Any tips on how to get baby to sleep through the night

Question

my baby is 3 weeks old and is sleeping from 12.30am to 5am and staying awake.. is it best to go with the flow or should i start a sleeping routine at her age. what did most of ye do.

Answer 1

Hi,

Your baby is still very young at the moment but I think the most important thing to start with is to get your baby into a good sleep routine.  I had massive problems with getting my 4 month old son to sleep.  He would just lie awake and cry for hours, then when he finally went to sleep he would wake every hour or two hours through the night and cry again!  Talk about pulling our hair out .... we were absolutely desperate for sleep!

It was a baby sleep audio program recommended by a friend that finally saved us. We followed the advice and began by creating a baby sleep routine which included bathtime, dimming of the lights, putting James into his crib, final nappy change and then lullabies. We also made recommended changes to his naps during the day and used some of the other recommended techniques. Within two weeks he was sleeping through the night most nights with just the odd night where he would just wake once!

Definitely start by creating a good baby sleep routine though and you could find that solves most of your baby sleep problems.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The 12:30 to 5am is good for a 3 week old, but I know it's hard. My baby is 15 weeks now and since she turned 6 weeks old, she has been sleeping through the night. Now - sleeping through the night for a newborn is defined as anything over 6 hours of sleep. My baby now sleeps about 8p to 6a, which is AWESOME. I think that it is partly the baby and partly the parent.

You really do have to go with the flow, but there are things you can do to help. Establish a nightime routine. With my baby, around 7:30, I give her a bath (every night, but if you can't do every night, then at least wipe your baby down on the off nights)...then I rub lotion on her for a little while to relax her, and finally, I give her a bath. After doing this for about 2 weeks straight, she seemed to get it and has slept through the night since. She has had a stray mid-night waking, as all babies will, but for the most part, she is a great sleeper! Good luck!

Answer 3

my son is a year next month and he usually wakes up at least once per night for a drink of water.  I am waiting for the day when he sleeps all the way through!!  good luck!

Answer 4

put the baby asleep about 6:30 pm they say that if you put the baby asleep earlier that they will sleep longer!

Answer 5

1. Keep to a routine. If your baby wakes up late in the morning to help make up for some of his late nights, begin waking him at an earlier time each day to help encourage him to get the sleep he needs at night -- when the rest of the household sleeps.

2. Choose a well-lit area for your baby's naps. This will help encourage shorter naps, which in turn may help your little one sleep better at night.

3. Increase daytime feeds. Feeding your baby more often during the day will allow him to meet his nutritional needs at a time more convenient to you.

4. Feed your baby in a quiet, darkened room occasionally if your baby is easily distracted during the day.

5. If breastfeeding, allow your baby to finish the first breast offered. This will provide him or her with more of your rich hindmilk, which may also help to space out his nighttime feeds.

6. Carry your baby -- with the aid of a sling or other baby carrier. This will help to keep your baby relaxed, especially during the early evening hours, encouraging an easy transition to sleep.

7. Keep the evening calm to avoid overstimulation. If a bath is relaxing for your little one, you can bathe him before bed. If it's too stimulating, bathe him at another time.

8. Feed your baby in a darkened room at night if he or she wakes up hungry. Let him know that night is for sleeping.

9. Avoid nighttime diaper changes if at all possible.

And don't forget to take care of yourself!

Rest while your baby rests. This is especially important when you have a high-need baby.

Take a walk. Sunshine and fresh air are good for both of you. Going out together, with your baby in a sling, baby carrier or stroller can be a great stress reliever.  

Answer 6

your baby is so small a routine will not be able to be established yet, trust me ive got 4!! try keeping baby in quiet atmosphere and try not to talk to her whe feeding

Answer 7

id enjoy it while it lasts lol, itll be every few hours soon...

Answer 8

well my friend when she had her little girl that is 9 months old now but when she was little at 2 months old she gave her a 6oz bottle around 930-10 with a tad bit of cereal in it....and she said that she sleept throught the night and she would not get up to like 7 the next morning so maybe try to make sure she is dry and then try her with a bottle like that at night and go from there!! Hope everything works out well and let me know if you try what i said and if it works

Answer 9

seriously???  your baby is only 3 weeks old.  You are d**n lucky that she is sleeping that much.

Go with the flow.....let her sleep when she is tired.

Answer 10

my son is 2 months old and I put him down at about 10pm and then up at 8am. he does wake up in the night but i dont let him stay up. He can kick and wiggle all he wants during that time but I dont keep him up just because he is awake. I started this at 1 month and it has been workign for us this far.

Answer 11

Your baby is three weeks old.  She's not used to going so long without eating.  She just came from your womb, where she was fed 24 hours a day, and now you want her to go more than 5 hours without eating?  

You are lucky to get 5 hours, my son wanted to nurse every 2 hours.  Have you ever considered co-sleeping, so that both of you get more sleep?  It's a very safe practice if you do it right, like no drinking alcohol and no heavy blankets in bed.  That way you can roll over and nurse and then go right back to sleep.

Newborns cannot regulate their sleep patterns very well, so just go with the flow for now.  Your baby will grow up and get into a more regular sleep pattern.

Answer 12

well my baby sleeps from 10pm-6 am (she's 4 monthssooo the best advice i cagiveve you is make sure she is FULL DRY and relaxed lay dowonnb the couch and lay her head against your heart (her ear) if my baby is fussy that always helps and she seems to sleep better and longer i would start serousse bedtime routine until she is about 1-2months

Answer 13

My site has some really good tips on this subject. Check it out if you like. Good Luck!

Answer 14

Go with the flow - that's not a bad sleep for a baby only 3 weeks old. You just have to adjust your life a little. You'll find it changes all the time - although sometimes you do get a pattern maintain itself for a few weeks.

Give baby a feed at 5.00 - and then what happens - presumavly wide awake ? Then bring baby with you and go do some jobs. Then when baby falls off to sleep - try snatching some sleep yourself. Even if you rest it helps.

Answer 15

I agree with the first submission but at the same time your baby is on her schedule and she is going to do what she wants. My baby is 8 months old and still wakes up at least once in the night.