How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Through The Night

Waking up at midnight, then again at 2 am, finally at 4 am, you bring the baby into your bed, begging for just 2 more hours of sleep. This is the reality for many parents, but it doesn't have to be. Sleeping is a vital part to your physical and mental health. Just because you have a new baby doesn't mean you no longer get a good night's sleep. My following these simple steps, you could be sleeping through the night in no time!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• a dark room
• a lullaby CD
• CD player
• a crib
• your baby

1. At first your new baby will wake up every couple of hours to eat. This is perfectly normal. Feed your baby when he wakes, and put him back to sleep. When your baby sleeps during the day, take the opportunity to rest yourself, the laundry and dishes can wait until you're a back to a normal routine.

2. After your baby has ate and burped, turn off the light and put on a lullaby CD. Not too loud, just enough to drowned out other noises in the house.

3. Hold your baby, and gently sway back and forth, patting his back as you listen to the music. Try not to make eye contact, so he will close his eyes. Eye contact is great, but it you do it now, he will have trouble closing his eyes and think it is time to play.

4. Listen to one or two songs, then gently lay your AWAKE baby down in his crib. Give him a pacifier if he takes one. Continue to pat him gently... slower and slower, lighter and lighter until you are no longer patting.

5. Slowly step out of the room. If your baby wakes up, let him cry for a minute or two and then go back in and pat him again. DO NOT pick him up and DO NOT talk to him. Keep the lights off, and remain quiet and calm.

6. Continue steps 5 & 6, until your baby no longer wakes up. If your baby wakes during the night, repeat steps 7 & 8. The goal is to be able to put your baby down awake, and leave the room before he falls completely asleep.

7. If your baby is under 4 months old, he may still need to eat once throughout the night. It should be at least 4 hours after he went to bed. When you feed him, make sure to keep the lights off, put the CD back on, and do not talk to or make eye contact with him. After your baby has eaten, repeat steps 5 & 6.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't give up, every baby is different! Make sure everyone is on board; your spouse, grandparents and babysitter.

[kimmij]

on 6/18/2009 Where was this article about how to get your baby to sleep through the night five years ago?!!! lol Awesome! 5*'s