Regulating a newborn’s sleep takes time and patience, especially in the first few months. You can help by following these steps:
- Establish a consistent bedtime routine (15–30 minutes) including calming activities like a warm bath, diaper change, breastfeeding, and reading a story or singing a lullaby.
- Keep the sleep environment quiet and dimly lit, and place the baby on their back in a firm crib.
- Differentiate between day and night by keeping the room bright during the day and quiet/dim at night.
- Place your baby in the crib when drowsy but still awake to help them learn to fall asleep independently.
- Respond to their crying calmly to meet their needs for feeding, changing, or comfort, especially during the first months.
- Avoid rocking or feeding to sleep every time so the baby does not depend on them to fall asleep.