How can I get my baby to sleep through the night?

Sleep and feeding routines
baby asleep on blanketWhen and how to create a routine for your baby.

Why won't my baby sleep properly?


If your baby is constantly waking in the night, your own sleep patterns will be disturbed. Feeling sapped of energy and constantly tired as a result may make it hard to function, as well as make you more prone to depression (Hiscock and Wake 2002, Lam et al 2005, Dennis and Ross 2005).

What sleep strategies can I try?

These tactics may help your baby to sleep better when she's as young as six weeks old. Try to be consistent, even at weekends.
  • Give her a security object, such as a baby blanket or stuffed animal. Keep it near you for a while so it becomes mum-scented. If you are breastfeeding, you could try expressing some breastmilk on a small piece of muslin. Babies have a strong sense of smell, and when she startles awake, the smell of you will calm her down.
  • Wait to see if your baby settles by herself if she is four months or five months old. If she's crying after you put her down, go to her. Pat her gently and tell her everything's fine, but it's time for sleep. Then leave the room and wait for a couple of minutes, then check again. If after the third or fourth try, you still feel she's getting distressed, gently pick her up to check she's all right. If all is well, repeat the process.

    If your baby is older than six months, you may want to try the controlled crying method, which means you leave her a few minutes before returning, but extending the time between each visit. However, you shouldn't leave your baby to cry for long periods at night.
  • Cuddle up if you'd like her to sleep in your bed. Comfort her so she knows it's time for sleep. Lie down together and cuddle her, pretending to sleep, firmly letting her know it's bedtime. But make sure you are aware of how to make co-sleeping safe. If your baby is six months or younger, it's safest for her to sleep in a cot next to your bed.


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Great article
WOW..Have you tried ?
We have written all about our positive experiences on my blog We were exhausted for the first 6 weeks but our baby boy started sleeping for longer periods of time and finally he slept through at about 6 weeks old. Worth a read if you'd like to know how we got him to sleep for longer

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