Infant Sleep Guide

How to make newborn sleep at night?

A new-born’s sleep routine is a matter of concern for many parents. When babies are born, they are unaware of morning and night cycles. They did not have a routine and they can wake up and sleep anytime. During pregnancy, your sleeping pattern directly affects that of your baby. It rests when you are active in the daytime and it's active when you are sleeping. After birth, it takes time to get habitual to a new sleep cycle. Babies normally take 2 to 6 months to develop healthy sleeping habits. If you are searching for the answer to How to make your new born sleep at night, you have come to the right place. Let us first tell you the fastest ways to make your infant sleep.

Babies' sleep cycle changes with their age. Let's understand their ideal sleep duration with the help of the following table:

Not all infants can sleep on their own without their parents’ help. Here are a few tips to get new-borns to sleep at night:

Allow adequate nap time according to your baby's age.
Follow a consistent & soothing newborn bedtime routine. Give a bath, sing a lullaby, cuddle them with love, or play soft music. Start these activities in a softly lit room before the baby gets overtired.
Don't let the baby fall asleep in your arms every time because when you put it down, they can wake up and start crying. Hence, put them to bed when they are drowsy and awake. It will help the baby to associate the bed with falling asleep.
Cuddling & making your babies comfortable when they are awake is the way to make them feel secure. If they feel secure, they can handle separation and fall asleep, mainly at night time.
Rubbing eyes, yawning, looking away, getting fussy, or crying are the signs of a new born feeling sleepy. Help them find comfort by cuddling. They need your reassuring presence to fall asleep.
Use a pacifier. It can quiet a baby. Sucking on a pacifier during sleeping time can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is one of the ways of ensuring safe sleep for new-borns.
When the baby awakes at night, reassure him/ her by patting and soothing. Do this for a few minutes. Don't take them out of bed immediately. They will feel calm and then fall asleep.
When your baby gets hungry or wakes up at night, feed them in dim light, and use a soft voice with calm movements. Make them sleep by patting or swinging.

As much as comfort, safety is also a must. Did you know that there are about 3400 sudden infant deaths (SIDS) every year in the USA? This number is more or less the same in most countries. The main culprit - accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (27%). These are some ways to reduce the risk of SIDS and ensure relaxing new born bedtime:

Breastfeed your baby at least for 6 months.
Do not smoke anywhere near your baby and don't let others do that. It can create several health issues disrupting the norms of safe sleep for newborns.
Put your baby on their back while sleeping till they can move on their sides on their own.
Use a firm and soft bed covered by a comfortable fitted sheet. This can prevent gaps between the mattress and the sides of the crib, bassinet, or play yard. It helps to protect the baby from getting stuck between the mattress and the side of the crib.
Keep your baby's bed separate from yours but keep it near you. This sleeping placement is suitable for the baby's first year.
Avoid using infant seats, strollers, car seats, infant swings, and carriers for daily naps and routine bedtimes.
Use tight bedding to provide safe sleep for new-borns. Use breathable and soft fabric. Bedsheets made with 100% long-staple premium cotton yarn can be an ideal choice. The sateen weave is soft & gentle on the baby’s skin. Check out our Baby bed linen collection.

We have understood the safe ways to make your baby sleep at night but there are some things you should avoid while taking your newborn to bed. They are as follows:

Don't try to keep a baby awake during daytime so that they can sleep the whole night. It's not natural for them. Rather newborns will be overtired and stressed. The situation will make it more challenging for them to soothe and rest later at night. Understand their sleeping pattern and eventually make them habitual to sleeping at night.

People think that cereals keep a baby's tummy fuller, so they may not wake up at night crying from hunger. But it's not true. It can make them restless due to gas pain in the stomach. You should feed cereals only when they can eat them with a spoon, mostly after 6 months. Till then stick to breastfeeding or formula.
Safe sleep for newborns is important to reduce the risk of SIDS. Don't hold your baby when you are very sleepy. Parents might sleep holding their babies in their hands or lap. To avoid this keep your baby in a crib or bassinet first and then go to sleep.

Babies' bedding also plays a crucial role in their comfortable, peaceful, and safe sleep. Perfect bedding coupled with good sleeping habits is essential for safe newborn bedtime.

Here's the guide on How to choose newborn bedding.

Use a firm foam, spring, or coir mattress. Avoid using cotton or polyester stuffed mattresses in which the stuffing can bunch up and form lumps.
Prefer using a fitted sheet on the mattress. Loose sheets can be a suffocation hazard for newborns.
Go for premium cotton sheets for a smooth and safe experience. Babies’ sheets get wet frequently. So, you will need a highly absorbent and durable bedsheet that can last long even after frequent washes.
The baby’s skin is delicate and prone to allergy. Use cotton bedsheets that are hypoallergenic . Cotton does not attract dust or allergens, unlike other fabrics.
Baby mouthing is natural and is part of babies’ learning and development. Hence, you cannot prevent your baby from putting everything in their mouth. So, you need to wisely select the bedsheets that are free from chemicals. Our baby sheets are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified ensuring the textiles meet high safety standards to keep your babies safe and healthy. All fabrics used are 100 % eco-friendly chemical free, and certified AZO FREE, making it soothing for even the babies’ sensitive skin.
If you are using pillows in the crib, use cotton pillow cases. They ensure maximum comfort for a deep restful bedtime for your little munchkin.
Choose sleeping bags or wearable sacks. It's the smartest substitute for comforters, blankets, and duvets. However, if you still choose to use duvets select a duvet cover that suits the season.