Infants spend a lot of time asleep. A newborn can sleep as much as 16 hours a day. It seems that getting your baby to sleep should be simple, but establishing healthy sleep habits isn't always easy. Finding a sleep strategy that works for you and your baby takes some trial and error. The personality of your baby also plays a role as some babies are better suited to certain sleep strategies.
Sleepy But Awake
Placing your baby in her crib before she actually falls asleep allows her to put herself to sleep. This establishes a healthy sleep pattern because she doesn't rely on you to put her to sleep. A baby who is rocked to sleep each night may have difficulty in the middle of the night if she wakes. She needs the rocking to fall back asleep. A baby who is placed in her bed sleepy but not completely asleep is better able to fall back asleep if something wakes her in the night.
Ferber Method
The Ferber Method is often thought of as "crying-it-out". The method doesn't simply involve placing your infant in his crib and letting him cry until he falls asleep. Dr. Richard Ferber, the doctor who created the method, suggests placing your baby in his crib while still awake. If he cries, rub his tummy and reassure him with your voice. Leave the room for five minutes. If he is still crying, go back into the room and console him with another tummy rub without removing him from the crib. Leave the room again and come back in five more minutes if needed. Continue the process until he falls asleep. Extend the length of time you wait each night before going back in to console your baby. The Ferber method isn't recommended for babies younger than four months old. An infant who is overly sensitive might not react well to this method.
Co-sleeping
Co-sleeping involves sleeping in the same bed or very near your baby. This infant sleep strategy works well for babies with an emotional attachment. Families who believe in attachment parenting often prefer co-sleeping. However, placing your baby in your bed presents some dangers. Blankets and pillows present a smothering risk for a young infant. Parents under the influence of alcohol or drugs run the risk of being unaware of the baby's presence, and, thus, there is danger that the parent rolling over on the infant. A special co-sleeper bed that attaches to the parent's bed is a safer option for the infant. A bassinet placed next to your bed is another option.
