keep it dark and quiet and have a routine every evening that consists of quiet time -- maybe a bath reading a book or brushing baby’s teeth if they have any yet. get them calm and drowsy before putting them in their crib and be consistent -- put them down the same way each time. in the middle of the night shorten your routine. you don’t want baby to fall asleep while you’re feeding or rocking them though because you want them to figure out how to put themselves to sleep. don't wake them if they do fall asleep especially not in the first month; it’s impossible to avoid falling asleep during feedings and rockings when they’re that young. but after the first month put them to sleep drowsy…if they’re falling asleep when you’re nursing for example stop nursing and put them to sleep. if they’re falling asleep too soon try starting your calming quiet routine sooner. also make sure they aren't overtired when you put them to bed. once babies start eating more in the daytime they don’t need to wake and eat at night. but don’t overfeed to encourage them to sleep through the night. some parents try to push more formula breast milk or baby food on the baby right before sleep and that can backfire. wait until they settle into a pattern where they naturally eat more in the daytime.
how can i get my baby to start sleeping through the night?