“Newborn Sleep Tips: How to Help Your Baby (and You) Sleep Better”

Raise your hand if, during your pregnancy, someone told you to “enjoy your sleep while you can because once the baby comes, you won’t sleep.”

Me too!

But here’s the good news: You can get good sleep, and so can your baby, even during the newborn phase. While many babies start sleeping through the night around 4–6 months, some do so even earlier.

Keep reading to find out how! For more insights on newborn sleep, check out one of my sleep classes or grab my new sleep guide. 😊

Let’s start with sleep cues. Newborns show early and late tiredness cues, and understanding these can make a big difference. Once babies hit their late cues, it becomes harder to settle them, and it can be overwhelming for parents.

• Early Cues: Red eyes/eyebrows, rubbing eyes, yawning, blank stare

• Late Cues: Crying, turning away, hard to calm, jerky arm or leg movements

Routines are next. A consistent bedtime routine is key, even for newborns. One common mistake when trying to improve sleep is constantly changing the routine. Be patient and stick with it—creating sleep habits takes time. Think of it like trying to establish healthy sleep hygiene for yourself; it doesn’t happen overnight, right? Consistency is crucial for reinforcing new sleep patterns and smoothing the transition, even if your baby resists at first.

I recommend the 4 B’s: Bath, Boob/Bottle, Book, and Bed. Here’s why it works:

• Bath: A warm bath helps soothe and relax your baby before bed.

• Boob/Bottle: The final feeding signals to your baby that nighttime is here, especially when there’s no activity after.

• Book: Reading or talking to your baby provides comfort and connection. Your voice is calming and helps them feel safe.

By building good sleep habits now, you’re setting your baby up for healthy sleep patterns in the future.

Finally, it’s essential to teach your newborn to self-soothe. Self-soothing means allowing your baby to settle themselves to sleep—without using the “cry it out” method. Start by putting your newborn to bed drowsy but still awake. This teaches them to fall asleep on their own. When they wake briefly during the night (which is perfectly normal), they won’t be startled because they’re in the same place they fell asleep. Over time, they’ll develop the ability to sleep longer, resulting in more restful nights for everyone.

I cover more tips and in-depth advice on newborn sleep in my PDF guide, which you can purchase here.