Congratulations on being a new parent! If you’re experiencing parenthood for the first time then you must be facing difficulties in putting your newborn to sleep. It can be hard, that’s why you might be looking for advice on how to get newborn to fall asleep on their own.
Babies don’t operate like adults. They don’t know when to sleep and when to wake up. It’s your duty to create a sleep routine for your newborn. However, it’s obviously easier said than done.
You need to start worrying about your child’s routine at the 2-month mark. A proper schedule is good not only for the baby but also for the whole family.
Let’s have a look at this small guide on how to get newborn to fall asleep on their own:
How to Get Newborn to Fall Asleep on Their Own
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Week One
At this stage, your main concentration should be to make sure your baby takes full feeds. It’s too early to teach your newborn a schedule. You should instead concentrate on keeping the baby awake to make sure he or she has enough feed.
Here’s how to ensure your baby stays up:
- Rub their hands and feet.
- Wipe their face, neck, and forehead with a slightly wet wipe. These WaterWipes can be a good choice as they’re sensitive and affordable.
- Make sure the baby is not too snug or warm.
- Burp when it’s time to change the nursing side or when the baby completed half the bottle. This Squeeze Bottle Spoon is a good option if you’re looking for a multipurpose bottle.
It’s normal for babies to fall asleep during the feeding process. Use these tips to ensure the baby doesn’t fall asleep so that he or she is full and healthy. This is very important when figuring out how to get newborn to fall asleep on their own.
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Week Two
Now is the time to let your baby know the difference between day and night. It is crucial for how to get newborn to fall asleep on their own. Sitting next to your child and explaining the concept will not do any wonders.
Try these tricks instead:
- Keep the room bright during the day. Use bright bulbs like this Vintage LED Edison Bulb for this purpose.
- Keep the room dim during the night (after 8 PM). A dimmer like WiFi Smart Dimmer Light Switch can be of good help.
- Make sure to keep to feed your baby every 2-3 hour during the day.
- If your baby wakes up at night, turn on the lights. This can force the baby to sleep (strange but it works).
- Let your baby sleep at night and avoid indulging in any behavior that can force the baby to stay awake.
- Feed the baby at night if he or she is hungry, but make sure to not let it be too frequent.
- Try swaddling. These Newborn Baby Swaddle Blanket Stroller Wraps are quite affordable and comfortable as well.
Your child will begin to learn that he or she is supposed to eat, play when it’s bright and sleep when it’s dark.
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Week 3
It’s now time to teach your baby to be able to sleep on their own. It may sound like a tough task but these tips will help:
- Make sure your baby is never too tired.
- You can use a pacifier if your baby likes it (some hate it, you’ll see when you try). It can teach your baby to stay calm. Plus, pacifiers have a connection with sleep. This Pacifier with Replaceable Doll can be a good choice since it comes with a toy.
- Put your baby in the cradle when he or she begins to fall asleep to teach them to sleep on their own. Pick a comfortable cradle like this one.
- Create a sleeping time by giving your baby hugs, kisses. You can also change diapers and dim the room so that your baby is aware of what a sleep setting is. These diapers are very delicate and have good reviews.
Your baby will not sleep if he or she is hungry so make sure to keep your baby well fed.
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Week 4
Now that you know how to keep your baby well fed and your baby has acquired the art of falling asleep, it’s time to find a routine that’s beneficial for you and the baby. This is the final week for how to get newborn to fall asleep on their own.
- You should feed the baby about six times a day, every 3 hours. Make this routine and stick to it.
- Stick to a routine. For example, if you start your day at 7 AM, make sure to start it every day at 7M so that your baby gets used to it. You can use Housbay Digital Alarm Clock or your phone to ensure you wake up on time.
- Write down the schedule for ease. There should be nap time between feeds so that your baby is fresh and not too tired. Also, take out time for your own activities such as reading, working, etc.
- Try cluster feeding, especially early in the evening.
- Make sure you don’t let your baby sleep for more than four hours during the day. It will otherwise impact the schedule.
- Don’t let your baby fall asleep until it’s time. It’s good to try to keep your baby in a drowsy state so he or she gets used to sleeping at a specific hour.
This is a crucial stage because this is where you actually create a schedule. Once it’s ready, you must stick to it. Any changes in your schedule will impact the baby’s schedule as well so make sure to remain true to the plan.
And there is a rough 4 week schedule on how to get newborn to fall asleep on their own. Here is a Guide to Being a Good Father to a Newborn!