We know from our own experience how important good sleep is for health and well-being. This is even more true for your baby, who is exposed to a multitude of new impressions every day. During deep sleep, your baby stores information, strengthens motor skills, and consolidates movement patterns. In addition, the immune system regenerates, and the body produces important growth hormones. So, for your baby to grow into a healthy, strong little explorer, good sleep is essential. In this article, we share 7 tips to help your baby get through the night safely—so they can explore the world again, refreshed, the next morning.

Introduce a sleep ritual

Newborns do not yet distinguish between day and night in their sleep patterns. However, most babies begin to adapt to a consistent daily rhythm from around the 4th month. With a bedtime ritual, you give your baby structure and help them adjust to the day-night change and regular sleep times. Depending on your child's age, the ritual may include singing a lullaby, reading a story, cuddling, or playing a music box. Most importantly, it should create a calm, relaxed, and loving atmosphere for your baby. You can find a suitable playlist with soothing songs for falling asleep on our Spotify channel.

Use a sleeping bag instead of a blanket

Even if you want to make your baby’s bed as cozy and comfortable as possible, you should avoid blankets and loose bedding, as your child could accidentally pull them over their head or sink into them, making it difficult to breathe. Instead, your baby will sleep warm and safe in a sleeping bag, which also has the advantage of not being kicked off. There are cozy, insulated sleeping bags for winter as well as lighter options for summer. You can also opt for a year-round model that—combined with the right clothing—is suitable for almost any season. Newborns, in particular, often feel especially secure in a sleeping bag, as the limited legroom reminds them of the snugness of the womb. As a rule of thumb for the optimal sleeping bag size: the length from your baby’s feet to their shoulders plus 10 cm. The opening should not be larger than your child’s head circumference.

Don't dress your baby too warmly

Of course, parents don’t want their baby to be cold at night. For this reason, many moms and dads tend to dress their child too warmly. The problem is that the body’s natural cooling mechanism—sweating—is not yet fully developed in little ones. As a result, they cannot regulate excess heat on their own, which increases the risk of overheating. In addition, babies often simply continue sleeping even if they are too warm. If your baby is cold, they will probably let you know loudly by crying.

In the colder months—in addition to the sleeping bag—a diaper, underwear, and a long-sleeved sleep suit are usually sufficient as sleepwear. In summer, a short-sleeved bodysuit is usually enough alongside the sleeping bag. Since excess heat is released through the head, you should avoid putting a hat on your baby in bed.

Ensure the correct room temperature

In addition to clothing, the right room temperature also contributes to your baby's comfort at night. The optimal room temperature for your baby at night is between 16°C and 18°C. If your child has cold hands or feet, it does not automatically mean they are cold. To check whether your baby is cold, feel the neck or between the shoulder blades instead: if the skin there is warm and dry, you can assume your baby is comfortable at that temperature.

Lay your baby on their back

During the first year of life, you should always place your baby on their back to sleep. In this position, they can breathe best, and the risk of suffocation is also proven to be lowest when lying on the back. During the day, when they are awake, your child can comfortably lie on their stomach from time to time. This helps strengthen the abdominal, neck, and back muscles and prepares your baby for sitting.

Create a safe sleeping environment

In the first year of life, your baby is best kept in a separate crib in the parents' bedroom. Scientists suspect that the parents’ sleeping sounds stimulate the infant’s breathing. Even if you want to be as close to your baby as possible, you should not let them sleep in your own bed. There is a risk of overheating or covering the child with blankets. In addition, your baby can sink into the softer mattress, which may restrict airflow. In their own bed, however, with a firm mattress, a sleeping bag, and without pillows or large stuffed animals, your baby is well protected. In the first weeks and months, babies often feel especially secure in a cradle or bassinet, as the sleeping space is not too large. Another option is a co-sleeper crib placed directly next to the parents' bed. If you want to use a crib with bars from the beginning, you can visually limit it so that your little one does not feel lost.

Promote a calm sleeping environment

Nighttime diaper changes can disrupt both you and your baby’s sleep. Therefore, avoid bright lights when changing diapers at night, and create a cozy atmosphere—for example, with a string of lights or a dimmable lamp—so your baby can fall asleep again quickly. In general, you should change the diaper at night after a bowel movement and whenever your baby’s clothing is soaked. However, if there is only urine in the diaper, you only need to change it if your baby is suffering from a rash. It’s best to put a fresh diaper on your little explorer right before bedtime. With the right choice of diaper, you can also prevent leaks: LILLYDOO diapers are especially absorbent and adapt to every nocturnal movement of your baby.

More tips about healthy baby sleep are provided by LILLYDOO pediatrician Ariane in the video:

If Ariane’s tips were helpful for you and you’d like more information about everyday baby life and parenthood, subscribe to our newsletter. You will receive expert advice and other information tailored to your baby's age directly in your inbox every two weeks.

Of course, some restless nights are unavoidable with a baby or toddler. However, we hope our tips help ensure that such nights remain the exception, and we wish you and your baby healthy, restful sleep!