Teach a Baby to Sleep Alone - Establish a regular nighttime routine and wake your baby at the same time every morning. Start the nighttime routine at the same time each night, whether it's a bath, reading to your baby or singing a lullaby.
Create a cozy sleeping environment. Keep it silent if the slightest noise stimulates him, or play soothing music or nature sounds if those help to put him to sleep. Warm your baby's sheets before lying him down by briefly placing a hot water bottle between the sheets.
Teach a Baby to Sleep Alone
Choose a sleep strategy based on your family's needs, which generally fall in one of two categories: Crying It Out (CIO) and No-Tears methods. CIO methods call for the child to be put down to sleep and left alone with very brief soothing so she learns to fall asleep on her own. No-Tears methods encourage a gradual, gentler process that involves co-sleeping, rocking and soothing so the baby learns to enjoy bedtime and gradually learns to sleep on his own. Talk with your pediatrician about the best method for your family.
Stick it out. Do your best to stay with whatever method you chose until you start to see results. If you are doing a CIO method, it may be difficult to hear your child cry so much, but try to see it through at least for a week before trying another strategy.
Consult your pediatrician if all else fails. If none of the strategies are working and it is difficult to get your baby to sleep at all, there could be an deeper, underlying issue. Talk to your pediatrician about other possibilities such as colic or stomach problems. Get a second opinion if you want.
Most new parents know to expect some sleepless nights in the first few weeks of bringing their newborn home. However, after a few months of waking up several times in the night, parents may become sleep-deprived zombies. It could be time to start teaching your baby to sleep on his own without the need for constant soothing throughout the night. There are many different methods to getting your baby to sleep alone, depending on the type of approach you think would work best for him. A consistent routine and comfortable sleep environment are crucial to any method you choose. - by eHow
Label: