Practical Tips For Finding A No-Tears Solution
To Putting Your Baby To Bed
Encourage your baby to
get plenty to eat during the day.
He'll learn that daytime is for eating and
nights are for sleeping.
He'll be less likely to wake up hungry in the wee
hours.
Establish a regular nap schedule.
A consistent sleep routine during the daytime helps regulate nighttime sleep.
Don't fall into the trap of keeping your baby awake so he'll be more tired.
Put your baby to bed on
the early side, such as 6:30 or 7:00 pm.
An overtired baby may actually have a harder
time getting to sleep.
Some experts say babies who go to bed earlier sleep
longer, too.
Make changes slowly.
If
your baby's on a later schedule, don't suddenly move bedtime from,
say, 9:30 pm to
7:00 pm. Make bedtime a little earlier each night until
you reach the time
that seems best for your baby.
Find a soothing bedtime routine and stick to it.
For example, a bath, then a book, then a
lullaby, then bed,
at the same time every night.
Develop some "key
sounds," as Pantley calls them,
to signal to your child that it's time for
sleep.
A sound could be a simple "ssshhhh" or a softly spoken phrase
like
"It's sleepy time." Repeat the sound or phrase when you're
soothing
your child to sleep or back to sleep so he'll associate it with
bedtime.
Create a comfortable
sleep environment that's tailored to your child.
Some babies need more quiet
and darkness than others. Recordings
of soft music or nature sounds or the
sound of a gurgling aquarium
can be soothing. Make sure the sheets are cozy
(warm them with a
hot water bottle or a microwavable heating pad, for example,
before
laying your baby down) and that sleepwear doesn't chafe or bind.
Younger
babies may sleep better when swaddled.
Don't overdress your child or overheat
the room.
Don't respond to every
noise your child makes.
Learn to distinguish a real cry from a sleepy whimper.
If you're not sure,
it's okay to wait for a minute outside the door so you
won't disturb him if he's actually asleep.
From www.babycenter.com