Here are some tips to help your child sleep better.
1. Create a safe sleep environment.
Placing your baby on their back on a firm surface, such as in a crib.
Having your baby sleep in the same room with you but on a separate surface for the first 6–12 months of life.
2. Making sure there are no blankets, pillows, toys, or other items in your baby’s sleeping area.Offering a pacifier, without any strings, stuffies, or attachments to them, at naptime and bedtime.Bedsharing isn’t recommended, but it is ultimately up to the family to decide what’s best for them.If you’re thinking of bedsharing, make sure to follow these guidelines:
- Safe sleep environments are firm, flat surfaces. No sofas, armchairs, or pillows.
- Safe sleep is substance-free. This includes alcohol, drugs, and medicines that increase drowsiness.
- Safe sleep is supine. Baby is always on their back.
- Safe sleep is smokeless. This includes being away from people, clothing, and objects exposed to smoke.
- Safe sleep is spacious.Beds should be away from walls or other furniture to ensure baby doesn’t get wedged between the objects.
3. If you are wondering how much time should yourbaby sleep, remember, all babies are different. Your baby’s sleep will develop in its own way.
- The first 6 to 8 weeks are the hardest.
- By 3 months, the pattern of sleep and wake times emerge, your baby may have 5-6 naps per day.
- From 3–6 months, longer stretches of sleep begin to happen at night. It’s recomended to create a sleeping schedule for your baby.
- By 9 months, babies should adapt to the schedule well and sleep at regular times.
4. Keeping your baby up later doesn’t help them sleep longer, it’s better sticking with a regular bedtime.
5. Create a simple nighttime routine to help your baby form regular sleep habits. Practices such as bath time or reading can help cue baby that it is time to sleep.