How to help a baby sleep through the night from 6+ weeks

These are some short ideas on ways to help a baby over 6 weeks sleep though the night with out the additional stress of ongoing crying.

We read “On Becoming Baby Wise” and other similar books but we do not let the baby cry out or stress for long periods of time even with interruptions.  I am not a doctor or professional in pediatrics but we are average parents that have read and watched information on helping a baby to sleep and sleep through the night after 6 weeks.  Before 6 weeks our medical advisers suggest having the mother feed the baby at night to relieve pressure and to give the baby the nutrition every few hours.

Sleep Through The Night

Here are my suggestions after 6 weeks:

• I would suggest waiting for an “owe” sound or “owal” sound before putting the baby to bed at night.  This is the sound they tend to make when they yawn.  If they are saying “eh” they may still need to be burped and may wake up because they are uncomfortable due to gas.
• Even though I did not enjoy tight spaces as a child, the tight swaddle seems to help the baby calm down and relax.  This may be in part due to the consistent procedure before going to bed but the results have been positive.
• Feed more often during the day and “cluster” feed before bed.  The baby normally goes in about a 2-3 hour cycle of feeding at this time along with the mother.  This seems to be right amount of feeding during the day after 6 weeks.  I would normally see newborns to 6 weeks feed about 1.5 – 2.5 hours.  Cluster feed by increasing the amount of feedings later in the day to help provide the baby with nutrition.
• Consider a 4 oz. bottle of fresh breast-milk before bed.  Since the mother’s milk productions tends to decrease later in the day, try using a 4+ ounce colic reduction bottle with pumped breast milk.  This may help provide the baby with more nutrition that could help it sleep though the night.  Remember to burp often when feeding with the bottle.
• After the baby is fed, changed, swaddled, and tired you are ready to “soothe” the baby.  I have seen this done in many ways including a rocking chair, bouncing, swaying, walking, driving, or any ongoing light movement.  Include a soft lullaby during this time and keep playing them until the baby is completely sleeping.
• Once the baby is sleeping put the baby down in the crib or bassinet gently.  The room should be completely dark with a quiet fan to help circulate air and remove toxins.
• If the baby does wake up, feed, then “soothe” the baby again until sleep is ongoing.  Feed early in the morning when the baby wakes.

Swaddling To Help Baby Sleep Though The Night

Don’t forget to put the baby on the back to sleep through the night and if they tend to look to one side or the other try to help the baby look the other way frequently to help with normal development.

Fans and air quality from the CDC:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts111.html

“Formaldehyde is usually found in the air, and levels are usually higher indoors than outdoors. Opening windows and using fans to bring fresh air indoors are the easiest ways to lower levels in the house. Not smoking and not using unvented heaters indoors can lower the formaldehyde levels.”

If you have any questions or need more information please leave a comment on this page.

Try a lullaby before bed: