3 Things You Can Do Right Now to Start Teaching Your Baby to Sleep

The first few weeks with a newborn are a blur of feeding frenzies, insistent diaper changes, and catching random hours of sleep in whatever pockets of time you can find throughout a 24-hour day. But once those first few weeks pass and your baby is growing and thriving, there are things you can start doing early on to help your baby develop healthy sleep habits.

You might think that a baby as young as a couple of months old is too little to start learning the skill of sleep. Yet I have seen countless babies, including my own, respond to schedule adjustments, feeding patterns, and opportunities to practice independent sleep as early as eight weeks old.

Babies are constantly learning from their environment, and familiar routines and cues can begin to play a role in how they approach sleep much earlier than many parents realize.

This doesn't mean your eight-week-old should be sleeping through the night or that you need to start formal sleep training. It simply means there are small things you can begin doing now to lay the groundwork for better sleep as your baby grows.

Here are three things you can start doing today.

1. Track your baby's feeding patterns.

Whether you're nursing, using formula, pumping, or doing a combination of all three, tracking your baby's feeding patterns can be very helpful.

You will begin to notice when your baby tends to eat more, how frequently they feed, and whether they're getting enough nourishment throughout the day. This information can help you identify patterns and give you something concrete to discuss with your pediatrician if you have questions about your baby's intake or nighttime feeding needs.

For example, if you notice that your baby consistently takes a larger feed in the morning, you may start to recognize opportunities to support adequate daytime intake across the rest of the day, too.

The goal isn't to force extra ounces or eliminate nighttime feeds before your baby is ready. At eight weeks, many babies still need to eat overnight, and that's completely normal. As your baby grows, their feeding needs and sleep patterns will change. With your pediatrician's guidance, you can determine when it may be appropriate to adjust nighttime feeds based on your baby's age, growth, and nutritional needs.

You don't need to rush this process. Start by understanding the patterns you already have.

2. Start paying attention to the timing of your baby's sleep.

What constitutes an actual bedtime can be a moving target during the first few months of your baby's life. You may not have a consistent bedtime routine yet, and your baby may still be sleeping in your room. That's okay.

As your baby grows and you begin to notice more predictable patterns in their daytime sleep, start paying attention to how naps affect their readiness for nighttime sleep.

For example, if your baby takes a long nap late in the evening and then seems wide awake when you're ready to call it a night, you may begin to notice a connection between that nap and their bedtime.

Rather than deliberately keeping your baby awake for a set amount of time, follow their sleepy cues and pay attention to their individual needs. Young babies can become overtired when they're kept awake too long, which can actually make settling more difficult.

You can also start creating a gentle distinction between day and night. Keep daytime interactions bright and engaging, while keeping overnight feeds and interactions calm and low-key. A simple, predictable evening routine can gradually help signal that nighttime is approaching.

You don't need a perfectly scheduled baby to begin noticing patterns. You just need to start paying attention to them.

3. Practice putting your baby down awake whenever possible.

Notice the word practice. This is an important mindset shift.

Your baby might not fall asleep independently after being put down awake, and that's okay. The goal isn't to turn every nap or bedtime into a test of whether your baby can fall asleep alone.

Instead, when your baby is calm and receptive, try putting them down in their safe sleep space while they're still awake and see what happens. Sometimes they may settle. Other times, they may need your help, and that's perfectly normal, too.

Offering these opportunities can help you begin exploring what your baby is capable of as they grow, without feeling like you need to have everything figured out right now.

Rocking, holding, and comforting your newborn are not bad habits you need to break. Your baby is still developing, and there will be plenty of times when they need your help falling asleep. You can respond to those needs while also offering opportunities to practice settling in other ways.

The takeaway?

You don't need to wait until you're completely exhausted or struggling with frequent night wakings to start thinking intentionally about your baby's sleep. Small, age-appropriate steps can help you understand your baby's needs, establish familiar routines, and explore independent sleep as your baby develops.

You don't have to do everything at once, and you certainly don't need to rush your baby through any stage. Start where you are, pay attention to what works for your family, and build from there.