How to Get a Baby to Sleep
Change the baby’s diaper., Feed the baby., Give the baby a massage., Soothe any teething pain., Dress the baby in comfortable clothing., Check for rashes., Make sure the baby’s not sick.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Change the baby’s diaper.
A baby may have a hard time getting to sleep if he/she has a wet or soiled diaper.
Once he's/she’s got a dry diaper on, he'll/she’ll feel cozier and will be able to sleep better. -
Step 2: Feed the baby.
Give the baby one more feeding to tank up his/her tummy before he/she goes to sleep.
Don’t feed him/her too much though.
If he's/she’s eaten too much, he/she might be uncomfortable and have a harder time getting to sleep. , Relax your baby by rubbing his/her body.
Sit with the baby on the floor.
Place him/her on his/her tummy and gently rub his/her feet, legs, back, arms and head.
Then place him/her on his/her back and rub her chest, tummy and the fronts of his/her legs and arms.
Sing or talk softly with your baby while you give him/her a massage.
Use a fragrance-free baby oil if you want.
Wait about 45 minutes after feeding your baby before giving a massage.
You might upset his/her stomach with any pressure on her body., Oftentimes babies have trouble sleeping when they have new teeth coming in.
If you suspect that your baby is getting a new tooth, give him/her a teething ring to gnaw on before bed.If the teething pain is bad, give him/her a dose of Infant Tylenol.
Be sure to follow the dosing instructions on the bottle. , If the baby’s pajamas are itchy or otherwise uncomfortable, he/she might not be able to relax enough to sleep well.
Make sure your baby is wearing something cozy and comfortable.
An outfit made of 100% cotton is a good choice., Babies are often troubled by a diaper rash or a heat rash.
Check his/her diaper area to make sure he/she does not have any uncomfortable red areas.
Check under his/her clothes for a heat rash.
If he's/she’s dressed too warmly, he/she can get red, blotchy skin, which can be uncomfortable. , When the baby has a cold or stomach flu, he/she may not sleep well.
Soothe him/her with a cool washcloth if he's/she’s feverish or achy.
Spend extra time cuddling and rocking the baby.
If your doctor recommends it, consider a medication like Infant Tylenol to help with any pain or fever. -
Step 3: Give the baby a massage.
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Step 4: Soothe any teething pain.
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Step 5: Dress the baby in comfortable clothing.
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Step 6: Check for rashes.
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Step 7: Make sure the baby’s not sick.
Detailed Guide
A baby may have a hard time getting to sleep if he/she has a wet or soiled diaper.
Once he's/she’s got a dry diaper on, he'll/she’ll feel cozier and will be able to sleep better.
Give the baby one more feeding to tank up his/her tummy before he/she goes to sleep.
Don’t feed him/her too much though.
If he's/she’s eaten too much, he/she might be uncomfortable and have a harder time getting to sleep. , Relax your baby by rubbing his/her body.
Sit with the baby on the floor.
Place him/her on his/her tummy and gently rub his/her feet, legs, back, arms and head.
Then place him/her on his/her back and rub her chest, tummy and the fronts of his/her legs and arms.
Sing or talk softly with your baby while you give him/her a massage.
Use a fragrance-free baby oil if you want.
Wait about 45 minutes after feeding your baby before giving a massage.
You might upset his/her stomach with any pressure on her body., Oftentimes babies have trouble sleeping when they have new teeth coming in.
If you suspect that your baby is getting a new tooth, give him/her a teething ring to gnaw on before bed.If the teething pain is bad, give him/her a dose of Infant Tylenol.
Be sure to follow the dosing instructions on the bottle. , If the baby’s pajamas are itchy or otherwise uncomfortable, he/she might not be able to relax enough to sleep well.
Make sure your baby is wearing something cozy and comfortable.
An outfit made of 100% cotton is a good choice., Babies are often troubled by a diaper rash or a heat rash.
Check his/her diaper area to make sure he/she does not have any uncomfortable red areas.
Check under his/her clothes for a heat rash.
If he's/she’s dressed too warmly, he/she can get red, blotchy skin, which can be uncomfortable. , When the baby has a cold or stomach flu, he/she may not sleep well.
Soothe him/her with a cool washcloth if he's/she’s feverish or achy.
Spend extra time cuddling and rocking the baby.
If your doctor recommends it, consider a medication like Infant Tylenol to help with any pain or fever.
About the Author
Henry Turner
Committed to making cooking accessible and understandable for everyone.
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