Tips on getting babies to go to sleep.
We've all heard stories from those moms and dads who swear their babies slept through the night upon arriving home from the hospital. Lucky them. Unfortunately, most of us don't have such an easy time of getting babies to sleep in the first place, let alone getting them to sleep through the night.
So, first things first. Many of us have a nightly ritual that goes something like this: give baby a bottle or breast, let him fall asleep at said bottle or breast, tiptoe to his crib, gingerly place him in the crib, holding your breath the entire time and praying that he doesn't wake up. It has been my personal experience that this only works half the time at best. The other half, baby's eyes pop wide open when his head touches the mattress. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics cautions parents against letting babies fall asleep at the bottle or breast as it can allow milk to pool in the mouth, causing early tooth decay.
So what are you supposed to do?
Develop a real nighttime routine. This routine could include a warm bath, a bedtime story, some simple snuggle time with mommy or daddy, or a soft song. The most important element of the routine is that it occurs at the same time every night. Choose a time when baby is likely to be sleepy, but not exhausted. Then, put baby in his bed while he is still awake.
Will he cry? Most assuredly. It's okay to let your baby cry for a few minutes, after which you will want to go in and reassure him. Talk to him, sing to him, pat his back - do whatever helps without picking him up, if possible. If his cries are insistent and go on even after your attempts at comforting him, pick him up and rock him, walk him, sing to him, or whatever else provides comfort to him. You may have to do this several times before he finally falls asleep. The purpose of this method is not to allow your child to "cry it out," but rather to help him learn to go to sleep on his own. Your constant reassurance will let him know that he is not alone and that it is safe to go to sleep.
Eventually, he will fall asleep. After several nights of this routine, your baby should fall asleep almost immediately after hitting the crib.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends beginning a bedtime routine by the time baby is 6 weeks old. At that time, most babies can be encouraged to go to sleep on their own. However, some babies will be resistant and it may take them a few weeks to get the hang of the routine.
Be patient, be consistent, and hang in there. In time, your baby will be able to fall asleep on his own, allowing you to get some much needed sleep, as well.
You may also be interested in The Lull-A-Baby Sleep Plan.
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