Getting a baby to sleep is as much art as science. You need to understand your baby's signals and what works for your child. In general, newborns average about 17 hours of sleep per day, split between nighttime and naps, a number that diminishes to about 14 hours by the time your baby is 12-months-old. Not all babies know that they need that much sleep. The experts at ParentingScience.com suggest you learn your baby's sleep patterns and develop your own strategies to get your child quality sleep. Remember that you are teaching your baby to sleep, so don't use any techniques that you don't think you'll be able to continue for the long term.
Establish a Routine
Babies usually respond well to routine. When it's time for your baby to sleep, go through the same activities each night so he knows it's time to relax and sleep. Your routine could include a warm bath, a bottle, a lullaby and then lights out or nursing, or some cuddling time and a story in a rocker and then lights out with a gentle back rub.
Sleep Readiness
About an hour before bedtime dim the lights in your home to help your baby's brain prepare for sleep. Pediatrician Dr. William Sears also recommends feeding your child well throughout the day as many babies are too busy exploring to seek food. Make daytime feeding a priority, so your baby will sleep longer though the night. Be consistent with nap times, too, he suggests, as a baby who sleeps for several hours in the late afternoon will not want to sleep for the night at 7 p.m.
Parental Soothing
Rock your baby until she is asleep or almost asleep and then put her in her bed. Once she's in her crib, gently rub her back and sing softly until she is asleep. Remain calm and breathe slowly in and out while comforting your baby, and she will relax and take sleep cues from your calm breathing patterns. An article at BabyCenter.com warns that allowing a baby to fall asleep outside the crib makes transitioning more difficult. However, Dr. Sears recommends allowing a baby to fall asleep completely before transitioning to a crib. Experiment with both methods to see which works best for your child.
Baby Soothing
Use soft music or the sound of a fan to help your baby ready himself for sleep. Babies like monotony and will lull themselves to sleep with those repetitive sounds. You can also make a lullaby tape for your baby and play it after you've left the room. When baby awakens after a few minutes of sleep, she'll be able to soothe herself with the sound of your voice.
