How to Sleep Train Your Baby

Getting your baby into a consistent sleep routine can be challenging but also rewarding. Sleep training your baby will help to create a structure for both baby and the parent. Establishing regular sleep patterns promotes better physical and mental development for your baby and can make your life much easier.

Though there is no magical answer to the age old parenting question of how to get your baby to sleep, there are several techniques that can be utilized in order to both improve quality of sleep and bedtime routine.

Implementing a sleep routine is critical when it comes to training a baby to sleep. This will help create quality sleeping patterns as well as healthy sleep habits, and will eventually lead to your baby sleeping longer at night.

Establish a Bed Time Routine

Creating a bedtime routine will help to focus attention away from sleep, and towards activities that are calming. When creating a bedtime routine, some examples of activities to include are providing a bath, playing calming music, feeding the baby, and reading a book or telling a story. The consistent routine signals to the baby that it is time to go to bed.

This should be done at the same time each night, and should consistently last around 30 minutes. It is important to create an environment that will encourage your baby to fall asleep. This would include dim lights, no distractions, and a comfortable and peaceful atmosphere.

Create a Sleep Environment

When your baby has grown accustomed to a certain bedtime routine, you can then begin to figure out where the baby should be sleeping. It is important to create a peaceful environment, free of distraction, and that promotes quality sleeping for your baby.

If you are utilizing a crib, it is important to make sure all the safety measures are in place. Make sure there is a secure matress, and the crib is in a comfortable temperature. Also be sure to keep the room as dark as possible, and make sure to remove any clutter to limit distractions.

There are also other sleeping options that many parents have success with, such as co-sleeping, or sleeping in a bassinet or rocking cradle near the parents’ bed. Some babies also respond well to sleeping in a swing or baby rocking chair during the day.

Create a Napping Schedule

It is important to also establish a napping pattern. Your baby may not require that much sleep during the day, especially as they grow. It is usually recommended that babies under 6 months should nap 3-5 times a day for around 15-30 minutes each time.

As your baby grows, they will go through phases where their nap offerings can change, such as being only 2 naps per day. You should also pay attention to signs that your baby is getting sleepy, such as eye rubbing, in order to adjust your nap schedule.

Useful Tips

• Create calming environment by dimming lights
• Provide an establised bedtime routine to signal to your baby that it’s time to sleep
• Create a sleep environment that will promote better quality sleep for your baby
• Follow safety measures when choosing sleeping environment, such as crib, swing, bassinet, or co-sleeping
• Create a regular napping schedule based on your baby’s age and needs.

Conclusion

Sleep training your baby can be a difficult yet rewarding process. Having regular sleep patterns will greatly benefit both parent and baby. With experimentation and patience, you will be able to find the best sleep routine to suit you and your baby.