As a parent, helping your baby establish good sleep habits is a top priority. Your baby's sleep routine evolves at every stage, bringing unique hurdles. Let's explore common sleep concerns and find simple, practical tips to ensure better sleep for your little one.
Helping your baby transition to sleep involves creating a calming routine and a sleep-friendly environment. So patience and gentle adjustments to their needs are key.
If you're wondering how to put your baby to sleep quickly, try these tips:
If your baby is not sleeping well, don't worry too much. Babies take their time adjusting to external stimuli.
Common reasons include:
What you can do:
Many parents worry when they suddenly hear their baby crying in their sleep.
Common reasons include:
What you can do:
Sleep training techniques for babies are designed to help them learn to self-soothe and fall asleep independently.
Popular methods include:
It creates a consistent, soothing environment that masks disruptive sounds and mimics the comforting sounds of the womb. This helps babies relax and settle faster.
Ensuring safe sleep is a very important part of raising a child. Some small steps can greatly improve your baby’s safety and comfort in the crib.
Baby-proofing the crib ensures safety by using a firm mattress, keeping it free from pillows, toys, and loose bedding, and adjusting the mattress height as your baby grows.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) refers to the unexplained death of an infant during sleep, often in the crib. Practising safe sleep is key to its prevention.
The safest sleeping position for babies is on their back, as it reduces the risk of SIDS. Avoid side or stomach sleeping, as these can pose safety risks.
Sleep challenges are a normal part of a baby’s growth and development. With patience, consistent routines, and some comforting strategies, most sleep issues resolve naturally.
Night wakings are a common concern for parents, especially when a baby wakes up every hour at night.
Common reasons include:
What you can do:
Teething or the appearance of baby teeth can cause babies discomfort and pain. This leads to restlessness and waking up frequently in the night.
Common baby teething symptoms
What you can do:
Top tips for Baby Sleep
Baby’s routine
Try building a daily schedule for your baby's feeding, napping, and bath times.
Newborn care
Give your baby a warm bath to help relax their bowels.
Vaccine shots
Try distracting your baby with a toy, song or breastfeeding during their vaccine shot.
Portion size
When your baby starts eating, feed small portions and encourage them to chew their food.
Develop immunity
Discuss routine care & immunisations with your pediatrician to build your baby’s immunity
Usually observed during the 4th, 6th or 8th month, it is a phase where the established sleep patterns temporarily change. This is often linked to developmental milestones.
FAQs
Newborns typically sleep 14–17 hours a day, while infants aged 4–12 months need 12–16 hours. Sleep duration includes naps.
A consistent bedtime between 6:30–8:30 PM helps align with your baby’s natural circadian rhythm. Adjust the timing based on their age and daily activity level.
Establish a predictable bedtime routine. Also create a quiet, dimly lit sleep environment. This can significantly improve your baby’s sleep quality.
It’s normal for babies to sleep more during growth spurts as their bodies require extra rest. If the sleep seems excessive or irregular, consult your paediatrician.
Many babies start sleeping for 5–6 hours at a stretch, between 3–6 months as their sleep cycles mature. This also varies based on their feeding habits.
