How to Get a 6 Month Old Baby to Sleep Through the Night

As most parents know, getting a baby to sleep through the night can be a difficult, frustrating challenge. Some babies easily fall into a regular sleep pattern, while others seem to wake up often during the night and even get days and nights reversed. Six months of age is a good time to start establishing a schedule that promotes a restful night's sleep. You can even start this type of schedule as young as 2 or 3 months of age.

Instructions

Getting Baby to Sleep Through the Night

1

Keep the baby active during much of the day. A 6-month old baby will need to nap during daylight hours, but try to limit naps to no more than an hour and a half to two hours. During times when the baby is awake, engage her in play. This not only helps the baby's mental and physical development, but it will also allow him to be appropriately tired at bedtime.

2

Begin the nighttime routine with a warm bath. This can help to relax your little one.

3

Read a book together. This benefits your baby intellectually and emotionally because she is exposed to language as well as cuddling time with you.

4

Feed your baby some warm milk. Whether it's through breastfeeding or a bottle, drinking warm milk can help to soothe your baby and keep him from waking up from an empty tummy during the night.

5

Hug and kiss your baby and quietly lay her in her crib. You might want to sing a lullaby or turn on a CD of soft music before leaving the room. You also could turn on a mobile for soothing music. You also might want to let your little one hold onto a favorite blanket or stuffed animal. Make sure the "lovey" doesn't have anything that could potentially be a choking or suffocation hazard.

6

Comfort your baby if he wakes up and cries. Try waiting a couple of minutes before comforting. Sometimes you baby might briefly cry and go right back to sleep. There are many theories on whether to let them cry and for how long. Trust your parental instinct; you know your baby better than anyone else. She might need to be changed or fed. Sometimes babies need to be fed more often during a growth spurt. You don't want to ignore a legitimate need. If you do feed or change your baby, do so in low light and put her back to bed promptly so that she doesn't become too alert and think it's time to get up.