Simple Baby Sleep Routine: Practical Tips for New Parents
Bedtime is serious business—for you and for your baby. No product can work miracles or simply make your baby sleep. The best way to have better nights is routine. There’s also no miracle cure, but you will find your way. Here are some tips that helped me and my little cutie pie.
One resource that helped me a lot was the book Solid Starts. My pediatrician originally recommended it for our feeding journey, but the book also includes helpful information about schedules and developmental milestones. As a stay-at-home mom, I found that guidance really useful—almost like a north to follow. If this is your first baby, changes happen quickly, and within just a few months you’ll need to adjust routines.
Here’s the website if you’d like to explore it Solid Starts.
Tip: Start a Routine Early
Follow a bedtime routine, even if your baby doesn’t respond right away. Babies don’t react to routines from day one. You have to keep doing it consistently, even when it feels like it isn’t working. It can take days—or even weeks—before you start to see improvement.
I often felt unsure about everything: sleep routines, bedtime schedules, what to dress my baby in, and what exactly I should be doing. Here’s the thing—you will find your way. There are many different approaches, and eventually you’ll discover what works for your family. In my case, following safety guidelines helped me get a little more sleep. I still have challenges sometimes, and solving sleep problems isn’t always easy.
Here’s the website if you’d like more information: Helping Babies Sleep Safely
The First Months (1–4 Months)
From 1 to 4 months, I used a bassinet next to my side of the bed. During that stage, I focused on making sure my baby had enough milk intake during the day, a bath, and a good feed before bedtime.
Our bedroom environment stayed very consistent:
All shades closed
Temperature between 67–74°F
Humidity between 40–60%
I chose cotton sheets, cotton pajamas, and a sleep sack to create a cozy and breathable setup.
During the first and second months, I woke up two times during the night for feeding. By month three, it was usually once per night. Around four months, my baby started giving longer stretches of sleep—about six to seven hours.
Of course, not every day was perfect, and sometimes our routine didn’t go exactly as planned. But overall, it worked well for us.
My husband grows plants in a controlled tent, and if you’ve ever seen one, it’s actually a similar principle. The environment needs to meet certain criteria for things to grow well—and babies are not that different.
Five Months and Beyond: Teething
From five months until now, we entered the teething phase. My boy sometimes wakes up crying, and it can be hard to manage.
After speaking with our pediatrician, we decided that if none of the soothing methods worked, we could give him Tylenol*. Before that, I try several things:
Teething toys
Frozen washcloths
Frozen milk popsicles
Shushing and holding him
Sometimes nothing works. In those moments, I give the Tylenol, and after about 15 minutes he usually falls asleep.*
Another big change around this time was that my baby outgrew the bassinet, so we moved his crib into our bedroom.
At 10 Months: Active Sleeping
Now, at 10 months, my current challenge is active sleeping. My baby moves a lot, bonks his head on the crib rails, sleeps with his face on the mattress, and ends up in the most unusual positions.
I’ve started thinking about the Montessori approach, possibly switching the crib to a mattress on the floor. He also looks quite big for the crib, in my opinion. Maybe in a future post I’ll share whether we tried the Montessori setup and how it went.
For now, when he wakes himself up in the crib, I gently pat his back. After about a month of doing this consistently, it started working better.
In the beginning, I would pick him up, bring him to my bed until he fell asleep, and then transfer him back to the crib after about 20 minutes—or once his sleep looked deep.
Daytime Naps Matter Too
I also learned that nighttime success often depends on how naps go during the day.
Good naps usually lead to better nights. Babies need enough rest, and being overtired can make nighttime sleep harder.
If my boy skips a nap, he usually doesn’t sleep well at night. On the other hand, too many naps can result in a very awake baby at 3 a.m.
When that happens, I sometimes bring him to my bed and let him play quietly next to me until he falls asleep again. I’ve found that trying too hard to force sleep can actually keep the baby awake longer.
Instead, I let him play a little. I keep a few quiet toys nearby. I try not to talk much—sometimes I softly recite one of his books (the ones I practically know by heart) or sing quietly while he plays.
The room stays very calm:
Very low light
White noise sounds
Some toys like: plush, toothing toy, and some safe regular object that doesn’t make noise.
Usually it takes about one hour for him to fall back asleep. Once he’s sleeping deeply again, I transfer him back to the crib.
It might sound like a lot, but avoiding fully getting up and starting the night over helps a lot.
If he’s crying a lot and I need to check him, I will change his diaper. Otherwise, after three months old, I usually don’t change diapers overnight. I try to let him sleep as much as possible.
Wake-Up Time Matters More Than Bedtime
One last thing that helped us: having a consistent wake-up time.
In my experience, wake-up time is even more important than bedtime. Even if you’re tired, try to keep a regular morning schedule. Your baby will naturally take naps during the day, and waking up at the same time helps establish a routine.
Some people disagree with this approach, and that’s completely okay. Every family is different. Do what works best for you. If your system works, keep doing it. But if things feel chaotic, setting a consistent wake-up time can be worth trying.
*I am not a medical professional. Always talk with your pediatrician about medications, dosages, and safety guidelines. Dosage depends on your baby’s weight, and typically you must wait four hours between doses, with a maximum of five doses per day. Personally, I rarely use it more than twice a day and only as a last resource.
A Few Simple Products That Helped Our Bedtime Routine
The images contain affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you choose to use them, thank you!
