New parents often find that one of the greatest challenges they face is when their baby won’t sleep. Teaching a baby to fall asleep and stay asleep should be a top priority for new parents as sleep deprivation can lead to childhood obesity, depression, behavioral problems, illness and learning difficulties.

There are proven baby sleep techniques that can really help babies and parents find a better night’s sleep.  Here are 5 tips to help your baby go to sleep easier:

1. Develop a Baby Sleep Routine – Children thrive on routine and predictability. With proper nap and bedtime routines, a child will know what to expect and begin to welcome sleep as part of the daily schedule. A typical bedtime routine might last 20-30 minutes (possibly longer for spirited children) and include diaper and pajamas, a quiet game, breastfeeding/bottle/cup (for babies under 2), teeth brushing, potty (if applicable), reading, cuddling, and then lights out. A nap routine is similar to the bedtime routine, but usually shorter, about 10 minutes.

Your baby’s sleep routine does not necessarily need to include bath time. Parents simply may not have time or energy to bathe their child every day, and, until they are older and getting very dirty, there is no need. Second, if a child is spirited, a bath may actually do more to energize the child than calm him.

2. Schedule an Early Bedtime – An early bedtime is crucial to a good night’s sleep for baby. When babies and young children are overtired, they may have more difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep and will often wake too early in the morning. While many parents think that keeping a child up later at night will help with baby sleep problems, it is actually the early bedtime that will lead to a more restful sleep for a baby and lead to later waking in the morning.

3. Ensure Baby Takes Naps – The better a baby naps during the day, the better she will sleep at night because she is less likely to be overtired at bedtime. A good nap lasts at least one hour and is in a quiet, sedentary location, versus in a stroller, swing or car, which is not nearly as restorative. Shorter, more frequent naps are common during baby’s first 6 months. If your baby is in daycare, parents may need to work with their daycare providers to establish a baby sleep routine  and techniques to enable the baby or toddler to nap longer.

4. Avoid Sleep Associations – Babies, like all humans, have natural sleep cycles, which are periodic awakenings throughout the night. Often baby sleep techniques for new parents will involve a soothing device or action, like a pacifier, bottle, nursing, or rocking, which baby cannot replicate on his own when he awakens between sleep cycles. When baby cannot go back to sleep, he will likely cry out for Mom or Dad to help him. Baby sleep associations are often at the root of so many baby sleep problems. This is why it’s important for parents to put the baby into his bed awake, so that he falls asleep on his own and will be able to put himself back to sleep during the night.

5. Manage Baby Night Feedings – Through the first nine months, it is considered normal for babies to eat one or two times overnight. Some stop much sooner on their own accord or with just a little nudge from mom. If a baby is eating more frequently than that or she is older than nine months, Mom may want to consider cutting back (or cutting out) night feedings. All babies are different and experts disagree as to when feeding baby at night should stop. A mom knows her baby best and will be best able to determine whether she still needs to eat at night, but any more than two feedings after three months old and she probably has a sleep association with nursing or the bottle.

Everyone’s situation is unique and that what works for one family may not work for another. It takes courage and dedication to work through your baby’s sleep issues, but the time spent on teaching your baby healthy sleep habits will be worth it.

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About the Author:
Nicole Johnson is a baby sleep coach and the owner of The Baby Sleep Site specializing in baby sleep products and consulting services. She also works with Babble Soft, a premier baby software company, in order to further help new parents. Nicole is a wife and the mother of two boys. With a B.A. degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Ohio State University, Nicole has also received an honorary degree in “Surviving Sleep Deprivation,” thanks to her son’s “no sleep” curriculum. She has become an expert on infant and toddler sleep and has made it her mission to help other parents solve their child’s sleep problems, too.
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Are you watching your child closely to make sure that they are developing as they should during the first year? Are they rolling over, trying to walk or talk when they should be? Is your baby ahead of schedule or late?  Your acquaintances and family will be looking for progress reports on your baby, so be ready.

It’s important to keep in mind that each child is unique, and develops at their own speed. However most babies do progress within time frames enough of the time, to give us an idea of when they should be doing what. It is always best to check with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your baby’s development. The safest rule is to follow how your baby is progressing over time, instead of becoming concerned if they don’t follow a month by month graph. But here are some common guidelines you can go by:

Newborns: According to the American Academy of Pediatrics babies should be reacting to sounds by startling, blinking, crying or being calmed, by one week. They should be able to fix on your face, and begin to follow movement with their eyes. You will help them develop by talking, cuddling, playing and cooing with them.

Month 1:  Your baby will begin staying awake longer, and sleeping longer (three-5 hours per time). They might be a bit fussier at this stage. They will probably start to lift their heads as well. If they seem unhappy, you can help by cuddling and holding them.

Month 2-3: They may thrill you with a smile at this stage, and not one that is the result of gas! Now they can comprehend the world, and how they affect it by their behaviors. This is a cognitive growth related milestone. Your child will start to react to your stimuli, by cooing back to you.  Your child will begin to attempt lifting their heads and upper body. Give your child praise, sing and laugh with them.

 Month 4-5: This is when your child may begin to coo more, reach for things and roll from their stomach to their back. This is when you should establish a bedtime routine for your baby.

Month 6:  By this time many babies are sitting up without assistance. They are beginning to increase their motor skills by grabbing things, and placing them in the mouth, or moving them from hand to hand. Your child may want to attempt drinking out of a cup at this point.

Month 7-9:  Things get going now. Your baby may attempt to form words (such as mama or dada), and will become much more verbal now. They will start to crawl and pull themselves up to an upright position. Your baby is continuing to develop| his fine motor skills. They may also have their ‘first’ tooth about months 8-nine. Reading and playing games with your baby is wonderful for helping their development at this stage.

Month 10-12: Your child may be walking by this stage, but do not worry if this doesn’t happen until about month fifteen. They will be trying to feed themselves with their hands, wave bye-bye, search for items, and begin speaking some words other than mama, and dada.

Have an awesome time with your baby during the 1st year. Use these guidelines, but keep in mind that no two babies are the same. With your help and encouragement, your baby will develop and learn skills at their own rate. If you are concerned, always consult with your pediatrician.

Susan has been a nurse for 30+ years with expertise in many areas including newborns, and neonatal ICU.She has 3 children, and 15 grandchildren. She highly recommends Give your baby the best,surround them in comfort 
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