A good night's sleep is essential for your baby's health and development. What do you do if your little one has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep? These are the keys to a restful night for your baby – and yourself.

In your room or not?

Doctors recommend letting your baby sleep in your room for the first six months to a year, as this significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, some parents prefer to have their baby sleep in their own room right away. Let's explore the sleep options.

Co-sleeper

As a parent, you are physically closest to your child when you choose a co-sleeper. This is a crib that you place next to your own bed and attach to it, allowing your baby to sleep right beside you. A co-sleeper is convenient for nighttime feedings and helps your little one feel safe and secure.

Own crib in your room

If you put your child in their own crib in your room, they can still feel your presence. A crib is often more spacious than a co-sleeper. However, you will need to get out of bed if your baby cries or needs feeding.

Own room 

If you want your baby to sleep in their own room right away or after a few months, it’s important to make it feel safe there as well. A nightlight and a few stuffed animals displayed on a shelf can work wonders.

Comforting bedtime rituals 

Some babies fall asleep so easily that a bedtime ritual isn’t necessary. Others need one to help them unwind. In both cases, a small ritual is still a lovely way to spend a special moment with your little one. Here’s some inspiration.

Reducing stimulation

Take time to slow things down and ease the evening pace. Gradually lower the noise and dim the lights in your home. If an older, more active sibling is still awake, encourage them to play in a different part of the room or in their own space to keep things calm for your baby.

Bath time

A warm bath is often a great way to help a baby relax. Drying them off, applying lotion, and getting them dressed provide the perfect transition from the activity of the day to the calm of the night.

Singing a lullaby

It doesn’t matter how well you sing—your voice is pure magic to your baby. Choose a lullaby with a soft melody and a slow tempo. Your baby can’t tell you how much they love it yet, but you’ll soon notice it.

Reading a story

From as early as three months, your baby is ready to listen to and look at stories. Start with very simple books that have little text and lots of pictures. The magic of a story is that it helps you slow down together. Try to make it a daily habit.

Cosy sleep environment 

As mentioned before, the sleep environment is very important. You can make it extra cosy with a nightlight.

Keep your baby warm and snug by using a sleeping bag or swaddling them.

Take a moment for a gentle touch, like a kiss, a stroke on the cheek, or a little squeeze of their hand.

Consider leaving the bedroom door slightly open. The soft background noise can reassure your baby of your presence, and the small amount of light can also be comforting.

Sleeping through the night

It can take months or even years before your child sleeps through the night—that’s just the tough reality. Fortunately, there are ways to encourage better sleep.

Check or not? 

Some babies wake up crying multiple times a night. If your child sleeps in a separate room, it can be tempting to stay in your cozy bed and not get up. If your baby stops crying quickly, you might consider waiting. But if the crying continues, it's best to check in. Babies need the reassurance that a parent is there—without it, they may develop separation anxiety.

Is it really hunger? 

When your baby cries, your first instinct might be to assume they’re hungry. But it’s important to check if that’s truly the case—otherwise, your baby might stay dependent on nighttime feedings even when they no longer need them.

Here's what to do: 

1. If your baby isn't crying too hard, try soothing them while they're still in bed. 
2. If that doesn’t help, pick them up and gently comfort them in your arms.
3. If your baby still doesn't calm down, check the diaper. You might already smell the issue by step 2 😉.
4. If the diaper is clean, your baby might have cramps. Try giving a gentle tummy massage. 
5. If that doesn't help either, then your baby is probably hungry. 

Stay calm

Try to remain as calm as possible when your baby wakes up at night. Your little one can sense if you’re nervous, making it harder for them to settle down. Use soothing words and gently rock them. Keep the lights dim so everyone can fall back asleep more easily.