Care

Baby Sleep Guide

All you need to know about baby sleep patterns, habits, and safety

By the editors of Parenting magazine, Parenting
 
 
See Also
Getting your baby into a sleep routine that benefits both of you - Parenting.com
Which sleep method is right for you? Take our quiz and find out - Parenting.com
Middle-of-the-Night Tips and Tricks for when he goes to sleep but doesn't stay asleep - Parenting.com
Where does your baby spend the night? - Parenting.com
From catnappers to crib-revolters, how to get your baby down - Parenting.com
Sleep expert Richard Ferber clears up rumors about your baby's sleep, "crying it out" and co-sleeping - Parenting.com
Newborn and young babies sleep a lot, but not in long stretches. Here's how to get him sleeping for longer periods of time. - Parenting.com
Helpful tips to help ensure that everyone in your family is getting as much sleep as possible - Parenting.com

Baby sleep soothers

Can't get your baby to sleep through the night? Try these:

 

Swaddle

Being wrapped tightly helps newborns feel secure. To swaddle your baby:

* Fold down one corner of a square receiving blanket  -- lightweight cotton flannel works best  -- and place your baby in the middle, her head above the fold.

* Pull the left side of the blanket snugly across her body, making sure her right arm is across her chest or by her side.

* Bring the bottom of the blanket up over her feet, tucking the tip under the fold right below her neck.

* Place her free arm against her side; fold the other end of the blanket over her body.

 

Massage

Babies and toddlers who are massaged for 15 minutes before bedtime fall asleep sooner and are more likely to sleep through the night than those who are rocked to sleep, according to studies from the University of Miami's Touch Research Institute.

 

Let her suck her thumb

(or give her a pacifier after she's a month old). It's her way of soothing herself  -- which is key to helping her learn to fall asleep on her own  -- and studies show it may be protective against SIDS.

 

Provide loveys

Transitional objects like a teddy bear or blankie help make bedtime less lonely for babies. The AAP doesn't recommend that babies sleep with loveys in the crib until they're 1, so remove them after she's asleep. But if your baby rolls over regularly (usually at around 5 months old), she's capable of moving away from a suffocation hazard, so there's less risk of SIDS. A small, crib-size blanket is also fine for a baby 6 months and older, who can push it off or crawl from under it.

Jump to: Baby Sleep Basics | Baby Sleep Soothers Baby Sleep Strategies | Baby Sleep Safety



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