Many couples begin life as parents with their baby in bed with them. The advantages of cosleeping, according to KidsHealth.org, include easy access to the baby for overnight nursing and a feeling of closeness to the child if the parents have been separated from him during the day. However, at some point during the child's first year of life, most couples want their baby to sleep in his own crib. If you've decided it's time for your baby to sleep in his own crib, you'll need to teach him not only to put himself to sleep but also to soothe himself back to sleep if he wakes in the night.
Follow Ferber
Pediatrician Richard Ferber suggests placing your baby in her crib, offering some brief soothing and then leaving the baby to put herself to sleep. If the baby cries, wait a few minutes before reentering the room and offering more soothing, but do not pick the child up. Leave again, and allow the baby to cry for increasing amounts of time. Ferber's theory is that eventually your child will learn to put herself to sleep.
Embrace Sears
Pediatrician William Sears suggests an approach very different from Dr. Ferber's. Sears advises following your baby's signals during the transition period and soothing your child until he is asleep before moving him into his crib. If the baby wakes and cries, go to him and soothe him back to sleep.
Establish a Routine
Babies respond well to a routine. Before putting your baby in her crib, establish a routine that you can stick with each night. Dim the lights, give the baby a bath, nurse her or give her a bottle and then rock her with a lullaby or story. In addition, make sure bedtime and naptimes are consistent each day.
Create a Soothing Atmosphere
Keep the baby's crib in a room that is dark and a comfortable temperature. Play a recording of lullabies or leave a fan blowing through the night. Babies find repetitive sounds soothing and will use them to lull themselves back to sleep if awakened during the night.
