As much as you might like to imagine that your baby will be a sleeping angel the first few months of their life, it’s usually quite the opposite.  That’s right, despite the saying “sleep like a baby,” many babies do far from that. Since babies are born without the capability of sleeping long stretches, their tired parents usually find themselves up at all hours trying to lull them to sleep.  

In fact, the last thing you want your baby to do is sleep for longer than three or four hours in the beginning weeks. In order to sufficiently grow and get all of the nutrients that they need, they need to wake up and feed. 

However, by the time your baby is three months old, they will require less eating comma and be capable of sleeping longer stretches. Their internal clock, also known as circadian rhythm, starts to adjust to allow them and you uninterrupted amount of sleep. 

However, it doesn’t happen overnight. You’re likely to spend a lot of sleepless nights ensuring your little one is getting the rest they need. You might start to feel slightly overwhelmed, or that you do not really understand what you’re doing, which is okay. You can consult with Miriam Sauter from Early Sleep Consulting or similar baby sleep consultants who can give you professional advice regarding your baby’s sleep patterns, along with other infant-related things like colic and reflux. Until then, you’ll have to help your baby sleep longer stretches by giving them the tools that you can provide. Here are some of the best tips to help your baby sleep through the night.

Soothe Them 

Many sleep experts recommend the practice of recreating a womb leg environment for your baby to sleep longer stretches. This involves swaddling, white noise, and a pacifier. Many parents hesitate about the use of a pacifier since it can be linked to dental issues. Therefore, it’s a personal choice that you will have to make independently. 

Whatever tools you choose to use to soothe them, you should be consistent about it. Create an environment for them that makes them feel cozy and safe so that they are more willing to go to sleep and stay asleep. 

Pay Attention To Their Cues 

Your baby will give you clear signals when they are ready to go to sleep. They’ll usually start becoming fussy and rubbing their eyes. When you notice that they’re getting sleepy, start getting them to sleep as early as possible. Waiting too long can lead to overstimulation and resistance to falling asleep. 

Even though you may be eager to make your baby follow your schedule, you’ll have better luck if you follow their schedule.

Create a Ritual 

Both babies and children thrive from nighttime rituals. Creating a ritual, like a bathtime or reading a story, will help signal your baby’s brain that sleep is near. Stay consistent with your rituals and use a calm voice in dim lighting. 

You’ll find that as the months progress their nighttime ritual will help you and them establish a consistent sleep schedule and a much more rested family overall.