It can be tricky to get your baby to sleep. Every baby has their own unique sleep schedule and routine. You might have one baby that sleeps through the night and another that wakes up every hour. When your baby does not sleep, it can start to wear you down. There is no perfect answer for getting your baby to sleep, but we have a few ideas below that may help. 

Create a Safe Sleep Environment 

Make sure that your baby has a safe sleep environment. Keep the ABCs of safe sleep in mind when putting your baby down.  

• Alone: Babies should sleep alone in their own space. It is not safe to sleep beside or with a baby in the same bed/couch/etc. You can share a room with a baby but not a bed. Place your baby’s crib or bassinet near where you sleep. 
• Back: Babies should sleep on their backs. 
• Crib: Place your baby in a crib, bassinet, or Pack ‘n Play. Make sure that the mattress is firm and flat. If there is a fitted sheet, it should be a tight fit on the mattress. Check the baby’s surroundings to make sure that there are no objects, such as blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or toys near the baby’s face or in their sleep space. 

Teach Your Baby that Nighttime is Different than Daytime 

Teaching your baby that nighttime is different from daytime will help them to sleep through the night. You can start to teach your baby the difference once they leave the newborn stage. 

Daytime: 

• Keep the curtains open. 
• Play with your baby and do activities together. 
• Don’t worry about everyday noise while your baby naps. Your baby should get used to sleeping through some noise. 

Nighttime: 

• Keep the lights low. 
• Talk softly and quietly. 
• Put your baby down right after feeding and changing.  
• Do not play with your baby before putting them down to sleep. 

Establish a Bedtime Routine: 

Once your baby is three months old, start a bedtime routine with your baby. This will help your baby know that it is time to wind down and go to bed.  

Activities to add into your baby’s bedtime routine: 

• Giving your baby a bath 
• Changing your baby into sleep clothes and a clean diaper 
• Placing your baby in their crib or bassinet 
• Reading your baby a bedtime story 
• Dimming the lights in the room 
• Giving your baby a goodnight kiss 
• Singing a lullaby 
• Brushing your baby’s teeth, if they have any  

Know Baby’s Sleep Needs 

Baby’s sleep needs change as they get bigger. Newborns will sleep more, but they will not sleep for more than a couple of hours at a time. As babies get older, they can sleep for longer stretches but they sleep less overall. Starting at around three to six months your baby will start sleeping through the night. Look below to see estimations of how much your baby will sleep at different ages.  

• Newborns: 8-9 hours at night; 8 hours during the day 
• One month: 8-9 hours at night; 7 hours during the day 
• Three months: 9-10 hours at night; 4-5 hours during the day 
• Six months: 10 hours at night; 4 hours during the day 
• Nine months: 11 hours at night; 3 hours during the day 
• Twelve months: 11 hours at night; 3 hours during the day 
• Eighteen months: 11 hours at night; 2.5 hours during the day 
• Twenty-four months: 11 hours at night; 2 hours during the day 

Remember that your baby’s sleep pattern may change and that is okay. As your baby grows, begins teething, or has an illness, you may notice that they sleep for longer.  

Other Sleep Tips: 

• Put your baby down to sleep when they are drowsy. Do not wait until they are asleep. This will help the baby know that feeling tired means it is time for bed. 
• If your baby fusses or babbles for a few minutes before falling asleep, let them be. If they continue to fuss, offer comfort and try again.  
• Make sure that your baby is comfortable with the temperature in the room. Consider putting them in light sleep clothes if they are hot. If they are cold, put them in a sleep sack or a wearable blanket. Do not give them a blanket. 
• Make sure that your baby does not get overtired. If they are overtired, it will be harder for them to go to sleep. Signs that your baby is overtired include glazed eyes, hyperactivity, and quickness to cry. 
• If your baby does not roll over yet, swaddle your baby.  
• Rock your baby in a stroller before transferring them to their sleep space. 
• Put on some white noise, such as quiet music, a humming washing machine, or a white noise machine. 
• Try “hands on settling”. Place your baby in their sleep space when they are drowsy. Gently pat or rub their back until they fall asleep. 

If you become frustrated when putting your baby to sleep, that is completely normal. Ask a support person to take over. If you are alone, place the baby in their sleep space and leave the room to calm down and collect yourself. Never shake a baby when you become frustrated. 

If your baby is crying a lot and unable to sleep, talk to your doctor. They can check to see if anything might be causing your baby discomfort.