How to Get a Baby to Sleep

You just put her down for a nap, and now she's awake and crying again. You could let her cry it out, or try these ideas to get her back to sleep.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Baby Slings
• Baby Bathtubs
• Baby Blankets
• Baby Bouncers
• Baby Monitors
• Baby Swings
• Strollers
• Fans
• Night Lights
• Jazz CDs

1. Rock your baby. Most babies enjoy rocking and cuddling as part of their bedtime routine.

2. Nurse your baby. Babies love to fall asleep while breast-feeding; in fact, sometimes it's hard to keep them awake long enough to finish a meal. But don't let this become such a habit that your baby will never sleep without nursing first.

3. Swing your baby. Mechanical swings or rocking cradles can calm fussy babies and help them drift off to sleep.

4. Swaddle your infant. Many newborns enjoy the feeling of being snugly wrapped - though others don't enjoy being swaddled.

5. Dance with your baby. A good lullaby or smooth jazz CD, a dark room and a slow dance often send a baby to sleep.

6. Bathe your baby. A warm bath about an hour before going to bed is a great way to relax your baby and help her sleep.

7. Go for a drive or walk. Many babies who resist falling asleep in a crib or bed will happily drift off in a car seat in a moving vehicle, in a sling or frontpack, or in a stroller or carriage.

8. Read, talk and sing to your baby. Even if she's too young to understand the words, the gentle rhythms of your voice may help her get to sleep.

9. Turn on a fan or other source of white noise. The steady buzz of a fan, or even the static from a baby monitor with the transmitter turned off, can help a baby tune out other sounds.

10. Do laundry. The gentle vibration and white noise of a laundry room often help a baby get to sleep. Some desperate parents even put the baby in her car seat on top of the dryer.

11. Develop a routine. Mealtime, bath time, cuddle time and story time will naturally lead to bedtime once your baby gets used to the pattern.

Tips & Warnings

• Some babies are night owls by nature. If your baby is like this, don't worry about enforcing a 6 p.m. bedtime. If she falls asleep at 9 or 10 p.m., she may sleep later in the mornings, giving you time to yourself at the start of the day.

• Get opaque blinds for the room where your baby will sleep. This will help keep the room dark for naps and ensure that your baby doesn't always get up with the sun.

• Avoid leaving your baby in a swing for too long; extended periods of sitting upright can hinder spinal development in young babies.