Getting your infant to sleep
It has been a long two months, waking up every two to three hours to feed the newest member of your family. You remember that your doctor said that babies can sleep through the night at 2 months, but your little treasure seems to think everyone needs to be up at 2 AM – and 4 AM. You are exhausted, and can no longer tell night from day. You have to go back to work in two weeks and you just don’t think you can function on the amount to sleep you are currently getting – what are you to do?
Newborn infants need to eat frequently to maintain their hydration and blood sugar levels. Before two months, babies should eat every 2 to 4 hours, even through the night. The good news is, most pediatricians feel that babies should be able to go at least 8 hours, if not more, without eating at two months of age. Sounds like a dream? Here are some hints to try and help out. Remember, there are no ‘perfect’ ways to do this or to raise a child. If these do not work for you, or you do not feel like you can let your baby cry, then try and do your best. It will all work out well in the end.
1. Have your infant sleep in his own crib at night. Babies have a very good sense of smell and hearing. Having him away from you physically will help him sleep. This way he will not be sensing you nearby and wanting to wake you up to eat. If you can, have your baby’s crib in a separate room with a good baby monitor.
2. Babies need a good ‘routine’ to help them sleep. A nightly ritual of bath, then a feeding, and then to sleep is a good way to prepare an infant for sleep. Try to do it around the same time each evening.
3. Put your baby to bed while he is still awake. This allows him to learn to put himself to sleep, a very valuable asset when he wakes himself up at three AM. Try not to use cues like music or a pacifier, for this will then be required when he awakes at night to get back to sleep.
4. Your infant will wake up and cry. Try to let him put himself back to sleep. If he does not, wait about 20 to 30 minutes of crying. Go into his room and talk to him and rub his back. Try not to turn on the light or pick him up. Above all else, do not feed him. After five to ten minutes of trying to comfort him, go back to your own room. Wait another thirty minutes and repeat the procedure until your baby falls asleep. You baby needs to learn that once he is in the crib and the lights are off, he will not be fed, no matter what.
5. Keep a positive attitude. If there are other family members who will be affected by your infant’s crying, try to contract with them to ‘hold out’ for a week or so. Everyone has to be willing to work towards helping the baby sleep through the night.
6. Some infants absolutely refuse to cooperate with our sleep program. If your baby refuses to sleep and just cries and cries and cries and cries, you make want to give in and feed for another week or two and then try again. This is not an exercise to make you lose ALL your sleep.
7. Some ‘old wives’ will tell you to give your infant some cereal to calm him down. Pediatricians do not usually recommend this strategy, for starting cereal too early may cause digestion problems, or may be a factor in long range obesity problems.
These are some tips to help your infant sleep through the night. They do seem to work for a majority of infants, so keep your spirits up and give it a try. You will be happier if you can get more sleep and your little angel will happy if you are happy. There are no studies to show that infants have any negative effects of letting them cry. They will not hold it against you. Good luck!
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