As I sat here and wrote out those words in the title – “get your baby to sleep at night” – it almost sounded crazy to me. I mean, babies are SUPPOSED to sleep aren’t they? Yet, when our daughter was a baby, there was very little sleep going on and I constantly fretted over getting her to sleep. She fought sleep like there was no tomorrow, and if you’re reading this now with a baby who refuses to sleep you will know that when baby doesn’t sleep, nobody sleeps!

Baby’s need sleep

We know that sleep is important for babies, but do we know exactly why? The health benefits that come from a great night’s sleep, both mental and physical, are abundant. Not only does healthy sleep promote heart health, it enables healthy growth spurts in your baby, and is the best way to stave off excessive weight gain. The development of the brain is affected by healthy or poor sleep patterns as well.

Also, by creating a healthy sleep pattern for your baby, you are laying the foundation needed for your child to have a healthful bedtime habits in their later years. Yet, how do we know we are doing all that is needed to help them sleep through the night? Try out some of our tips to make abundant sleep a regular thing in your child’s life.

If you’re sitting there bleary eyes wondering how to get your baby to sleep as I did in that first year SO many times, then I have Charmian Mead – The Baby Sleep Expert – here with a Q&A on how to get your baby to sleep:

Why babies fight sleep

Babies whose needs have been met in the way of feeding, digestion and structured awake time, should in theory, settle happily. Here are some reasons why your baby may not settle to sleep.

1. Breastfeeding is a guesstimate with milk intake so if a baby is not full on approach to nap time they can be tricky to settle. If you are breastfeeding then your milk supply naturally depletes throughout the day, hitting your lowest point of supply towards the end of the day, when in fact your baby needs his biggest feed to set them up for the night; this will also cause a reluctance to sleep due to hunger.
2. Snacking and cat napping can also cause confusion with settling to sleep when using sucking or snacking as a way to settle.
3. Babies are unable to burp themselves for the first three months of life so a build-up of wind can create unsettled sleep as much as not having enough time awake surrounding feeds.
4. Not allowing sufficient time awake after feeds. Babies naturally dose while feeding and digesting but this isn’t due to being tired. Put your baby to bed when they are not ready and they will not settle well.
5. Another reason could be learned behaviour, when child is unable to settle themselves without aid such as rocking which makes settling to sleep more problematic as they get older.
6. Over stimulation. I don’t believe in new-borns getting over tired but I do believe in over stimulation, help your baby wind down 10-15 minutes of calming cuddles and quiet time in preparation for bed.

When can babies start sleeping through the night?

Babies will sleep through the night when they are able to take on-board their total milk intake needed in a 24 hour period during the day. Most babies need to be over 4kg to do this. This also depends on the size of your baby’s appetite as well as stomach capacity. Babies are born with immature guts which need time to strengthen but those who are born with a less sensitive and a less problematic stomach with wind and gas will sleep through the night quicker.

A routine which structures feeds allowing the stomach to empty between feeds and eliminates gas and air throughout the feed will have more space in their stomachs to take more milk at each day feed and which results in less milk demand at night. Babies in my care naturally sleep through the night as early as 4-6 weeks of age as part of a balanced routine. If all your baby’s needs are met during the day then a baby can sleep naturally through the night under six weeks of age but it’s common for a baby to be waking through the night in the first year.

Why do babies usually not sleep through the night?

There are many reasons why a baby will not sleep through the night, from not taking on enough milk or food during the day, digestion, no daily structure to not having the right sleep environment. Once you hit the teething stage and your baby is over four months they have already spent a huge chunk of their lives waking at night and this can cause habit waking. If your baby’s needs are not met on daily basis then they will not sleep through until this happens whether they are six weeks or six months.

Can a baby really sleep through the night from as early as 6 weeks?

Yes, I’ve been teaching my routine for over 20 years and it’s a rarity for a baby to not sleeping through the night after six weeks of age. Babies  do this naturally at their own pace as a result of a routine which teaches positive associations with feeding and sleeping, based on a baby’s digestive comfort and with baby led nights. Babies feel secure and content on a routine that is working so will sleep beautifully at night. If one variable is not quite right, they won’t sleep through and only sleep through the night as part of learned behaviour until they have slept through for two or more weeks as part of a consistent routine.

Top tips on how to get your baby to sleep through the night as early possible

1. Digestion is where you should focus firstly. Feeding until full so no snacking. Winding regularly to make sure all the air comes up during and after feeds.
2. Structure time awake after feeds and build on this time until reaching two hours each daily feed by week 6.
3. Sleep positions. Where and how you put your baby to sleep is key to the length of time they sleep. Your baby needs its own pace to sleep. Tuck in over the shoulders and use a swaddle at night. Check out my swaddle and sleep position videos at www.thesleepingbabyroutine.co.uk.
4. Wake your baby for feeds during the day but let your baby wake of its own accord for night feeds and give less milk at the night feeds, capped at 4oz and half an hour for feeding which includes winding. This means your baby will increase intake during the day and phase of what will become snack like feeds over time naturally.

Best advice for ensuring content and peaceful baby led nights

The 7pm to 7am Sleeping Baby Routine is a flexible daily routine with baby led nights. A routine which meets your baby’s needs by way of milk intake, digestion, structured time awake will result naturally in longer stretches of sleep at night.

You will need to make sure you are giving less milk at the night feeds – giving heavier feeds at night only encourages night waking. Keep the feeds quiet and quick with no stimulation. All this will help your baby recognise the difference between night and day and help phase out night feeds when your baby is ready.

More tips from MTRD on helping baby to sleep at night

Get the room ready

If you are a soon-to-be parent, odds are you have been going over what to put in baby’s first room, or nursery. There are so many cute things to choose from when designing the room your baby will first sleep in and, while we agree patterns and colors are fun, keep in mind that there are certain ways to ensure a great night’s sleep before your baby arrives.

The mattress is important

When you lay in bed at night, do you do it in a bed that is lumpy or uncomfortable? Your baby should have the best mattress for their crib as well, wouldn’t you agree? This review of a baby bed is a great example of a comfortable system for your little one.

Keep it simple

While you might be tempted to get lots of pillows and cute stuffed toys to keep your baby company while they sleep the night away, experts suggest you stay far away from these, including crib bumpers. Each of these items increases the risk of your baby suffocating while sleeping. Besides, excessive stimulants like toys might produce the opposite results you are attempting to achieve, which is a good night’s sleep for your baby.

Utilize the lights

One way to motivate your baby to sleep is to turn the lights down a few hours before you put them to bed, two should be enough. This will “set the mood” and encourage your baby to sleep. Also, leave the lights dim in your baby’s bedroom and consider using a night light. Shades that darken the room during naptime are also beneficial when lulling your baby to rest.

Create a routine

Routines are very important for children in general, so this is no different when it comes to a new baby. In fact, it is more important at your baby’s bedtime because this is when his little brain is developing his circadian rhythms, which is our natural internal clock.

Drown out the outside

White noise machines have been known to work wonders in helping babies drift off to sleep. The sounds created by these gadgets not only cloak noise from outside their nursery, your baby will begin to associate the humming with bedtime, which helps them create a routine.

Be firm

If your baby is insistent on playing while you try to get her to sleep, it is important that you not give in to her cute little demands to crawl about. You might feel like talking to her all night as she gurgles back, and who are we to blame you? Still, this will defeat the purpose of creating a routine, which is a primary component in helping your baby sleep.

Also, if you continue to hear noises from the monitor, find a way to restrain yourself from going into the nursery continually. By checking on your baby every time she makes a sound, you will be teaching her to wake up for attention, which will take you in the wrong direction.

Droopy eyes are the time

When you find your baby drifting off, this is the time to put her to bed, say some experts. By doing this, you are educating your baby how to fall asleep naturally, which will help them sleep better when grown. Timing is everything with this technique.

The 7pm to 7am Sleeping Baby Routine by Charmian Mead is published by Vermilion (£12.99)

Well I hope you found these tips on how to get your baby to sleep helpful everybody and that the sleep Gods will be with you all soon! Please do leave a comment and let me know if you found Charmian’s advice helpful.