Establishing a sleep routine can be an important part of teaching your baby how to go to sleep. Experts at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford point out that infants must learn how to put themselves to sleep, and having a routine in place from the earliest months can really ease that process. Though sticking to an established bedtime routine can be difficult at times, especially if your baby awakens frequently, it can help foster healthy sleep habits over the long term. (See Reference 1)
Step 1
Choose a bedtime that works for everyone. At first, infants will need flexibility because they are still becoming accustomed to life outside the womb. However, most children are fairly predictable, and after a few days, it should be easy to grasp around what time the baby tends to go down at night. (See Reference 2)
Step 2
Begin calming the child about 30 minutes before bedtime. Give her a bath, change her into soft pajamas and rock her in a dimly lit room. If you repeat these actions at the same time every night, the baby will begin to associate them with growing sleepy. (See Reference 3)
Step 3
Feed the baby right before bed as he is growing drowsy. The act of breastfeeding or sucking from a bottle is quite soothing for most babies, and it will ensure that the child goes to sleep with a full belly. This may keep him from waking for several hours. (See Reference 3)
Step 4
Try adding a few minutes in a wind-up swing to the mix, particularly if your baby is excitable and resistant to calming activities. This can help lull the child into sleepiness. (See Reference 3)
Step 5
Place the child in the crib while she's still at least partially awake. This part of the routine ensures that she falls asleep in her bed, which will keep her from requiring a parent's warm arms to sleep. (See Reference 2)
Step 6
Keep stuffed animals, blankets and other comfort objects out of the crib. Though these items may help the baby fall asleep, they present a SIDS risk. (See Reference 2)
Things You'll Need
- Pajamas
- Bottle
- Wind-up swing
References
- Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford: Newborn Sleep Patterns
- "Your Baby's First Year: Week by Week"; Glade B. Curtis, and Judith Schuler; 2010
- AskDrSears,com: 31 Ways to Get Your Baby to Go to Sleep and Stay Asleep Easier
