips and tricks to answer the question of how to make baby sleep at night. Read on for advice on how to make a newborn baby sleep at night.

Why Babies Don’t Sleep

There are a multitude of reasons why you might be looking for ways to make a baby sleep at night. Whether your baby is struggling to fall asleep or cannot sleep peacefully through the night, there may be a host of underlying factors. While it is not uncommon for babies to be restless, especially in the first 6 months, if your baby is more restless than usual there may be something causing them discomfort. This can range from a soiled diaper, hunger, uncomfortable temperatures, disturbance from noise or light, separation anxiety, or even digestion troubles or illness. When it comes to a sleepless baby, it is important to be methodical and try to locate the source of the discomfort to try and get them back to sleep.Eliminating the source of the discomfort (for example blocking out light, changing their diapers, feeding) may be all that is required. Often times however, babies require nothing more than to be soothed and comforted, and that is when an effective soothing routine can help you make baby sleep. If you’re having trouble when it comes time to make your newborn baby sleep, read on for some great tips on how to get them back to rest.

Top 10 techniques to make your baby sleep at night

#1 – Set a bedtime routine

The more consistent you can keep the activities leading up their daily bedtime, the more your baby will associate them with sleeping, and be ready to get to sleep. Having an effective and regular bedtime routine will make it a snap to make baby sleep through the night. Experiment with what works, and stick with it every day.

#2 – Feed again before going to bed yourself

Your baby will almost certainly be asleep by the time you’re ready for your own bedtime, but by giving them one last feeding before you head off, they are more likely not to wake you up later in the night – just ensure not the alert them too much and put them back to bed while they are still drowsy.

#3 – Put them down earlier

While it may seem counterintuitive, one of the best ways to make a baby sleep fast is to set an earlier bed time. In both newborns and toddlers, studies show that an earlier bedtime can help get your baby to sleep through the night with less disturbance and better-quality sleep.

#4 – Use a nightlight and/or white noise machine

To make a newborn baby sleep at night, it is important that they feel safe, soothed and comfortable in their environment. Whether they sleep in their own room or in yours, the addition of a simple device such as a white noise machine or a nightlight can help put their minds at ease and ease them into a good night’s sleep.

#5 – Put baby to bed drowsy, but awake

Do not wait until your baby falls asleep in your arms or elsewhere before putting them in their crib or bassinet. By putting them to bed while they are drowsy but still awake, they can get used to the feeling of falling asleep in their designated space, and will get more and more comfortable with it.

#6 – Keep nighttime care low key

If you have to change a diaper, practice your soothing routine, or give them a night time feeding, use dim lighting, a soft voice and gentle movements. IF you can avoid alerting your baby too much, they won’t think that’s time to wake up and play, and instead will go right back to sleep when you’re done.

#7 – Consider a pacifier

If you’re asking yourself how to make baby sleep at night, you may want to consider purchasing an age appropriate pacifier. There are a wide variety of options based on individual baby’s needs, and all of them work on a baby’s inherent to suckle on objects, which has a benefit of acting as a soothing reflex.

#8 – Understand your baby’s sleep style

It is important to note that every baby is different. Some baby’s take long naps throughout the day, some babies sleep throughout the day in short intervals, some babies sleep hours at a stretch but don’t nap at all. All of these sleep styles are based on your baby’s inherent needs – so pay attention their natural rhythms and shape their routine around them, not the other way around.

#9 – Swaddle your baby

One tried and tested method to calm and soothe babies and make a baby sleep fast is to swaddle them. Swaddling reminds babies of the warmth, comfort and safety of their mother’s womb, and is a great way to get a fussy baby to calm down. Just make sure to keep an eye on their temperature, and not to wrap them too tightly.

#10 – Change diapers before feeding, not after

Changing a baby’s diaper is often a very active and alerting process, while feeding them usually makes them drowsy and ready for bed. By changing their diaper after feeding, the drowsy effect of the feeding is negated. You can put them to bed right after feeding and burping them and have them fall asleep faster by getting the fresh diaper out of the way before feeding.

Frequently Asked Questions about Baby’s night sleep

Why won’t my baby sleep through the night?

There are a variety of reasons babies can be restless throughout the night, and it is very common for newborns to be fussy through the night. They may be too hot or cold, need a feeding, may have a soiled diaper or a number of other reasons. Just be patient and try and find the source.

What is the best bed time routine to get babies to sleep?

Unfortunately, there is no one way to make a baby sleep fast. It is important to try different bedtime activities to find out what your baby responds to the best, and tailor their bedtime routine around them. Every baby’s individual needs are different, and will change with time, so find what works best for your baby.

Is there any food or medication to give babies for sleep?

There are no specific foods that are shown to give better sleep for babies, especially since newborns get all their nutrition from breastmilk or formula, although changing their feeding routine or timings may have an impact. There are no medications that are recommended for sleep disturbance for babies, as it is a very natural part of the development process.

When will my baby’s sleep schedule become regular?

While your baby’s sleep cycles may start to become more predictable around five or six months of age, their development needs will continue to evolve. Around the 1 year mark there may be a drastic shift in their sleep schedules again as they become more aware of their surroundings. It is important to be patient and remember that all children are different.

How to make a baby sleep at night | Philips (2024)

FAQs

How can I make my baby fall asleep at night? ›

Helping Your Baby Sleep

Bathing, reading, and singing can soothe babies and signal an end to the day. Some babies like to be swaddled (wrapped in a light blanket). This is OK until they start to roll (typically, when they're 3 to 4 months old). Be consistent and your baby will soon associate these steps with sleeping.

How do I get my baby to sleep longer at night? ›

At night, you might find it helpful to:
  1. keep the lights down low.
  2. not talk much and keep your voice quiet.
  3. put your baby down as soon as they've been fed and changed.
  4. not change your baby unless they need it.
  5. not play with your baby.

Why babies can t sleep at night? ›

Expect factors such as illness or a change in routine to disrupt your baby's sleep. Developmental milestones, including pulling to a standing and crawling, may also temporarily disrupt sleep.

How do I train my baby to sleep at night? ›

How can I get my baby to sleep through the night?
  1. Establish a bedtime routine and stick to it. ...
  2. Draw a warm bath. ...
  3. Try a baby massage. ...
  4. Create a calming atmosphere. ...
  5. Don't keep your baby up late. ...
  6. Teach baby to self-soothe (after nighttime feedings are done). ...
  7. Resist the urge to feed baby to sleep. ...
  8. Be patient.
Sep 17, 2021

Is there anything to help a baby sleep through the night? ›

Set bedtime (7 or 8 p.m.) and bedtime routine. Put baby in bed awake, on their back, without props (anything they depend on to self-soothe, so they don't look for it if it falls out of their mouth or crib). Ignore fussing. Leave the room before they fall asleep.

Why is it harder for my baby to fall asleep at night? ›

The top reasons why your newborn isn't sleeping at night include hunger, illness, and not understanding the time of day. “Just sleep when the baby sleeps” is great advice if your little one is actually getting some rest.

What age do babies start sleeping longer at night? ›

But they may not sleep more than 1 to 2 hours at a time. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) without waking until they are about 3 months old, or until they weigh 12 to 13 pounds. About two-thirds of babies are able to sleep through the night on a regular basis by age 6 months.

How to settle a baby overnight without feeding? ›

How can I settle my young baby?
  1. Hold your baby in your arms, you can gently rock them until they're calm.
  2. Place your baby in their cot, on their back.
  3. You may need to keep holding your baby until they fall asleep.
  4. If your baby gets upset when placed in the cot, comfort them until they're calm.

How to calm a sleepy baby? ›

If your baby goes to sleep, remember to always lay her down in her crib on her back. Turn on a calming sound. Sounds that remind babies of being inside the womb may be calming, such as a white noise device, the humming sound of a fan, or the recording of a heartbeat. Walk your baby in a body carrier or rock them.

Why is my baby fighting sleep? ›

Babies fight sleep for a variety of reasons the seven most common being separation anxiety, overtiredness, overstimulation, teething, hitting a milestone, traveling and discomfort or illness.

How to teach baby to fall asleep independently? ›

Here is how you can help your baby learn how to put himself back to sleep:
  1. Play by day. A nice, tired baby will sleep much more soundly than one who hasn't had enough activity during the day. ...
  2. Don't rock to sleep. Don't wait until your baby is asleep before putting him in his crib. ...
  3. Let your baby fuss. ...
  4. Be patient.
Mar 18, 2013

What to do when baby is overtired but won't sleep? ›

‏Rocking and Lullabies Can Help Your Overtired Baby Fall Asleep‏
  1. ‏Swaddling‏
  2. ‏Massage‏
  3. ‏Light repetitive movements like swaying or swinging‏
  4. ‏Feeding the baby to induce drowsiness‏
  5. ‏Dimming the lights‏
  6. ‏Playing soft music.
  7. ‏Using a white noise app on your mobile phone.

How to make a baby sleep the whole night? ›

Consider these tips:
  1. Follow a calming bedtime routine. At first, your routine will be set by your baby. ...
  2. Put your baby to bed drowsy, but awake. When you see signs of tiredness, such as when babies rub their eyes, head to the bedroom. ...
  3. Give your baby time to settle down. ...
  4. Consider a pacifier.
Feb 25, 2023

How do I deal with my baby not sleeping at night? ›

But there are things you can do to make things a little easier, until your baby starts sleeping for longer stretches, or through the night.
  1. Ask an expert. ...
  2. Talk to other parents. ...
  3. Follow safer sleeping advice. ...
  4. Sleep when your baby sleeps. ...
  5. Eat well and stay hydrated. ...
  6. Ask others for help. ...
  7. Slow down.
Jul 10, 2023

How do you break a baby's habit waking up at night? ›

Here is how it works!
  1. Set an alarm 1 hour before your baby typically wakes up in the night. If they are consistently waking up at 4:00am, I would set the alarm for 3:00am to start, as an example.
  2. Quietly go to their crib and gently rouse them into a semi-conscious state. ...
  3. Leave their room immediately!
Nov 29, 2021

What age do babies sleep through the night? ›

Sometime between 6 and 12 months (often around 8 or 9 months) is when your baby might finally start sleeping through the night more consistently. Still, they'll have to build up to this exciting milestone.

How do I stop my baby waking up overnight? ›

Luckily, there are effective ways to get your baby on the right path earlier. First, establish a calming bedtime (and pre-bedtime) routine. Use a strong, rumbly white noise all night long—this helps your sweetie learn to self-soothe by providing cues that don't involve your presence.

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