When you think about how much time your baby spends sleeping, it doesn’t seem like they would need that much sleep. However, as your baby gets older and starts crawling, walking, and doing more in their day, their need for sleep increases.
This increased demand for sleep is called the 3 month sleep regression. The 3 month sleep regression is a common developmental milestone for babies that occurs around the third month of their life (though it can happen earlier or later).
It’s not quite a regression, but rather an increase in time spent napping and going to bed at night. Your child will likely have an adjustment period during this time because their internal clock hasn’t caught up with their new routines just yet.
Here are some tips that may help you get through the 3 month sleep regression without breaking into a sweat.
Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine
If your baby is three months old, you may want to consider developing a bedtime routine, which is important for fostering appropriate sleep patterns in your child throughout his or her development.
A healthy bedtime routine combined with a regular fixed pattern will assist your baby in developing normal sleep habits, which are essential for overall development and it will help you during your baby’s 3 month sleep regression.
Proven strategies for getting babies to sleep through the night include bathing, cuddling, playing music, singing lullabies, reading picture books, telling stories, etc. To do these things repeatedly every day is the most important thing.
For music, play the same music every day. For lullabies, sing the same songs. For picture books and stories, it should be the same every day.
Create a dark and quiet sleep environment
The eyes of babies are very sensitive to light. During the night, keep the room completely dark since they cannot differentiate between day and night.
Seeing the difference between daylight and darkness visually is extremely helpful for babies to establish a daily rhythm. Reduce the light in the room an hour before bedtime, and place the baby in a darkened room when you put him or her to sleep.
A baby is very sensitive to household noises, including motor noises. Babies are unable to recognize sounds, especially in the early stages of their lives. Although the sound may not bother adults, it may cause stress during sleep.
Do not be near electrical appliances, particularly those that are constantly on. Cell phones and smartphones also emit a black light that stimulates babies. You should avoid using your phone while your baby is sleeping.
Putting Them To Sleep When they are Drowsy And Groggy
Babies are born unable to sleep on their own, so they have to be taught how to do so. Your baby will sleep better if you put your baby to bed when he or she is sleepy. Putting the baby to sleep at the right time will reduce the burden on the mother when the baby is getting sleepy.
What are the signs a baby is sleepy?
- Cries with his/her eyes closed.
- Rubs his/her face against mom’s clothes or bedding.
- Eyes turn red
- Hands and feet become warm.
In fact, when a child cries because he/she is sleepy, it is a sign that the child is already too tired. Too much fatigue leads to an overproduction of stress hormones, which reduces the quality of sleep and makes it difficult to fall asleep. Thus, putting your child to sleep before they are too tired will give them a good night’s rest without them feeling groggy.
Allow The Baby To Sleep On The Bed Many Times a Day Rather Than Holding Them In Your Arms During Sleep Or Naps
Nighttime crying can be caused by being carried to sleep. Your baby will realize that “my place to sleep is in my mother’s arms” if you do this consistently.
When you put your child to sleep, put them in the crib or bed first to teach them that the bed is where they should sleep. You can hold them in your arms if they cry. When they begin to go sleepy, though, it is important to put them down again.
Don’t try to train your baby to sleep and nap longer
In 3 to 4 months, the distinction between day and night becomes even more distinct with an average of 14 hours. At this time, some babies will go to bed around 8:00 p.m. and sleep through the night.
In this period, individual differences in sleep patterns begin to become more evident, but the average amount of sleep per day is about 13 to 14 hours. Three-month-old newborns should nap three times a day for a total of four to five hours. It is essential not to sleep too much during the day in order to maintain a consistent sleep schedule at night.
Ask for help and rely strongly on your partner
It can take up to four weeks for 3 month sleep regression to end. Paying enough attention and coping while not making new sleep arrangements will make you tired. That’s when you need help.
During your baby’s sleep regression, you and your partner should support each other. Do not hesitate to ask for help if you need it from your husband, family, relatives, midwife, pediatrician, or anyone else you can think of.
Consider hiring a helper just for one night to relieve some of your stress. The most important thing is that mom responds calmly. The baby will sense the mother’s frustration and be unable to sleep peacefully if she is frustrated. That is how they grow. Keeping calm and letting time pass are the best ways to handle this.
Conclusion
The most helpful way to get your baby to sleep well during 3 month sleep regression is to create a state of peace and relaxation. It is very important to check out the daily reasons why babies do not sleep at night and to let them grow up with the ideal rhythm of life: “wake up in the morning and go to bed at night.
Putting the baby to sleep in an unhurried, and relaxed manner is one of the best ways for the baby to sleep peacefully and soundly, and for mom and dad to fall asleep as they are.
