1 The Reality of Newborn Sleep Patterns

Before we dive in, let’s talk about the reality of newborn sleep. Those tiny bundles really do spend most of their early days snoozing, clocking around 16-18 hours per day. The catch? That sleep happens in short bursts of just a few hours at a time.

It’s usually not until around 3-4 months that babies start lengthening their night sleeping and giving mom and dad a real break with 5-6 hour stretches. But you don’t have to wait that long to start encouraging better baby sleep habits.

2 Build a Bedtime Routine for Longer Nighttime Sleep

One of the best ways to help your little one learn how to sleep through the night is establishing a calming pre-bed routine. Pick a few simple activities like a bath, infant massage, lullabies or stories and do them in the same order every single night.

Babies thrive on predictability, so this consistent routine becomes a powerful cue that it’s time to wind down and catch some zzz’s. It may take some time, but sticking to this ritual helps babies learn to self-soothe and fall into longer stretches of sleep.

3 Optimise the Sleep Environment

Where your newborn snoozes makes a big difference for uninterrupted sleep. Keep the nursery cool, dark and quiet by using blackout curtains, a sound machine and maintaining a temperature around 68°F.

A firm, safe crib with a snug swaddle can also help recreate that cosy womb feeling. Just be sure to stop swaddling once your baby shows signs of rolling over around 4 months.

4 Sync Up Day and Night

Distinguishing day from night is key for cracking the code on how to get your newborn sleeping through the night. During daylight hours, expose your little one to plenty of bright natural light and activity to reinforce wake time.

Then at night, keep things dimly lit and very low-key during feedings and diaper changes so your baby’s brain associates nighttime with sleep mode. Sticking to an eat-wake-sleep routine can also help set those circadian rhythms.

5 To Sleep Train or Not to Sleep Train?

Despite your best efforts, some babies still struggle with frequent night wakings. This is when many parents turn to sleep training methods that teach self-soothing without help from rocking, feeding, etc.

Options range from the controversial “cry it out” approach to more gradual methods like “fading” where you slowly reduce involvement in the bedtime routine. There’s no one-size-fits-all, so read up on the different schools of thought and decide if sleep training is right for your baby.

6 When to Seek Help to Get Your Newborn to Sleep

If you’ve tried all the tricks for how to get a newborn to sleep through the night and still can’t catch a break, don’t suffer in silence. Your paediatrician or a local sleep consultant can provide professional guidance and check for underlying issues disrupting your little one’s slumber.

7 This Too Shall Pass

In those bleary-eyed 3 am moments, it can feel like your baby will never master full nights of sleep. But trust that this is just a phase. By being consistent and patient, your efforts for helping your newborn sleep through the night will eventually pay off.

In the meantime, don’t be afraid to ask loved ones for extra hands on deck. Taking care of yourself is just as important as all those soothing rituals. You’ve got this, sleep-deprived parent!