Spending sleepless nights with your crying baby bouncing at your hip is a rite of passage most parents will have to undergo. You aren’t alone if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep since your little one came along.

Most newborn baby sleep cycles range from 12-16 hours of sleep a day. But, most of this sleep occurs in short stretches of time, often just a few hours.

Give it some time, your baby will naturally slip into a consistent sleeping schedule as they grow a few months older. By 3-5 months of age your baby will start sleeping five hours at a time. Within their first year of being born, they will start sleeping 10 hours every night. *all parents audibly take a sigh of relief*

We have devised an easy- to-follow five step night-time routine to help both you and your new born baby sleep better at night.

• A Separate Sleeping Space – Ideally your new born baby should sleep in your room, but separately in a crib, bassinet or some safer place other than your bed.

Yes, your bed is not a safe place for your baby to sleep in at night! This is because a sleeping parent might accidentally roll over onto the baby, the baby might get stuck and suffocate between duvets or pillows, etc. Remember your bed was designed keeping you in mind not your little one.

• Encourage Good Sleep Habits – Before they are off to bed, give them a little nibble or “dream feed”. Just a few sips of milk are enough for an extra hour or two of sleep. Make sure to burp them after you are done. No TV or games before bedtime. Give them a warm, relaxing bath just before bedtime to encourage a good night’s sleep.
• Let Them Settle Down – It might be a while before your baby actually sleeps. Give them some time to settle down. Put them in bed when they are a little drowsy. After a while, you will find your little one soundly asleep. This will also encourage your baby to fall asleep on their own without needing your help.
• They might fuss about being put to bed, let them throw tantrums, but after a few days they will settle into this routine.

• A Calming Bedtime Routine – It’s a bad idea to engage in playtime before your baby’s sleeping hours. It overstimulates their senses and keeps them up longer. Instead, dim the lights in your room and try calming bedtime routines such as cuddling, reading, singing lullaby or gentle rocking motions before putting your baby to sleep.

Night-time diapers – Make sure your baby is clad in an absorbent, comfortable night-time diaper before they go to sleep. More often than not, babies wake up in the middle of the night irritated because of a wet diaper.

Snuggy makes the best overnight diapers for infants. We combine love and technology to make diapers that are trusted by Indian mothers for 35+ years.

Remember that developing a consistent night-time routine is going to take time and patience on your part. You are going to need time to understand your baby’s habits and preferences.

Don’t beat yourself up if you are facing trouble. If you have concerns about your baby’s sleep cycles, talk to your baby’s doctor.