How to Put a Baby to Sleep

You've just had a baby. You love every waking moment you have with your baby, but you'd also like some quality sleeping moments for both you and your baby. Putting a baby to sleep is something that can be achieved by following a few steps. These tips are beneficial for anyone watching a baby.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An awake baby
• A need to put the baby to sleep

1. 
   infant bathtub

   Give your baby a warm bath. Babies love to play in water and the playtime may tire your baby out. Warm water is soothing to the baby, and can help relax your baby so he is feeling content when you finally get your baby out of the tub, into warm clothes and are ready to put your baby to sleep. Don't forget to put lotion on your baby after his bath, the massaging motion will help relax your baby for sleep.

2. Change your baby's diaper. If you have just given him a bath, this is a no-brainer. But if you didn't have time to bath your baby this evening, at least make sure his diaper is dry.

3. 
   baby swaddled

   Once your baby is washed, diapered and clothed, place him in a swaddle position in a receiving blanket. Place the receiving blanket down on a flat surface, turn down one corner of the blanket, and place your baby's head at the top of the turned-down corner. Turn the bottom corner of the receiving blanket up onto your baby's feet, then take the left-hand corner and turn it towards the baby. Lastly, turn the right-hand corner over the left-hand corner. Your baby should be snug in the blanket - enough that he can move around if need be, but tight enough that he feels cozy and safe in his swaddle.

4. 
   mom holding baby after feeding

   Ready a night-time feeding for your baby. Many babies fall asleep while nursing, so regardless if you breast feed your baby or bottle feed your baby, holding your baby and giving him warm milk will help to put your baby to sleep. Don't forget to burp your baby before finally putting your baby down to sleep. If your baby finishes his nursing and still isn't asleep, you can give him his pacifier to help soothe him to sleep.

5. 
   baby sleeping

   You can lower the lights in the room you are in to set a relaxed ambiance for sleep. Sit in a rocker while feeding your baby, play soft music for your baby while he nurses. Once your baby has fallen to sleep, hold him a bit longer before putting him in his crib for the night.

[gahazeleyes]

on 5/22/2009 Thanks for a nice article.

[crazycatlady]

on 3/4/2009 These are great tips. Thanks.