How to make a baby sleep at night
A common question clients ask me is, "What is the best temperature for my baby's room at night/naptime, and what should he wear?"
Try to keep the room temp between 68-70 degrees. Many video monitors on the market will provide this information on the parent device which makes it easy to regulate it! If the rest of your house is comfortable but his room is colder/warmer by comparison, use a programmable space heater or a ceiling fan to get the room in the 68-70 degree zone.
Sleep is disrupted by temperature extremes, so if the room is too warm or too cold, your baby may have an interrupted sleep. It's always better to be on the cooler side, but make it a habit to touch his nose, the tips of his ears, fingertips, and toes (if accessible) to see if he's cold - especially when the seasons are changing and his sleepwear/room temp may be vary. If you're worried it's too warm, touch the back on his neck, his palms and behind his ears to see if he's sweaty.
Black-out curtains do more than just keep the room dark, they also insulate the room from the cold/hot temperatures outside. By keeping them closed, you can keep the heat/cold from coming into his room, or vice versa.
Dress him comfortably, but make sure he's not too warm. Many parents make the mistake of over-bundling their baby. If he's swaddled, a diaper and onsie is plenty underneath. If he wears a sleep sack, pajamas and a diaper are sufficient.
I avoid any pajamas/blankets/sleep sacks that are not made from 100% natural fibers, such as cotton or wool. This is because materials like polyester (which is primarily made from petroleum) and nylon are often treated with brominated flame retardant chemicals to counteract the combustibility of those fabrics. (Don't get me started on flame retardant pj's) They are also not breathable like cotton and cause babies to sweat and overheat in an unnatural, unsafe way.
When shopping for sleepwear, look for the label that starts with, "For safety, this garment should fit snuggly. Not flame resistant.." This will ensure that the fabric is primarily made from cotton and it doesn't contain chemicals that are harmful for your little one.
I hope this is helpful for you! How do you make sure your baby's sleep periods are as comfortable as possible?
If you have more question, please feel free to reach out!
Meet Laura!
Hi! I’m Laura. I believe there is a root issue attached to every unhealthy sleep symptom. My desire is to enter into the heart of each family to find the root cause, and permanently replace it with healthy sleep habits.
I have a passion for meeting parents right where they are! My goal is to come alongside each family without enforcing strict "cookie-cutter" sleep methods.
I am a Pediatric Child Sleep Expert, Certified Lactation Counselor, and a mom of 7 children (+ 2 bonus sons) who has helped families for well over a decade to finally get a restful night's sleep. I've worked extensively at creating a framework for helping families worldwide that is unlike any other. I connect with parents in an intimate, nurturing way that brings about true change, confidence and stability for their families.
How to make a baby sleep at night: FAQ
What is the fastest way to make a baby sleep?
Why rocking + lullabies really can work
- Swaddling (for infants).
- Massage.
- Any light, repetitive movement, like swaying or swinging.
- Feeding (not until babies fall asleep, but just until they become drowsy).
- Dimming the lights.
- Playing soft music or tranquil sounds from a white noise machine or app. (Turn off the TV.)
Are you ready
to get the SLEEP you deserve?