When do babies start sleeping through the night?
If your baby is new to this world, they will still have a fairly irregular sleeping pattern. Newborns often sleep 18 to 20 hours a day, but only three to four hours at a time. They wake up because they're hungry, need a new diaper, or some other reason - you know the drill.
Babies of three to four months usually start with longer sleep phases and can usually sleep for a full five to six hours at a time. And by six months, many babies have the ability to sleep for even longer periods without waking. Some may be able to sleep through the night, while others may wake up again to eat or be soothed.
Sleep needs vary from baby to baby. And yes, there are babies who sleep through the night almost from the start. However, the ability to sleep through the night is also a matter of practice and perhaps a bit of luck also plays a role.
Good to know: Sleep regressions often occur in babies in the fourth month, which can cause them to sleep worse than before. It can feel like a step backwards, but it isn't. You will get through this together. Sleep problems are normal for babies. They require patience and a few tips and tricks to support your baby's sleeping habits.
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Pediatricians recommend: Ideally, babies should always sleep on their backs in a cot or cradle with a firm, flat mattress base. It's best to simply leave out pillows, blankets, stuffed animals and other soft objects. In this way, statistically speaking, the numbers for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) can be minimized. |
5 tips for your baby to fall asleep:
- Establish a sleep ritual
- Develop a regular feeding rhythm
- Teach baby rhythm of day and night
- Prevent the sleep-sucking connection
- Let baby fall asleep in the crib
1. Sleep tip: Establish sleep rituals for your baby
Fixed rituals can help you relax and fall asleep. About an hour before bedtime, you can prepare your baby for the upcoming night's sleep. By always having the same rituals in the evening, a feeling of regularity can be created - even with very small babies!
A warm bath, looking at a picture book together in the dimmed light, changing your diaper and putting on your pajamas one last time, cuddling and singing a lullaby: all of this can make the hour before bedtime a wonderful and intense time for you and your baby. This way, your baby won't be put to bed abruptly and unexpectedly, but you'll slowly get him in the mood for the upcoming bedtime.
2. Tip for falling asleep: Develop a regular feeding rhythm
From the beginning, work towards establishing a consistent breastfeeding or feeding rhythm that meets your baby's individual needs. Because not every time he cries or screams he is hungry. Sometimes completely different needs such as closeness, affection or entertainment can also be expressed.
Some children develop a relatively stable hunger and sleep rhythm after just a few weeks. Pay particular attention to ensuring that your baby is well-fed before going to bed so that he or she can fall asleep gently and without feeling hungry.
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3. Tip for falling asleep: Teach baby the rhythm of day and night
When your baby is born, he or she doesn't yet have a strong sense of time. This may seem challenging at first, but within a few weeks your baby will learn to understand the difference between day and night.
You can help your baby recognize this difference by having their daytime naptimes in a bright room with normal noises and nighttime naptimes in a quiet, dark room.
In the evening it is advisable to avoid fuss, dim the lights and talk to your baby more quietly. The same goes for changing and feeding at night: ideally you avoid bright lights and leave chatting until the next morning.
Especially at the beginning, it is important to teach your baby clear differences between day and night.
4. Tip for falling asleep: Prevent the sleep-sucking connection
Do you get hungry when someone crackles their crisp packet? Then you've probably learned to associate that particular sound with food.
What this means in terms of the sleep-sucking connection: If your baby always uses the breast, bottle, or pacifier to fall asleep, he or she will learn to associate sucking with falling asleep. You could try removing your baby's breast, bottle, or pacifier just before he or she falls asleep. This way, he could develop the habit of falling asleep even without sucking.
In reality, however, things can look different. If sucking is the only way to get your baby to sleep, that's okay too. This does not mean that your baby cannot change or unlearn the so-called sleep-sucking connection later.
5. Tip for falling asleep: Let babies fall asleep in their crib
Between the sixth and twelfth week of life, your baby has the best chance to learn how to fall asleep on its own. From this point on, experts therefore recommend occasionally putting the child in the bed while slightly sleepy but still awake - this way they learns to fall asleep without your help.
This is because, for example, a baby who falls asleep in your arms and later wakes up alone in his or her crib may have difficulty getting back to sleep without the support of mom or dad.
In contrast, a baby who is already familiar with his or her sleep environment will likely fall back to sleep more easily. And if this approach doesn't work straight away: The most important thing is that you don't worry too much. Stress can be passed on to your baby and make it even more difficult to help you fall asleep. So, take a deep breath, mom and dad. It'll work out!
By the way, it's always a good idea to talk to your pediatrician if you're concerned about your baby's sleep.
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A topic related to a regular sleep routine is “ being parents and remaining lovers ”. Because de-saped parents have a relaxing effect on their baby.
Extra tip: This is our coolest baby hack for not losing so much sleep.
Your baby is hungry at night and you barely have to move to give him the bottle of baby milk he wants. Ideally, all you have to do is squeeze, shake, feed and then go back to sleep.
This is how it works: In a bottle, pre-portioned formula powder, separated from the water, waits to be mixed. A keep-warm function keeps the water pre-boiled in the evening at a constant drinking temperature. Milk powder and water are mixed by squeezing and then shaking. Doesn't sound bad, does it? Click here for Snoozi .
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