Help baby to sleep through the night is a complicated thing. Sometimes a small child can find it difficult to sleep through the night. Depending on his age, several causes can explain these sleep disorders; fears (of separation from parents, nightmare…), colic, growing teeth, development, new environment, bad habits acquired… If there is no miracle solution, there are still some tips to help your toddler find his rhythm and get through the nights (and allow you to get the necessary rest yourself).
1. Help baby to sleep through the night; give baby the right points of reference: darkness and silence
To help the baby distinguish between day and night and structure his sleep phases, use daylight and noise.
At night, we close the shutters or curtains well to make it dark. You can put on a night light; even if a baby doesn't need it, he doesn't have night terrors or nightmares in his first year! During the day, during the nap (s), you can draw the curtains a bit, but always let the daylight pass, so it doesn't confuse them with the real night.
Noise side, at night, silence or whispers are required, while we can allow conversations or "normal" activities during the day, even if the baby is sleeping, next door, in his room.
2. Help baby to sleep through the night; put your baby in his room / his bed
It may sound simple, but to teach your little one how to sleep through the night, leave him in his bed and his room. And don't worry if he cries and wakes up early; give him time to get used to his space.
3. Help baby to sleep through the night; create a safe environment
Being alone in this large bedroom can be awesome for a baby. It is, therefore, necessary to create a serene atmosphere for him so that he feels safe, peaceful, and at ease to have sweet dreams. Small night light or mobile with soft music, familiar blanket (which can also help him calm down if he wakes up at night), door ajar ... all you have to do is find what will calm him down so that he'll have a good night.
4. Help baby to sleep through the night; get your baby used to fall asleep on his own in his bed as soon as possible
Around 3/4 months, you can install the baby bed in his room. Indeed, physical proximity can disrupt children's sleep. Babies can perceive your smell, your breathing, your steps, your breath ... To get him used to sleep alone, put him in his bed as soon as you notice signs of fatigue (yawning, rubbing eyes ...). It is best to leave your bedroom before falling asleep to prevent this habit from lasting for years.
5. Help baby to sleep through the night; massage baby to help him relax
After the bath, in a well-heated bathroom, offer a moment of relaxation by talking or humming while performing a gentle baby massage. You can also initiate a little massage ritual at bedtime: in bed, massage it in a circular fashion between the eyebrows with your index and middle fingers together. Guaranteed relaxing effect… and who knows how easy it is to fall asleep for restless children.
6. Help baby to sleep through the night; do not postpone bedtime
Your child has taken weeks to settle his rhythm ... so don't try to change it, even slightly, to hope for a sleepover. If he calls you at 6 a.m., his internal clock is set like this. If you put him to bed later, he will wake up at the same time more tired, having missed a sleep cycle.
7. Help baby to sleep through the night; never skip naps
Get out of your head the idea that a child who sleeps less during the day will sleep more at night. Quite the reverse. Children who don't sleep during the day are exhausted and excited at night. This makes it more difficult for them to fall asleep, and they often have more restless nights. In general, up to 4 years of age, naps are essential. It is important that young children take a break from their day.
8. Help baby to sleep through the night; establish a bedtime ritual
To get your baby in condition for going to bed, do not hesitate to initiate a little ritual to reassure him. It could be bath time, a story read by mom or dad, a cuddly moment, a lullaby ... Again, try to do it at a fixed time each evening so that he understands that this moment rhymes with bedtime.
9. Help baby to sleep through the night; don't get up at the slightest cry at night
A parent is often worried about his child when he hears him cry. What if he was hungry, cold, hot, wet his diaper? We calm down and take a deep breath. You don't necessarily have to rush to his bedside. Wait until you see if the crying continues before you go to wake him up. Likewise, if you hear him chirping, try letting him fall back to sleep on his own. Of course, if the crying continues, go and console him, speak gently to calm him in a somewhat subdued atmosphere.
10. Help baby to sleep through the night; what about grandmother's tips?
Flour in the evening bottle to get him to sleep? This grandmother's remedy will by no means be a solution: "Your child will be full, reassured you, but this is a mistake. The risk of weight gain is real, and it is not good to introduce flour too early in the diet ", explains Arnaud Pfersdorff, a pediatrician. Plants: orange blossom, chamomile, on the other hand, may be recommended by your pediatrician.
11. Help baby to sleep through the night; be patient
It may take time for a baby to sleep through his nights and find his rhythm, so be patient.
Of course, if your child's sleep problems persist over time, do not hesitate to talk to your pediatrician or doctor, who will help you find solutions so that everyone can sleep properly.
