Are you ready to have a baby who sleeps soundly?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or just don’t know where to start, I’ve been there too. We want to share everything you need to confidently tackle sleep issues, so your whole family can thrive!
For newborns (0-4 months), this blog is not a formal sleep training. However, these 7 tips will help you organize your days and nights for success, recognize baby's signs, soothe a fussy baby, and more. We will help share how to build a healthy sleep foundation for your baby and enjoy the newborn stage with love.
We got all these tips from several independent websites managed by certified professional sleep consultants in Australia and America so that you don't have to bother and spend a lot of time researching this topic.
Tip 1: Swaddling Your Baby
Okay. Yes. Your baby DOES NOT LIKE being swaddled. Don’t worry, these tips won’t scare you. Here, I’ll explain why many parents think their babies don’t like being swaddled, and I’ll show you what you can do about it.
Often, the problem is not swaddling itself, but the way we do it. Maybe the swaddle is too tight or too loose, or the baby is not used to the sensation of being swaddled. But don't worry, there are ways to help you make your baby feel more comfortable when swaddled.
In addition, you will also learn about the OPPPS technique - a new signature strategy from Mummasphere that you can use whenever your little one is fussy. This technique has been proven to help many mothers calm their babies, so it can definitely help you too.
What is OPPPS?
OPPPS is a method that you can rely on when your newborn baby starts crying or fussing. The acronym represents 5 simple steps that you can follow to help calm your little one from start to finish. It is suitable for newborns to babies who are a few months old.- Observe & wait: Sometimes newborn babies are very active when they sleep and like to move around like they are "babies" (but actually they are still sleeping).
- P beautiful body position (roll to the left/right side)
- P ok-tepok
- Pacifier
- Sound effect (turn on white noise)
Here are the steps you can follow for your little one's nighttime routine:
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Step 1: Observe & Wait: Wait until the baby is completely awake.
When your baby starts to move or seems restless, wait a moment until you are sure they are truly awake. Don’t react immediately to small movements or sounds; wait until their eyes are fully open to make sure they are awake, not just moving around in their sleep like they were in the womb. -
Step 2: Move the body position with slow calming movements.
Once you are sure your baby is awake, start to calm them down slowly without holding them directly . You can do this by rocking them gently in the crib . -
Step 3: Slow Pok-Tepok
If your baby is not calm, increase the level of support slightly, for example with a soft voice, a light pat on the back or chest, or by gently placing a hand on their body to provide comfort. -
Step 4: Offer a Pacifier .
Remember: only hold your baby if absolutely necessary. The goal of offering a pacifier is to help them return to sleep peacefully on their own with minimal intervention. - Step 5: Turn on the White Noise Machine.
White noise machines are great for babies who startle easily and wake up frequently. Read this article if you want to learn more about white noise machines .
If your baby starts to fall back asleep in the middle of this process, such as Step 3, stop and let them sleep . Do not continue to Step 4. If they wake up again later, start over from Step 1 — this is to maintain consistency and help your baby get used to self-soothing. Try to follow this sequence of steps without skipping straight to the next step, so they gradually learn to fall back asleep on their own.
With consistency, this method can help babies sleep longer than before, starting from 1 hour, then 1.5 hours, then 2 hours, until finally reaching a longer night's sleep time of up to 4 hours.
We have a blog about Swaddling a Newborn Baby that you can read when you are ready.
Is It Safe for Babies to Be Swaddled?
The good news is that it is safe to swaddle babies as long as they are not yet able to roll from their back to their stomach consistently. Swaddling can actually help babies sleep better because it provides a sense of security, just like when they were still in the womb. However, always pay attention to the signs that your baby is starting to roll over, okay!If it’s time to ditch the swaddle, don’t worry! We’ve also created a blog dedicated to How to Transition from Swaddling , which can help you understand what to do when your baby is ready to sleep without the swaddle. Be sure to check it out when the time comes!
Tip 2: Always Wake a Sleeping Baby... During the Day
You'll learn how to make sure your baby gets enough calories during the day in hopes of getting a better night's sleep. Many people say, "Never wake a sleeping baby." We're here to tell you, "DO... if it's been more than 3 hours since the last feeding."
The point is to make sure your baby stays awake while eating and nursing during the day. Make sure they stay focused while eating, playing, and sleeping and don't let them lose focus or fall asleep. This practice will also help you break the habit of nursing as a bedtime routine.
If you're looking for a "schedule," this is the tip for you. Before you go any further, let's say it together: "A flexible routine, NOT a rigid schedule."
Tip 3: Use Light and Darkness to Your Advantage
Light and darkness! These are the best baby sleep products out there, and they’re all FREE. This article on how to use light and darkness for quality newborn sleep will show you how to use both to help your baby sleep better.
Tip 4: Use a Sound Machine for Day & Night Sleep
SHHHHHHHHH… that’s the sound your baby has been hearing for the past 38-40 weeks. A room that is too quiet is actually foreign and strange to a baby. This tip is so simple, but it makes a BIG difference to your baby’s sleep.
To read about the latest research on sound machines and white noise, check out our blog, Sound Machines and White Noise for Baby Sleep .
Here are the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for safely using white noise or sound machines:
- Place the sound machine at least 2 meters from the crib.
- Use the lowest effective volume.
- Immediately turn off the sound machine when the baby is awake.
This last tip is important because you have to get your baby used to identifying the sound machine with sleep. If you leave it on while he is awake, the sound machine's effectiveness as a sleep aid will be greatly reduced.
Tip 5: Put Baby to Bed
No, you can’t spoil a newborn. Hold your baby and hold him often, but once or twice a day and at bedtime, try to put him to bed. You’re going to love this video! Come back and watch it often. I show you how putting your baby to sleep doesn’t have to be hard. If you just want to focus on one thing…it’s the SKILL you need to practice throughout the newborn stage.
Tip 6: Relax About Naps
If you Google, “how to help baby sleep through the night?”, most of the time we find that we should keep baby awake during the day.
What!? That's crazy! Have you ever been around a baby who doesn't nap?
Naps are so important! In this tip, you’ll learn all about normal naps for newborns. After watching this tip, be sure to check out our “Daytime Routine” download for examples of what a newborn’s day might look like in real life. You can also check out our blog post Short Naps and Newborns .
Tip 7: Use SITBACK
This tip is the mother of all tips for training a newborn baby's sleep pattern up to 5 months. This is how to get more sleep at night and train your baby to sleep independently for those who really struggle. Watch it work; we call it SITBACK!- Top & Observe (French mothers call this "La Pause")
- Increase the sound machine
- Touch baby's chest
- B inky (pacifier)
- Add in rocking.
- Cuddle
- K , it's time to feed
Stay tuned for the short video that we will upload on the Mummasphere Instagram.
