How To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night

Nothing compares to late-night snuggles with your little one. But when you’re denied a good night’s sleep over and over again, you start to feel the effects. You may begin desperately wondering how to get your baby to sleep through the night!

Maybe you’re dreaming about the day when your baby sleeps all night long so you can actually sleep all night long. But how exactly do you accomplish this gargantuan task?

In this article, our experts at Newton Baby offer a few tips for parents to help this dream become a reality!

When Will Your Baby Sleep Through The Night?

As a newborn, your baby will wake up several times throughout the night, as they should. Their little bellies just aren’t big enough to keep them full all night long. So, first, set realistic expectations of when your baby will sleep a full eight hours or more.

Fortunately, your little one will start dropping nighttime feedings and sleeping for longer stretches as they get older. This is great news!

However, every baby is different, and you’ll need to pay attention to whether or not your baby is ready — or even able — to sleep all night.

Is Your Baby Ready To Sleep Through The Night?

Your baby must be ready and able to sleep through the night. Consider the factors below to determine if it’s time to help your little one sleep train.

1) Is your baby bottle-fed or breastfed?

Some breastfed babies take a little longer to sleep through the night. Breastmilk passes through your baby’s body more quickly than formula, so formula-fed babies tend to stay full longer than breastfed babies.

However, as we mentioned earlier, every baby is different and this is not always the case.

2) Was your baby born prematurely?

If your baby was born prematurely, they may need a little more time than a full-term baby before they’re ready and able to sleep through the night.

3) How old is your baby?

Remember to be realistic. The majority of babies are around four to six months old before they begin sleeping for several hours at night without waking.

Now that you have an idea of when your baby can sleep through the night, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty — how do you make that happen?

How To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night

1) Purchase A Solid Crib

To get a good night’s sleep, your baby needs a crib that’s solid and sturdy. After all, this bed is what your little one will sleep in every day of their life!

For more guidance on how to choose the right crib, check out our article Crib Buyer’s Guide: How To Choose The Safest Crib For Your Baby.

2) Choose A Breathable Crib Mattress

The crib mattress is the foundation of your baby’s sleep. More specifically, a breathable mattress helps your little one sleep more soundly and safely.

This is because a breathable mattress, like Newton Baby’s Crib Mattress, not only helps regulate your baby's body temperature — which means your little one won’t wake up with a sweaty back — but it also reduces the risk of suffocation!

And to top it off, our crib mattress is 100 percent breathable and 100 percent washable!

Now, having a washable mattress won’t help your baby sleep better, but it will definitely help you sleep better knowing that when accidents happen, a quick wash will do the trick!

And because our mattresses are washable, you can say good-bye to mold, bacteria, and allergens! Now your baby can sleep safely!

But your baby’s crib mattress not only needs to be washable and breathable, but it also needs to be comfortable. Your little one will sleep soundly on our Crib Mattress because it is much more comfortable than traditional mattresses wrapped in plastic.

When a mattress is wrapped in plastic, it’s noisy. So, when your little one is rolling around in their sleep, the noise from the mattress wakes them up. You don’t have to worry about that with Newton Baby’s mattress!

Our mattresses are made with a Wovenaire core, which is 90 percent air and 10 percent food-grade polymer. As a result, it’s free of foam, latex, and springs. Additionally, we left out the plastic covering for a more comfortable sleep surface and used our 3D Space Cover instead.

When you buy a Newton Baby crib mattress, it comes with the cover, but you also have the option of purchasing Extra Crib Mattress Covers so you’re prepared when accidents happen — one in the wash and one on your little one’s bed!

As you can see, the quality of your baby’s mattress impacts the quality of your baby’s sleep. Invest in a crib mattress that’s going to set your baby up for a full, uninterrupted night of sleep!

3) Consider Your Baby’s Sleep Position

For your baby to sleep soundly through the night, they need to be comfortable and safe. The best way for that to happen is by helping them start the night on their back.

What’s more, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends always placing your baby on their back when putting them to sleep, whether at nighttime or nap time.

Once your baby begins rolling over and is comfortable with rolling both ways — tummy to back and back to tummy — there’s no need to turn them onto their back, especially when they’re sleeping on a breathable mattress!

4) Spend Time Outdoors During The Day

Many babies get their days and nights mixed up. They often wake up throughout the night because they're confused and think it’s time to play or cuddle!

Before your little one can start sleeping for several hours at a time, they will need to overcome day and night confusion.

One easy way to make this happen is by spending time outdoors during the day. Open your curtains up first thing in the morning to introduce your baby to the natural sunlight. As soon as it’s time to wind down from the day, close the curtains.

Exposing your baby to sunlight helps their internal clock adjust so they become more aware of the difference in days and nights. This eliminates any confusion and helps them sleep through the night!

5) Create A Consistent Bedtime Routine

Sticking to a routine helps your baby sleep better and longer throughout the night.

Whatever bedtime routine you plan for your little one, be consistent. Night after night, your baby will come to expect the same routine and know when it’s time to go to sleep.

Toward the end of the day, keep your baby’s activities calm and peaceful. A good way to get your baby to calm down and relax in the evening is to give them a bath. Then do something your baby really enjoys right before bedtime, like reading a book or singing songs.

Make sure these activities take place in their nursery so your baby will relate their nursery with things they like to do, which includes sleeping all night!

6) Keep The Nursery Cool

Believer it or not, the temperature in your baby’s room can alter the amount and quality of their sleep. If your little one gets too hot, they’ll wake up because they either have a sweaty back or they’re uncomfortable.

Setting the room to a cooler temperature (as well as using a breathable mattress!) keeps your baby’s back free from sweat and helps them stay comfortable throughout the night.

Now your baby can enjoy several hours of uninterrupted nighttime sleep!

7) Create A Calm And Soothing Atmosphere

The AAP recommends parents share the same room with their baby for at least the first six months of their baby’s life. Your little one may still sleep in your room for several months after that.

Whether your baby is sleeping in your room or their nursery, create a calm and soothing atmosphere to set them up for a good night’s sleep.

We already mentioned room temperature, but lighting is another way to create a relaxing, sleep-inducing atmosphere. Make sure the room is dark enough, and consider using a noise machine to drown out any other noises inside the house.

A cozy room or nursery is just what your baby needs to sleep through the night!

8) Be Patient

Your baby’s sleep needs can change, like when they go through a growth spurt. Or maybe your little one was sleeping well and all of a sudden they started waking up in the middle of the night.

Don’t worry! Both situations are completely normal. Getting your baby to sleep for long stretches is a marathon, not a sprint. Just give your little one some time and, before you know it, they’ll snooze right through the night!

Sleeping Well

It will most likely take some time for your baby to learn to sleep through the night. Keep in mind that when your baby is ready and able, it’ll happen!

One way to help your baby sleep comfortably all night long is by choosing a breathable mattress, like Newton Baby’s Crib Mattress. With our safe, comfy mattress and the tips we’ve mentioned here, you can give your baby the best sleep possible!