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Step 1
The number one tip to putting your baby to bed is creating a routine. Every night put your baby to bed the same way. Babies love rituals because they put them at ease and make them feel safe. For example, you could give your baby a bath, read her a story, and then rock her for a few minutes. Another way could be to give your baby a bath, sing it a song, turn on a favorite musical animal, and tuck him into his crib. Go with what works well for your family.
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Step 2
If you have a fussy baby that just doesn't want to go to sleep, try baby massage. Massage calms babies and helps them relax. There are many great books out on the market that teach how to do baby massage.
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Step 3
Another fussy baby technique is swaddling. Swaddling is done by laying your baby diagonally on a baby blanket with her head at one of the points. Then, holding your baby's arms to her sides, fold the right corner snuggly around your baby and tuck it underneath her. Fold the bottom corner up to your baby's chest. Last, fold the left corner snuggly around your baby and tuck it on the other side. Your baby should look like a little package with her face being the only thing uncovered. Though this would be very uncomfortable to us, new babies love to be swaddled because the closeness reminds them of the womb. If you need more information, there are many good books about swaddling techniques, so check your library.
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Step 4
Finally, always lay your baby on his back. This reduces the chance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS). SIDS is where a baby suddenly stops breathing. Research has shown that simply laying a baby on its back dramatically reduces its chances of dying from SIDS.
Comments
Traqqer said
on 5/20/2008 Good article...definitely agree with the SIDS concern. 5 stars