How to Get a 3-Week-Old to Sleep Better

Getting a newborn baby to sleep is one of the biggest challenges of parenthood. It can be so frustrating to see that your baby is not sleeping well. And at such a young age, it is quite a task to get babies settled enough to sleep for long stretches. Oftentimes, babies want to be near their parents or have problems such as colic or acid reflux that prevent them from being able to rest. It's not an exact science, but with a little effort, hopefully your 3-week-old will be more likely to get to some sleep.

Things You'll Need

  • Swaddling blanket
  • Bassinet
  • White noise machine

Instructions

    • 1

      Check with your pediatrician to see if your baby has any conditions that may be interrupting sleep, such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or colic, and medicate appropriately, if necessary.

    • 2

      Finish feeding and burping the baby well before laying her down, as babies sleep best when they are full and have digested their food. Cuddle and rock the baby until she is settled after feeding.

    • 3

      Swaddle your baby in a receiving blanket before bed and before laying him down in a bassinet, preferably next to your bed. Swaddling often works because it reminds young babies of being in the womb and calms and comforts them prior to falling asleep. It is also important in the early stages to sleep close to your baby, which is why the bassinet is most effective in the early weeks.

    • 4

      Play "white noise" near your baby's crib at a fairly loud volume. White noise sounds something like static and is supposed the mimic the sounds a baby is used to hearing in the womb. This often helps babies feel comfortable and fall asleep.

    • 5

      Eliminate the consumption of caffeine beverages such as coffee or soda if you're breastfeeding. Caffeine has been shown to be present in breast milk when consumed by the mother and, just as it affects adults, it can affect a newborn's ability to sleep.

    • 6

      Keep the lights low where the baby sleeps. Even if she wakes up to be fed, the lights should be kept dim if it is nighttime. If it helps, you can add a dimmer to a light in the room to turn enough light on so that you can see what you are doing without making the room too bright.

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