Children’s Hospital Colorado reveals that babies need to sleep for 10 to 12 hours every night after they are able to sleep through the night. Unfortunately, some babies get much less sleep. The good news is that you can teach your young one to get the much needed rest by hitting the snooze button. One of the most important considerations when training your child to sleep longer in the morning is age. It is much easier to train older children to sleep more. Many parents are worried that their babies cannot get enough sleep because they wake up too early in the morning, or because their baby waking up too early made them sleep-deprived. There are many things you can do to make your baby sleep longer and wake up later in the morning.

Is Waking Up Early Making My Baby Sleep Deprived?

Is your young one getting enough sleep or is he waking up too early? Could it be hunger that robs your child of sleep? This is quite common especially when the child is in the weaning stage. Understanding why your baby wakes up early in the morning is essential as it gives you a good understanding on what needs to be done in order to help your child get adequate rest.

Signs to Watch for

You can identify if your child is getting enough sleep by simply looking at his behavior during the day. Some hints include: taking a nap after waking up, constant yawning and stretching, whining, crying and evenstaring blankly. Other indications that suggest your child might not getting adequate rest are: loss of interest in games and people, turning away from moving objects as well appearing very still, quiet or withdrawn. If you child constantly buries their face into your chest, they may be getting insufficient sleep.

Ensure that there are minimum distractions in your child’s room. For example if the morning sun peeks though your child’s window very early, you need to get some blackout shades to keep the room dark. If you feel that your child still needs more rest, ensure that he or she is trained to self-soothe back to sleep.

How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Longer in the Morning

1. Let the Child Have Enough Exercise and Create a Sleep Routine

Allowing your child to play during the day can help contribute to a good night’s sleep. Allow your child to exercise as this would mean that they will be tired by night which encourages them to sleep. A sleep routine helps keep things in perspective. Keep the routine constant so the child is able to identify bedtime. Routines differ and may involve taking a bath, signing lullabies or reading a book before sleep.

2. Don’t Let Your Child Go to Sleep Hungry

To prevent your child from having to wake up due to hunger, feed him to satisfaction before putting him to sleep. Young ones on breast milk or baby formula can also feed to satisfaction without having to add cereals into their meal which is common practice. The National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families states that adding cereal to your child’s food does not help her sleep better at night.

3. Dress Your Child Comfortably for Sleep

Sleepwear needs to be comfortable and materials such as cotton are preferred especially if your young one is sensitive to polyester and other synthetic fabrics.

4. Keep the Room Temperature Comfortable

The temperature of the room matters and the room shouldn’t be too hot cold. Temperatures of 70 to 75 degrees are recommended.

As mentioned above, keep out the light and it also helps to block out noises by playing a recorder of some lullabies, vacuum cleaner sound or your voice. A running fan also could do the trick.

5. Keep Nap Time Separate

If your child is quick to take a nap after waking up, this may not really be a nap but an extension of the lost sleep. Separate nap time and sleep time to make a clear distinction of the two. Naps are important but, they need limits. Children’s Hospital Colorado informs that babies aged one and above need only one nap in a day. You might want to consider shortening the amount of time your child naps to ensure that she sleeps well at night.

6. Train Your Baby to Self-Soothe

Babies can be trained to self-soothe from the age of three months. This helps ensure that your young one gets enough sleep as they are able to self-soothe when they awake during nap time or at night. When your child wakes up, put him back to his crib. Having comfort objects in the crib helps a great deal and you could have a teddy bear, or even a silk piece of cloth. Rub the comfort item on your skin. This way, your child is able to recognize your scent and assume your close by.

7. Train Your Baby to Fall Asleep on His Own

Teach your child to fall asleep on his own. After the sleep routine, say goodnight and leave the room. Check on your child in intervals to ensure that they sleep. You can also make the process gradual by progressively moving away from his bed until you no longer have to be present when he sleeps. Don’t entertain talks during bedtime and avoid eye contact.

8. Set Reasonable Sleep Time 

Don’t force things. Your baby can only sleep for a given number of hours. If the child sleeps early, he will obviously wake up early. If the early schedule is not ideal for you, simply put the child to bed later. However, be careful not to let your child stay up too late since this deprives him of sleep and leads to a troubled sleeping pattern. Sleeping early actually helps your child rest for longer.

Watch to learn more so that you know better about how to get your baby to sleep longer in the morning?