A small newborn baby boy lying on a beige coloured blanket resting his head on his hands sleeping peacefully during a newborn photography photoshoot.

THE BEST HACKS TO GET NEWBORNS TO SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT

Sweet Dreams: The Best Hacks to Get Newborns to Sleep Through the Night

As a new parent, you know the joys of snuggling with your adorable bundle of joy. There is something magical about the smell of a new baby.. I always find it to be a mix of fresh linen and vanilla.. They smell of happiness.. But sleepless nights, endless feedings, and tireless rocking are enough to make any parent feel like a walking zombie and put them off appreciating the first few weeks of your new life. 

If you’re looking for ways to help your little one sleep through the night, then this post is for you. We’ve tested some of the most popular hacks to help newborns sleep through the night, so read on to find the ones that work best for you!

Create a Calming Routine to Help Baby Sleep Through the Night

The key to getting your newborn to sleep is to create a calming bedtime routine. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like, but the goal is to create a predictable pattern that signals sleep time to your little one. 

We recommend giving your baby a warm bath, reading a story, singing a lullaby, or some gentle massage. The idea is to create a sense of comfort and security, helping your newborn to feel relaxed and ready for sleep.

Establish a Sleep Schedule

Another helpful tip is to establish a consistent sleep schedule for your newborn. This way, your baby will learn when it’s time to rest and begin developing healthy sleep habits from birth. A good nighttime routine might include an hour or two of playtime before beginning the calming bedtime ritual mentioned above.

Make sure the curtains are down and the room is dark and comforting. If you would like to read more about the sleep schedule, I find Gina Ford’s books really helpful, albeit regimented, but great when you feel nothing else works. 

Swaddle Your Baby

Swaddling is a classic newborn hack that can work wonders when it comes to sleep. Swaddling is wrapping your baby snugly in a thin blanket, creating a cosy, womb-like feeling. This reduces the startle reflex, which can wake a baby up, and encourages your little one to sleep more soundly. Just make sure you use a lightweight, breathable blanket and don’t swaddle too tightly.

A newborn baby girl wrapped in a light cream coloured scarf sleeping during a newborn photoshoot in Sydney.

Reduce daytime naps helps baby sleep through the night

While newborns may need to nap for around 16 hours each day, allowing them to nap for too long during the day can disrupt their sleep at night. This is making it harder for them to sleep for longer stretches. Try not to let them nap for more than 2-3 hours at once, and make sure the room is light and active during the day to keep them awake.

Use White Noise

Babies are used to hearing all kinds of noises in the womb.

From the mother’s heartbeat to the whooshing sound of blood flow and food digesting in your stomach.

So it’s no surprise that many babies find white noise soothing. You can buy a white noise machine or use a phone app, or even create your own by running a fan or vacuum. The constant, gentle sound can block out outside noises and help your baby drift off to sleep.

Dream Feed Your Baby

If you’re up late at night and want to avoid a middle-of-the-night feeding, try dream feeding your little one. This means giving them a feeding while they are still asleep, usually around 10-11pm. The idea is to fill their little bellies so they will sleep longer before waking up hungry. Just carefully pick up your sleeping baby, give them a feeding, burp them, and gently put them back in their bed.

Keep Cool and Dark

Heat and light can disrupt a newborn’s sleep, so try to keep your little one’s sleeping environment cool and dark. A comfortable room temperature is around 68-72 degrees / around 21 degrees Celsius, and blackout curtains can help block out daylight. Plus, darkness triggers the production of melatonin, which helps regulate sleep cycles. As a bonus, keeping a comfy and comforting sleep environment can benefit both of you – you’ll be more likely to fall back asleep after nighttime feedings and diaper changes.

Conclusion

Getting your newborn to sleep through the night is no easy feat, but these tested hacks can help. The key is to create a calming routine, swaddle your baby, use white noise, dreamfeed, and keep your baby’s sleeping environment cool and dark. Remember, every baby is different, so you may need to experiment a bit to find what works for you and your little one. But when you do, both you and your baby can enjoy sweet dreams and recharge for a day of adventures ahead!

Have any questions?

Hi, I’m Reka, the photographer behind HelloBABY Photography.

If you have any questions about our photoshoots get in touch via email on contact@hellobaby.com.au or by the button below.

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Newborn photographer, Reka Choy, posing for a portrait in a dusty pink dress.

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