Newborn children are a beautiful addition to our families. They bring a new wave of love, laughter, and light into our lives the moment they arrive. But whether you’re a first-time parent – or feeling like a seasoned pro – the need to adapt to new sleep patterns is inevitable.

In the first few months of your newborn’s life – with alternating feeding schedules and countless adjustments made to account for your new addition – establishing a consistent sleep schedule can be difficult, if not seemingly impossible at times. But as those first few months quickly pass us by, the idea of your child sleeping longer through the night can become a much more attainable reality.

Sleep is a vital part of your child’s physical and mental development – not to mention a huge help to ensuring you’re getting the adequate rest you need yourself. Developing positive sleep habits early on can help both you and your child enjoy the benefits of a peaceful night’s rest for the weeks, months, and years to come.

There isn’t a black and white sleep pattern for every child, but it’s generally recommended that children from 0-3 months old should be getting 8-18 hours of sleep per day, while children 3-12 months old should be average 9-14 hours. Some children will sleep for shorter periods more frequently, usually in the form of naps throughout the day, while some will naturally want to sleep for longer periods overnight.

Regardless of which pattern your child naturally falls into, there are a few best practices that can help encourage them to adapt to sleeping for longer periods, especially at night.

Establish a bedtime routine

Children adapt quickly to routine. When our infants become comfortable with a certain order of events or activities, it automatically results in feelings of comfort and peace. Those relaxing sensations can help them fall asleep with more ease. If your infant responds particularly well to calming noises, singing to your infant or utilizing a music machine are great things to incorporate in your evening ritual. Try to favor light, relaxing songs and tones to elevate feelings of calm.

Consistency is Key

Once you’ve found a routine that works for your child, consistency becomes imperative. Life can get busy and schedules become hectic, but the more adamantly you can stick to your established routine – the more effective it will be.

‘Sleepy’ is the Bedtime Sign

As often as possible, try to use your child becoming sleepy as an immediate sign it’s time for bed, rather than waiting for them to fall asleep beforehand. This encourages children to associate becoming tired with bedtime, but it also helps your child start learning to put themselves to sleep, rather than relying on the adults around them to do so.

Trial and error is your best friend when it comes to finding the right night-time routine for your child. It’s not a one-size-fits-all arrangement, and it will likely take a few tries to dial in on the right process. But once you’ve uncovered it, you’ll be amazed at how quickly your child falls into that routinely easily – resulting in better rest for both of you.