Five Ways to Help a Baby Fall Asleep

Play During the Day

• Your baby̵7;s daytime routine has an affect on his willingness and ability to sleep at night. Providing games and activities during the day lengthens the time he stays awake, helping him to fall asleep more easily and stay asleep. Keeping his days peaceful, including regular naps, also helps him settle down at bedtime.

Establish a Routine

• When you provide your baby with a regular bedtime and set routine, it helps her associate these activities with sleep. Determine which rituals your baby enjoys and do these activities with consistency, saving a favorite activity for last. Most babies enjoy warm baths and a soothing massage. Follow up with rocking, nursing, singing lullabies or reading. Put your baby in her crib when she is drowsy but still awake, even though she may fuss or cry a bit, so she learns that she can soothe herself to sleep.

Soothe Your Baby

• To help your baby associate sleep with pleasant activities, rock or sing to her before you place her in her crib. If she has trouble settling down, hold her or carry her in a baby sling to soothe her. Nestling with her following her nighttime feeding helps her feel secure, as well. A pacifier is beneficial for some babies. A newborn may find swaddling soothing, but your older infant may prefer loose-fitting clothing that allows her to move about.

Provide Movement

• For those occasional nights when your little one just can̵7;t settle down, movement may be the answer. If rocking or walking with him isn̵7;t enough, try a mechanical swing for repetitive movement. Some parents resort to car rides to soothe babies to sleep on those difficult nights, though most pediatricians recommend putting your baby to bed while he is still awake.

Create an Atmosphere

• Keep the atmosphere in your baby̵7;s room calm and consistent to help her associate this with sleep. Dim the lights or provide a nightlight. Keep the room temperature moderate at around 70 degrees. In the winter when heat is running, consider a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Some babies fall asleep well to repetitive sounds such as running water, a fish tank gurgling, ocean sounds or quiet music. These soothing sounds can be recorded and played at bedtime and through the night to block out sudden noises in the house that may startle or distract her at bedtime.