How to get My Baby to Sleep at Night (3-7 Month Old)
On episode 74 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, I sat down with Heather Boyd, a certified baby sleep coach. During our discussion, we talked about changes to look for in your baby’s sleep patterns and how to adapt to them.
Curious to know more about this topic?
Don’t forget to tune into episode 74 of the Learning to Mom Podcast, “How to Get Your Baby To Sleep (NOT cry it out method) with Heather Boyd | Ep. 74” to learn the details!
Without further ado, it’s time for the inside scoop!
Why Should I Pay Attention To These Changes?
During this period, your baby’s brain and body are rapidly changing. It’s important to pay attention to these changes when it comes to your child’s needs.
During the first 3-4 months, there is no pattern for sleep. Still, there are some important factors to remember:
At three months, your baby should be taking about four naps each day.
At seven months, your baby should be taking about three naps each day.
Remember: the amount of naps varies for each individual baby.
How long should a 7-month old sleep at night?
As your baby’s sleep develops, you will notice several changes.
Around six months, there should be a predictable sleep pattern, with your baby sleeping for longer periods of time.
At seven months, you can start to build off of the sleep patterns your baby has developed.
How long should my baby sleep during the day?
As your baby moves from the three to seven month stage, they should be sleeping less during the day and longer at night.
An important thing to keep in mind is that daytime naps should be varied throughout the day.
Shorter naps = shorter wake windows.
Sleep Schedule for a 7-month old
A baby’s sleep schedule changes drastically at 7 months. Some things to notice are:
Your baby sleeps less during the day (only 3-4 hours)
Your baby will sleep longer at night
On average, your baby will nap every three hours
What if My Baby Needs Soothing to Fall Asleep?
With naps or bedtime, it’s important to understand what your baby needs so they can fall asleep.
What does your baby need and how can you provide that?
They might need:
Food
Closeness/contact with you
Be emotionally available and present when your child sleeps and wakes.
How to Handle Baby’s Bedtime Routine
A good strategy for improving your baby’s sleep is to record their typical sleep for three days.
Why should you do this?
Recording their typical sleep will:
Allow you to learn their sleep patterns
Allow you to learn how hard it is to get your baby to sleep
When preparing your baby for bed:
Focus on the timing of sleep: Ideally, start preparing them for bed after dinner
Give them opportunities for sensory activity
Having plenty of movement and exposure to nature during the day encourages them to exercise their senses (smell, touch, taste). This stimulation will tire your baby out.
What do I do with an Overtired Baby?
When your baby’s worn out, it can be hard to know how to calm them down for sleep.
There’s crying and screaming, and you end up feeling just as worn down.
Some of the best things to do in this situation are to:
Regulate your nervous system (through breathing)
Try and stay calm
Being a stable source of support for your child’s emotions will help calm them down.
While there are things you can do to calm this stressful situation, there’s not a complete fix.
Do Babies’ Sleep Patterns Change?
Your baby’s sleep patterns will change enormously over the first few months of their life. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t be prepared to deal with them.
With the right knowledge and strategies, you can learn how to adapt to your baby’s sleep schedule easily.
After all, getting enough sleep is important for them to lead healthy lives.
Want to know more awesome tips?
Don’t forget to tune into episode 74 of the Learning to Mom Podcast
“How to Get Your Baby To Sleep (NOT cry it out method) with Heather Boyd | Ep. 74” to learn more!
