How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Through the Night

Tired of waking two, three, four times every night to soothe your baby back to sleep? Teach him to fall asleep on his own--without a breast, bottle or pacifier to suck on, and without being rocked, cuddled or patted-and he'll probaby also stay asleep all night long.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

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.

Tips & Warnings

• Although most babies can be "sleep-trained" in three to four days, realize that it may take longer. Commit to sticking with it for at least a week, preferably ten days. Remind yourself that if you give in and nurse or rock your baby to sleep after he has cried non-stop for an hour, he's just learned how long it'll take for you to give in. The next time, he'll be willing to stick to his guns for at least that long.
• If you've really made a consistent effort for ten days and your baby still isn't sleeping well, you're going to need more resources, maybe even professional help. Luckily, there's a lot of information available. Check out the websites, books and videos listed below.
• If all else fails, consult with your doctor. She may be able to provide you with a referral to center that specializes in sleep disorders.
• This method is intended for babies who are at least two months old.
• Sleep-training isn't for every baby-or every parent. If you are truly uncomfortable with this method, follow your instincts and do what seems right to you. Consider opting for "the family bed," and keeping your baby in bed with you at night-it's a practice that has worked for many people.
• Some people will try to make you feel guilty about sleep-training your baby by trying to convince you that getting up several times a night is just part of being a parent. Don't let them! Remind yourself that it's very difficult to be the calm, patient and loving parent you want to be during the day when you're chronically sleep deprived.

[thetrigglets]

on 4/5/2009 I've done the routine thing with both my children (3.5 and 1) and it doesn't cut down on how much they wake. My son was waking up every hour plus at least three times a week until he was a year and a half and I would nurse him back to sleep until he was 14 months (conveniently when daddy came home from deployment). Now he still wakes up during the night most nights just once, but he's been know to do the three and four thing with bad dreams too. My daughter now just one is still waking three times a night. I'm so sleep deprived that I do whatever works the fastest to get her back to sleep...namely nurse her, which usually takes less then 7 minutes. I'm thinking that daddy being deployed (again) and me taking the easy way out and nursing them back to sleep has worked against getting my babies to sleep through the night. Everyone always says to do the above, but I can't take the cryi

[zackandvanessa]

on 12/26/2008 my five month old had a routine, then we moved into a new house and now she will not go to sleep until 11 or 12 at night. when we try to lay her down after shes been fed, changed and tired she just screams when we leave the room we come in every ten minutes to give her passi but we just resort back to rocking her patting her belly or whatever we can do to get her sleep my wife and i havent slept next to each other in a couple months she has to sleep with us, thats the only way she will go to sleep, call it spoiled but i want to break this habit what can we do to when this battle.

[zackandvanessa]

on 12/26/2008 my 5 month old had a routine up until four months then we moved to a different house and her routine is all messed up. we tried to lay her down when she is fed, changed and tired but she would cry when we left the room what can we do to get her adjusted to the new home and get her into a routine. Sincerely Zack, [e-mail]

[maryellen1001]

on 10/2/2008 Great ideas! I think having a consistant bedtime routine is KEY to beginning good sleep habits.

[HeatherL]

on 8/19/2008 I have a daughter that is 22months and a son thats 7months. my daughter sleeps good I put her to bed between 8-9:00 usaly its 8:30. my son is my problem no matter what i do he wakes up 1-2 times a night I never get any sleep so im dragging around all day and its like im to tierd to even work with my babys to teach them. all the advise coast money and I dont have any extra to spend it goes into diapers! I try everything and i dont know what to do. he was a colic baby the worst I ever seen and iv seen alot colic bebys I had to change his formula 10 times I have spent 25.94 on just 1 can of furmula many many times. so betwwen all the other exspenses i have i cant buy a book please send me tips @ [e-mail] pleassee thank you so much heather and eli