How to help baby sleep through the night ?
Baby nights are among the most discussed topics with loved ones when you are a young parent. Is it already full nights? Does it give you some respite to recharge the batteries? Rest assured if this is not the case: most infants have disjointed nights until they are 3 or 4 months old, since they maintain their in-utero rhythm for several weeks. Many recent studies even estimate that 4 out of 10 children still do not sleep at 12 months. But don't worry, this is completely normal. By the way, did you know that it was possible to quickly help baby sleep through the night?
1: Differentiate between day and night
In the womb, the concept of day and night did not exist for baby. Logically, at birth, he still does not see a difference – it usually lasts until he is 3 months old. It is therefore up to you to make him understand that the day is dedicated to waking up (or to a nap) and that the night corresponds to a longer sleep. For this, you must make a distinction between simple naps and nocturnal sleep times: at night, lower the shutters, create a soothing atmosphere and avoid doing activities that you do during the day. And, if your little one wakes up, you can light a small lamp, for example, and speak in a low voice to make him understand that as long as it is dark outside, he can go back to sleep peacefully.
2: Set up a bedtime ritual
To facilitate baby's sleep, it is important to establish a bedtime ritual. This ritual will reassure him at nightfall and make him understand that it is almost time to leave his parents for a few hours. The ritual can take several forms: bottle to drink quietly in bed, lullaby, bath and little story... Little by little, your child will understand that the ritual introduces sleep. And that the night is not a moment to be feared.
3: Put baby to bed at a fixed time
To help your baby regulate his biological clock, you can try to establish a bedtime from his first months. Of course, it is important to remain flexible: like you, your child can be a little unsettled at times, and will therefore be less stressed when sleeping if you know how to be flexible and adapt to their own rhythm. By giving him a sleep routine, however, you will promote the development of longer and more regular sleep periods.
4: Put baby to sleep in a safe place
For baby to sleep through the night, it is advisable to make their bedroom a safe and welcoming place. To do this, you can keep his bed fresh and clean, do not leave his things lying around (too much) and try to regularly tidy the room where he sleeps. You can also install a night light if this reassures him.
5: Do not intervene as soon as baby wakes up
All pediatricians will tell you: if it is no longer advisable (as a few years ago) to let baby cry all night, it is still important not to run over his bed at the slightest start on his part. . Approximately every hour, your child alternates between two phases of sleep and experiences a micro-awakening; on this occasion, it is possible that he shudders for a few seconds before going back to sleep. So give him time to fall back into a sleep cycle and understand that he is perfectly capable of doing this on his own without your help. Otherwise, he will still need you (and your arms) to get him back to sleep!
Feeding also makes it possible to establish simple rituals with baby so that he can associate each stage of the day with a specific moment of sharing. Having a regular rhythm and a diet adapted to his needs will allow him to find his bearings throughout the day, and will help him to have better nights. Babybio accompanies you on a daily basis so that you can share these moments with complete peace of mind. And if you want more advice, you can listen to all our podcasts dedicated to baby's awakening and in particular episode 6, "Stories for babies: tales are good".
