You can lead a baby to a bed, but you can't make him sleep. This fact can make many parents feel helpless and frustrated. However, parents may not realize that creating the right conditions for sleep and consistently signaling sleep expectations is all that is needed to teach their baby how to fall asleep in her crib, explains the website AskDrSears.com.
Step 1
Make the baby's room an environment conducive to sleep. It should be dark, cool, quiet and free of things that may stimulate or excite the baby. AskDrSears.com states that a humidity of around 50 percent and a temperature of around 70 degrees is best for sleep.
Step 2
Be on the lookout for signs of tiredness. A noticeable decrease in activity, yawning, rubbing eyes or getting fussy are all signs that your baby may be getting tired. Working with your baby's internal clock will make the entire process much easier and increase the likelihood of success.
Step 3
Develop a bedtime routine--although it may seem that a routine will not make a difference for a baby so young, and that may be true initially. However, having a bedtime routine established early on will teach your baby to anticipate that bedtime is coming. Some ideas of things that could be included in a bedtime routine include bath time, diaper change, bedtime nursing or bottle, rocking, cuddling, singing or even reading a book.
Step 4
Place the baby in the crib when drowsy, but still awake. Many parents make the mistake of waiting until the baby is completely asleep before putting the baby in the crib. However, this will not teach the baby how to fall asleep alone and unattended, and may cause the baby to wake up more frequently throughout the night, explains the Mayo Clinic.
Step 5
Be consistent. There are many theories about getting a baby to sleep. Some believe that it is best to allow babies to "cry it out" until they fall asleep, others believe its best to respond right away and still others fall somewhere in between the two. Consider your own values and opinions about the subject, choose the option that meshes the best with those values and then stick to it. Rushing in at any little peep one night, and then allow the baby to cry it out the next will only make the process more stressful and difficult for you both.
Step 6
Be patient. Some babies may make the association between the crib and sleeping quickly, while others may have a more difficult time with it. However, if you stick with your plan and keep putting your baby to bed in the crib night after night, the baby will eventually make that association.
Tips and Warnings
- White noise machines, swaddling blankets and pacifiers may all help calm your baby and aid in the sleeping process.
- Always put babies to sleep on their backs and avoid blankets and loose bedding to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
