We’ve all been there, heavy bags under our eyes, pure exhaustion, and willing to do just about anything to get our baby to sleep through the night. Motherhood exhaustion is real, and it is tough!
I know you probably have experienced those long nights with little to no sleep because that cute bundle of joy seems to wake you up every couple of hours.
Rocking, nursing, bouncing, you have tried every trick in the book.
But alas, no luck!
As you slowly tiptoe out of the room and close the door, you hear your baby fuss and cry and it starts all over again.
You may wonder,
“Will my baby ever learn to fall asleep on their own and sleep through the night?”
The answer is YES!
If your baby can develop some life-lasting sleep skills, and learn how to self soothe, you will be well on your way to a baby that sleeps through the night and a well-rested mother.
These six self soothe tips will teach you all that you need to know when it comes to teaching your baby to sleep through the night.
1. Establish good sleeping habits
Good sleep skills stem from good sleep habits. Establishing good sleeping habits with your baby will greatly help their ability to be able to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own.
Try following the method of playing or doing an activity with your baby after each feed instead of feeding them to sleep.
Be conscious of ways that you can help teach your baby to be less dependent on you and more independent at sleeping.
2. Create a routine
Routines are key when it comes to a baby who sleeps well. Youngsters actually thrive on some sort of schedule or routine.
Creating a routine when it comes to sleeping will ultimately help prepare your baby for what is coming next.
Babies love predictability, so offering a simple routine will help them be more prepared for sleeping and less overwhelmed since they will start to realize the end outcome.
Whether you are putting your baby down for a nap or it is bedtime, implement some simple steps to help them wind down and be mentally ready to sleep.
A routine could consist of things such as a bath, lotion, storytime, and singing.
You can make your baby’s bedtime routine however you would like to, just keep things short, simple, and remember consistency is key!
3. Offer a good sleep environment
Offering a good sleep environment will set your little one up for success.
Avoiding distractions and keeping the lights down will naturally help your baby’s melatonin kick in and help them fall asleep quicker and easier.
I love to use blackout curtains, along with some sort of white noise to help my baby’s sleep environment along with a sleep sack or blanket depending on my baby’s age.
4. Master the timing
Pay attention to the timing of things. Learn your baby’s sleep cues and try to avoid your baby reaching the overtired stage.
If you are aware of how your baby expresses their tiredness you will have better success if you try to set them down to sleep before they reach the stage of overtiredness.
Not only does timing play a big role in helping your baby get to sleep but timing also matters while your baby is sleeping. If your baby starts to fuss and wake up, try to refrain from rushing through the door to pick them right up and soothe them.
Wait a minute or two and see if your baby can self soothe by themselves and you might be surprised that your baby drifts off right back to sleep.
5. Avoid sleep props
You may be wondering what a sleep prop is. A sleep prop is basically something, anything that your baby is dependent on to fall asleep.
Sleep is a journey, so when your baby becomes dependent on an object or motion to help make them fall asleep, that “thing” then becomes an essential and dependent part of their sleep journey.
Soon you will find yourself rocking your toddler to sleep who won’t give that binky up and your child has zero sleep skills and isn’t able to self soothe by themselves.
Sleep props seem to be the perfect answer in the moment, but they will become your worst nightmare. Avoid sleep props, and help your baby learn how to not be dependent on certain things.
6. Consider using a lovey
I know I mentioned it is best to stay away from sleep props but there is one “prop” that I would actually recommend using.
That is a lovey. A lovey can be a stuffed animal, blanket or something similar. It is an object that can offer comfort and help your baby self soothe.
Instead of your baby relying on something that you offer, for example, rocking, nursing, bouncing, or putting that binky in their mouth, a lovey is a great alternative and something they can find comfort in.
It is important to make sure that your baby is ready to be introduced to a lovey, so it doesn’t become a safety hazard.
These 6 simple self soothe techniques will help your baby become a great sleeper and you both will be getting a full night’s sleep at night as they learn to sleep through the night.
Remember to stay consistent and patient. If it doesn’t work after one day, don’t give up. Good things take time. With a little work, your baby will soon develop those much needed sleep skills you’ve dreamed of to sleep through the night.
Author Bio
Beth Meier, is the founder and creator of her motherhood blog, Heart of a Mum. She runs it alongside her husband and finds joy in writing, inspiring, and helping other mothers out there. Her biggest goal is to help other mothers not feel alone through the crazy ups and downs of motherhood. Beth is usually chasing her busy toddler or raising animals on their small homestead farm when she isn’t writing. She is passionate about all that she does and hopes to make a difference in the world.
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