Version July 2025
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Why is sleep important for babies? —
Babies need lots of sleep to grow and develop. Young babies spend a lot of time sleeping. As they get older, their sleep needs and habits change.
It's important to learn your baby's habits and how to respond to their basic needs, like sleep.
How can I help my baby sleep? —
Good sleeping habits help your baby sleep soundly. Here are some tips you can use to help them fall asleep and stay asleep:
●Newborns – Newborns sleep a lot during the day and night. They usually wake up several times during the night. This is normal, and there is nothing you can do to make them sleep longer. As they get older, they will start to sleep longer at night.
●Older babies – Once your baby is a few months old, you can start to do these things to help them sleep:
•Teach them about daytime and nighttime:
-When your baby is awake and alert during the day, play and talk with them. Keep the area bright.
-At nighttime, play less. Keep the area dimmer and quieter.
-By playing and doing other activities more during the day, your baby might sleep more at nighttime.
●Before putting your baby to sleep at night, make sure that:
•They have eaten recently. It is common for young babies to sleep for a while, wake up when they are hungry, and then sleep again.
•Their sleeping area is quiet and dark. The room should be a comfortable temperature and not too warm.
●Watch for signs that help you know that your baby is ready for sleep. Rubbing their eyes, yawning, and crying can all be signs that they are tired.
●As your baby gets older, try to make a bedtime routine. This can help them feel calm and like it is time to sleep. For example, you can:
•Put them to bed at the same time each day.
•Turn down the lights, and keep the environment quiet and calm.
•Give them a bath.
•Change their diaper, and dress them in comfortable layers. Some people like to use a sleep sack to keep their baby warm while sleeping.
•Read books, play soothing music, or sing quietly.
•Rock or hold them until they get sleepy. Put them in their crib while still awake, but drowsy. This helps them learn to fall asleep on their own.
How can I help keep my baby safe while they sleep? —
Put your baby in a safe position and place to sleep.
●Always put them on their back to sleep (figure 1). Do not put them to sleep on their belly or side.
●Always put them to sleep in a crib, cradle, or bassinet. They should never sleep in an adult bed or on a sofa, cushion, waterbed, or other soft surface.
●Make sure that their crib is safe. The mattress should be firm and flat, not angled. Keep all pillows, stuffed animals, blankets, and other soft objects out of the crib or bassinet. Do not use bumper pads on the crib.
●Do not sleep in your bed with your baby. If you breastfeed them in your bed, always put them back in their crib for sleep. If you want them to sleep near you, put the crib or bassinet near your bed (figure 2). They should not sleep in a bed where other children or adults are sleeping, but in the same room is OK.
What else should I know? —
Put your baby in their crib as soon as possible if they fall asleep in their car seat, stroller, swing, or other baby-carrying device.
Patient education: Safe sleep for babies (The Basics)
Patient education: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for your newborn (The Basics)
Patient education: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (Beyond the Basics)
