How to Get Newborn to Sleep in Bassinet

Creating the perfect baby nursery and crib is a milestone that every newborn parent looks forward to. However, what do you do when your baby wants nothing to do with their bassinet? It can be pretty confusing for newborn parents to understand why their newborn cries every time they are placed in their bassinet.

If you have ever wondered how to get newborn to sleep in a bassinet, you should know that you are not alone. This article will highlight why your newborn is staging a revolt and how you can quell this revolt to ensure your newborn sleeps in their bassinet.

Reasons Babies Don’t Like Sleeping in a Bassinet

Parents everywhere understand that caring for a child can be exhausting, and this exhaustion is multiplied when caring for a newborn. After a bit of time, you might discover that your baby will not sleep in their bassinet. There are a few reasons why this happens.

Habit

This is the first reason newborn parents have to consider when trying to learn how to get newborn babies to sleep in bassinet. If, for instance, one parent is overprotective, preferring to have their baby fall and stay asleep in their arms, the infant could be used to this method.

They could get used to it so much that it becomes a comfortable routine. The best way to avoid this is to transfer your infant into their bassinet, slowly helping them adjust to the change and how the bassinet feels.

Tiredness and fatigue

Another reason newborn babies won’t sleep in their bassinet is the amount of time they are awake. This means that newborn parents need to familiarize themselves with the infant’s sleeping patterns.

A factor that can negatively impact an infant’s sleep is overstimulation. When newborns are exhausted, they become fussy, making it difficult to sleep.

One way around this is to learn your child’s sleep pattern, as doing so can help when you place them in their bassinet for safe sleep.

Comfort

One reason why your newborn won’t sleep in their bassinet is that they are looking for comfort. All newborns adapt and adjust differently, and it might be that your newborn requires a bit more time to become acclimatized to the bassinet.

Simply put, they might not feel comfortable sleeping in the bassinet compared to how they feel sleeping in your arms. They are looking for a safe sleeping environment. Moreover, when considering a newborn’s comfort, it is crucial to consider several factors such as gas, hunger, and more.

These factors can have a significant impact on your baby’s sleep pattern. If your newborn is hungry, they will feel uncomfortable sleeping and begin crying. This can be an essential aspect to consider during growth milestones and cluster feeding.

How to Get Newborn to Sleep in Bassinet: Techniques and Tips

At this point in the article, you should have determined the reason(s) why your newborn doesn’t want to sleep in the bassinet. Your next step should be to utilize various techniques and methods to help them become comfortable sleeping in the bassinet, so they can finally get a good night sleep.

Here are a couple of techniques you can use to ensure your little one sleeps in their bassinet.

Rocking Your Baby to Sleep

When searching for how to get newborn to sleep in bassinet techniques, rocking your baby to sleep in the bassinet is one that every parent should know. It is scientifically proven that rocking newborns can soothe and calm them. Moreover, it can help them maintain a healthy heart rate, making them feel secure in their safe sleeping environment.

Rocking a baby to sleep in a bassinet can help the child feel a lot closer to their parent, leading to a comfortable night’s sleep. You can sing a lullaby to your baby to further solidify this method. This creates a soothing environment and fosters a comfortable association with the bassinet.

Incline the Bassinet

You should note that not every newborn baby enjoys sleeping on their back all night. A way to counter this is to incline the bassinet. Doing this enables your newborn baby to sleep without fuss comfortably.

Laying Your Newborn Baby Down Awake in the Bassinet

One of the more significant ways to get your newborn baby to sleep in a bassinet is to lay them down while they are awake. When you do this, you need to fight the urge to pick them up if you want them to sleep.

Simply put, you cannot think of how to get a newborn to sleep in a bassinet and then ruin your chances by not allowing your newborn to learn how to do so. The bassinet should be made as cozy as possible, enabling them to fall asleep easier.

Another tip that some newborn parents have found helpful when learning how to get newborns to sleep in a bassinet is to place their baby in the bassinet while they aren’t fully awake or asleep. They should be drowsy, almost falling asleep before you lay them down in the bassinet. Look for tired signs like yawning and fussiness.

Creating a Bedtime Routine

This is another way to ensure your newborn sleeps in their bassinet. Creating a consistent and stable bedtime routine can help your child fall asleep quicker, and they may even sleep through the night. A few activities you can incorporate into your infant’s bedtime routine are a good swaddle, reading, a light massage, or cuddling.

You could also have a bedtime routine that includes bath time and then changing them into pajamas. White noise playing in the background is good for drowning out external noise.

If you wonder how to get a newborn to sleep in a bassinet, you could use a pillow or a toy to achieve this. However, you should ensure the object you choose doesn’t take up to much space as it could lead to suffocation or claustrophobia.