How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night
- 1). Establish a bedtime routine and stick to it. Give your baby a bath, have a last nursing session or bottle, read a story, say a personal, meaningful goodnight to each of your baby's 47 stuffed animals 'whatever. It doesn't really matter what your ritual is, as long as it's soothing, not stimulating, and you're consistent.
- 2). Incorporate a "cuddly" into your routine. Maybe your baby has already developed a special attachment to a stuffed animal or a blanket. If so, use it. If not, try to foster such an attachment by carrying around the blanket (or whatever) as you go through your routine.
- 3). Put your baby in her crib when she is sleepy but still awake. Your baby needs to learn how to get herself to sleep. If she becomes accustomed to falling asleep while you are nursing her, rocking her, patting her back and/or singing your sweetest lullaby, she'll be put out (to put it mildly) if she wakes in the night and that comfort is (*sob*) gone.
- 4). If your child cries when put to bed awake, don't pick her up! Some experts advise you to stay in the room so your baby doesn't panic, thinking she's been deserted. Others advise leaving the room but returning at regular intervals (five to ten minutes is commonly suggested), to speak softly to her, rub her back briefly (but don't take her out of the crib!) and then leave again. You'll have to decide which approach works best for you and your baby.
- 5). If she wakes during the night and cries, go to her, but don't pick her up. Do a quick diaper change (preferably with her still in the crib) if you have to, then settle her back down and leave the room. Repeat the process of going back into her room every ten minutes or so, until she falls asleep on her own.
- 6). If you stick to this routine religiously for three to four nights, she should cry a little less each night and then finally, learn to settle herself into a long, peaceful slumber.
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