Getting Baby to Sleep

"Settling" refers to the art (or science) of calming a baby down sufficiently before it will fall asleep. Every baby has a different way of settling itself down into its baby bedding for sleep, just as every baby has slightly different daily schedules; figuring out what works for your baby is the first step.

Many babies enjoy a warm bath after their evening feeding, followed by some time to cuddle and perhaps read a book before being popped into their warm baby bedding for the night. These activities help your infant settle into a calm and restful state of mind, the same way you might read a book or watch television before going to bed. Establishing and sticking to a firm nighttime routine will help your infant learn to recognize when it's time for sleep, and respond appropriately.

Setting Up Baby's Bed

Arguably the first step in a successful nighttime routine takes place long before bedtime: arranging and outfitting the cot with clean baby bedding. Setting up the baby bedding is best done in the morning, shortly after baby is removed from his cot and his day has begun. Baby bedding should be changed at least once a week, immediately if soiled or damp. During summer months, changing the baby bedding on a daily basis can help reduce the chance of baby developing rashes due to clogged pores and sweat glands.

After the baby bedding has been fitted, you may want to pick out pyjamas for the evening. Keep the weather in mind. If you have a window or room fan and you don't expect extremely high temperatures, try to make sure baby's legs and feet will be covered to prevent a chill. You can use baby bedding for this purpose as well, but pyjamas are more likely to stay put throughout the night.

Nighttime Routines

The nighttime routine should begin shortly after dinner. Babies under a year old should be given half an hour or more to fully digest their nighttime feeding, at which point they may be ready for a bath. Try to keep the atmosphere as calm and soothing as possible; keep loud or distracting noise to a minimum, and speak to baby in a soft and relaxed tone.

Physical contact with your baby is important in helping them to relax. Babies learn primarily through their sense of touch, and the familiar scents and hormones they receive from your body while you hold them is deeply comforting. Spend some time cuddling before tucking baby in. You could even take a blanket from the baby bedding and snuggle together with the blanket, perhaps while looking at a book; then, when the blanket is tucked back into the cot with baby, your scent will be on it.

It isn't difficult to settle your baby to sleep, and over time, they'll learn to do it themselves. The key is consistency. If it's possible to keep the same two or three sets of baby bedding in rotation, do so. Anything you can repeat - books read, pyjamas used, bath soaps and shampoos - will become a reliable sign of encroaching bedtime for your little one. Then, when their little head touches the soft baby bedding you've prepared, they'll know it's time for sleep.