Getting your newborn baby to sleep

Getting your newborn to sleep can be challenging for new parent. Learn the signs that your baby is tired and find tips on getting your baby to sleep.

Tips for settling your newborn

To settle a young baby to sleep, try one or more of the following ideas:

• Hold your baby in your arms and pat, rock or stroke them while talking or singing softly to them. Once they are calm, put them into their cot. Very young babies might fall asleep in your arms before you can put them down.
• Rocking your baby in their pram until they are calm, then move them to their cot.
• Hold your baby on their tummy across your lap or forearm until they are calm, then move them to their cot.
• 'Hands on settling' — place your baby in their cot when they are awake, but calm and drowsy. Gently pat or stroke them until they fall asleep, comforting them with gentle 'ssshhh' sounds.
• Swaddling your baby can help them settle. It's safe to swaddle your baby until they start trying to roll (usually 4 to 6 months old but sometimes younger).
• A warm bath before bed. Generally, a bath 2-3 times per week is enough to keep your newborn baby’s skin clean, but if they like to be bathed, it’s fine to bath them more frequently.
• Breastfeed or bottle feed before bed.
• Give your baby a massage. A massage before settling to sleep can be a good way for a baby to relax.
• Put on some background noise, such as quiet music, white noise or the hum of the washing machine.

Learn more about getting your baby to sleep.

For advice and support, speak to your doctor, midwife or child health nurse.