What Tired Signs Look Like and When and How to Settle My Baby to Sleep Catching your baby’s tired signs and getting them down before they are overtired will help your baby make a smoother transition to sleep. Below are the cues and behaviors your baby will show you as they are getting tired. Note… Read more »
• How can I help my baby nap better?
The following tips may help your baby with daytime napping: Keep your baby from getting overtired Use whatever method you can at this age to encourage naps even if it includes using holding or motion (link to nap page) If you baby sleeps less than 45 minutes long, consider trying to assist him back to… Read more »
• I need help calming my baby down.
Try the following strategies to help calm your baby: Recreating the womb experience can be very helpful in keeping your baby settled and calm and may assist in extending short sleep episodes. Try swaddling to help your baby feel snug and secure. Add some white noise during sleep times and keep the room dark when sleeping… Read more »
• How can I tell if it’s hunger or something else?
Most babies will be feeding in 2.5-3 hour intervals at this age. At night your baby will begin to extend to one longer stretch of sleep without a feeding that will be up to 4-6 hours. After this long stretch they will wake in a regular feeding pattern (every 2-4) for a feed the rest… Read more »
• My baby has a hard time going back to sleep after night feedings.
Sleep environment should be cool, dark and quiet. Do your best to not overstimulate the baby during the night. When they wake and need to feed or be changed or tended to – Meet the need and then get them right back to bed. Expect night wakings and be prepared to handle them quickly and… Read more »
• My baby has a hard time falling asleep at bedtime.
Establish a nice, relaxing and consistent night-time sleep environment. Keep your baby’s sleep environment consistent at bedtime as it will be for the rest of the night. Everything should remain the same so when baby wakes at night – they can learn that this period is for sleeping. If the environment remains the same during… Read more »
• I’m exhausted and need help from my partner at night.
Make a plan with your partner on how you will manage to get the sleep you need in these early weeks. Discuss how you can share night time baby duties. Splitting the nights (Mom on duty first 5 hours & Dad takes second part of the night), or Mom is on during the week and… Read more »
• My baby has his days/nights confused.
Because your baby’s circadian rhythm is not quite developed in these early weeks, you may notice that your infant may have his days and nights mixed up. Parents will notice that their newborns will be quiet and sleepy most of the day and up, awake and active in the middle of the night. In order… Read more »