You may have enjoyed rocking your baby to sleep when he was a newborn, but many parents eventually want to teach their babies to fall asleep without help. There is more than one way to teach your baby to fall asleep without being rocked, and you should pick what works best for your family. You may decide to comfort your baby as he falls asleep, or you might choose a technique that requires you to let him cry with minimal interaction while he learns to soothe himself to sleep.
Prepare For Bed
Step 1
Create a bedtime routine. Babies benefit from a predictable bedtime routine that lets them know it is time to wind down and get ready for sleep. Choose a few relaxing activities--such as bathing, reading, cuddling or a singing a lullaby--and try to do one or two of them every night.
Step 2
Choose a bedtime for your baby. Select a time that works for you and your baby so you can stick to it. This will set his internal clock so he will be naturally sleepy at bedtime, according to BabyCenter.com.
Step 3
Move any nighttime feedings that will get in the way of your plan to help your baby learn to get to sleep on her own. If you normally give her a bottle or breastfeed while you rock her to sleep, WhatToExpect.com recommends moving the last feeding up to at least 30 minutes before bedtime.
Step 4
Place your baby in his crib after you have finished the bedtime routine, and choose to comfort him to sleep or follow the "cry it out" method.
Comfort To Sleep
Step 1
Stand by the crib and pat your baby's back, and sing or talk to him quietly to comfort him while he gets used to soothing himself to sleep, recommends Pediatrician Alan Greene.
Step 2
Avoid picking up your baby. If you pick him up, he will learn that crying is the way to get you to hold him, warns Dr. Greene.
Step 3
Continue to pat and comfort him until he falls asleep. It may take a long time for your baby to fall asleep at first, and he may cry a lot, but each night should be a little better than the previous night until he finally learns to fall asleep on his own.
Step 4
Repeat the process each night until you can put him in his crib and he goes to sleep without much protest. After the first night or two, you can leave the room for a few minutes at a time while he cries. It may take around six nights for your baby to finally go to sleep completely on his own, according to DrGreen.com.
Cry It Out
Step 1
Pat your baby on her back, tell her goodnight and leave the room immediately after you place her in the crib.
Step 2
Wait five minutes, and return to the crib to once again pat your baby's back and say a few comforting words before leaving the room.
Step 3
Wait 10 minutes, and return to your baby to pat her back and tell her goodnight again before you leave the room.
Step 4
Continue this process, extending the time you leave her alone by five minutes each time, until she falls asleep.
Step 5
Extend the amount of time you leave her alone by a few minutes each night. According to WhatToExpect.com, babies usually cry less each night until they learn to fall asleep alone sometime during the first week of training.
Tips and Warnings
- Consistency is vital regardless of the method you choose. It can be very difficult to hear your baby cry, but if you are serious about not rocking anymore, you should stick with the process to avoid undoing any progress. If both mother and father are available, it may be helpful for you to take turns soothing your baby. You may both be less emotionally drained if you get a chance to step away from the situation for a while.
- If your baby is less than three months old, talk to his doctor about what, if any, method you should use. Babies may not have the ability to sleep through the night and self-soothe until they are three to six months old.
