Getting your baby to sleep through the night is a challenging task. There are many factors that contribute to successful sleep schedules, and just when you think you’ve got something figured out, it can change just like that! Healthy sleep is so crucial to a new baby, and to toddlers alike. Their little bodies are doing so much on the inside, that they desperately need that restorative slumber. In this article we’re going to talk about some simple ways to help your baby sleep through the night.

First I think we need to talk about the importance of napping. Napping plays such a vital role in a good night’s sleep because if your child is not well rested throughout the day, by the time bedtime rolls around they are exhausted and this actually causes a disrupted night time sleep. It seems strange that an exhausted baby will not sleep soundly right through until morning, but please believe that is the truth!

Depending on their age, babies need 2-3 naps a day. Most naps should be a minimum of one hour (this changes with time), but no more than 3 hours. Every baby is different and I wouldn’t suggest trying to follow a nap pattern too strictly, just watch your baby. When they are very young, 1-2 hours of wakefulness is enough for a little one.

This means that once a baby has been awake for 1-2 hours they are ready for a nap. Look for the rubbing of the eyes, big yawns, slow movement, lack of interest or focus, and heavy, tired limbs. They may protest with loud cries when you try to put them down for a nap because they don’t want to be away from you, but if you know they are tired stay strong and put them down!

Next let’s discuss feedings. This is another schedule that changes very frequently as baby grows but it does play a role is sleep patterns too. Most babies get very sleepy after having milk/formula, so some parents follow the sequence of wake-play-eat-sleep. Others prefer wake-eat-play-sleep, there is no right or wrong sequence and you may use both throughout your day, you just need to figure out what works best with your baby.

Now regarding night feedings, well this is where it can get tricky! Again, depending on the age of your baby, they will have different needs. I’m of the school that a baby under 3-4 months of age should not be on any schedule at all and should definitely not be denied any night feedings. Older babies are ready for some training and you can diminish the desire for milk/formula throughout the night by ensuring that baby is well feed during the day, and especially right before bed. When your baby cries out in the night, wait a few minutes, they may not be hungry at all and settle themselves back to sleep. If the crying doesn’t stop, you can try offering them a smaller amount of milk (one breast only or half the amount of formula), this may satisfy them enough to fall right back asleep and eventually they’ll stop expecting milk at that time.

Another variable in the good night’s sleep equation is bedtime. It’s very important to be consistent with bedtime. Babies’ internal clocks are amazing and if you maintain a regular bedtime you’ll notice your little one winding down before you even begin the nightly bedtime routine. Babies need to go to bed early. I mean really early! 5:30pm is a good place to start. You can adjust the bedtime in increments of 15 minutes until you find the right time for your household, but don’t go later than 7:30pm until they are at least 8-9 months old.

It may seem incredible to you that a baby can fall asleep at 5:30pm and sleep until morning, but they sure can! And adjusting times by 15 minutes may seem silly at first but it really can be enough to make the difference of an extra half hour of sleep for you in the morning. Have a look at these charts on baby's bedtime and amount of sleep required according to age.

The last topic we’ll discuss today is sleep environment. Whether it’s naptime or bedtime, your baby’s surroundings contribute to restfulness and good sleep. Make sure the temperature is right, depending on how well baby is dressed, it should be around 21 to 24 degrees C. Keep it nice and dark, especially at bedtime. I’m a huge fan of blackout curtains, they provide darkness, help control temperature, and diminish noise throughout the year. Try to keep it down, I’m not saying you should be tiptoeing around and whispering because baby needs to become accustomed to those sounds, but do try to keep it moderately quiet for them while they sleep. I use a sound machine at bedtime because our household is lively for a few hours after my little one goes down, and it has made a huge difference- no more awakenings in the hours after bedtime.

Working towards getting your baby to sleep through the night is not an easy task, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow your instinct and go with the flow. Don’t stress out because your amazing little bundle will sense your anxiety and protest sleep even more. The number one motto to remember is: Respect your child’s need for sleep. It’s an important one and if you’d like a little more information about sleeping through the night baby please look for other articles to come. There’s nothing better than your child’s blissful little face smiling up at you when they’ve awakened from deep, peaceful, restorative sleep. And guess what? If they've had some, chances are you have too!