How to get your baby to fall asleep

Sleepless nights and being a parent might seem to be two things that become intertwined once the little one arrives. As new parents, it might be difficult to get your baby to sleep for long hours. Not to worry! We've got the knowledge of our own Mum & You parents (and Google haha!) to bring you tips on how to get your little one to sleep better

Establish a bed time routine

For babies, a routine is key! Start by creating a calming environment, dimming the lights, and doing soothing activities like a warm bath or gentle massage. Then, do something that would suggest bedtime is here such as reading a story or singing a lullaby. This routine will signal to your baby that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep.

Create Day time/Night time differences

Babies have a natural inclination to sleep more during the night and stay awake during the day. You can encourage this pattern by exposing your little one to natural daylight during daytime naps and engaging in stimulating activities. In the evening, create a calm and quiet ambiance to signal that it's time to sleep.

Learn Your Baby's Sleep Cues

Babies often display subtle cues when they are tired, such as rubbing their eyes, yawning, or becoming fussy. Pay attention to these signals and aim to put your baby to bed when they are drowsy but not yet fully asleep. This will help them learn how to self-soothe and fall asleep independently.

Stay Calm and Patient

Patience is key when it comes to helping your baby sleep. Babies may have periods of sleep regression, but staying calm and providing reassurance will help them relax. Remember, consistency and patience are vital ingredients for success.

Swaddle your Baby

Swaddling can work wonders in helping babies feel secure and calm, mimicking the feeling of being in the womb. Wrap your baby snugly in a soft blanket, ensuring their arms and legs are comfortably tucked in. This technique can prevent startling movements and help your baby stay asleep longer.

Safe Sleeping

It's very important to know about safe sleeping. Check out our blog about safe sleeping and look up websites such as Lullaby Trust for any extra info.

Mum tip

Use a premium nappy at night with high absorbency so you don’t need to risk waking up baby to change them (unless nappy is very full or they have done a poo). Mum & You eco nappies have unique technology that keeps baby dry for up to 12 hours.

Remember, it's normal for parents to experience a decrease in sleep once a baby arrives. Newborns have different sleep patterns compared to adults, and they typically require a lot of feeding, nappy changes, and attention throughout the night. This will naturally result in interrupted sleep for us parents, making it challenging to get some rest. But it will get easier as your little one grows! We hope you don't feel too tired.

It's totally normal for your baby not to sleep for long periods and wake up many during the night. We know it can get extremely hard. Most of the Mum & You parents had children that didn't sleep lots during the night so we guarantee you that we've been there and that it will get better. Many babies just like to feel closer to parents and need that extra support. You haven't done anything wrong if your baby doesn't sleep.

And while these tips may help, don't feel disheartened if they don't work for you. Try and find ways to cope with the lack of sleep - perhaps you can go to bed earlier around 7pm as babies often have a longer stretch at the start of the night or a partner/friend/family can help during the day so you can catch up on sleep.

Co-sleeping is also something that you can try out. Before attempting, please read our blog for safe co-sleeping advice.

Team Mum & You xx