How do I get my baby to start sleeping through the night?

Babies begin to learn the difference between day and night around 4 months of age, but usually need help from their parents to learn how to sleep through the night. Here are some hints for getting baby to bed:

• Remember, they’re babies: It’s generally 4-6 months before they can begin to make it through a night without being fed. Until then, they will likely need nourishment every 2-6 hours.
• Keep it routine: It’s never too early to begin a bedtime routine that is comforting, loving, and relaxing. This means doing the same thing every time. It may be a bath, a story, and then gently into the crib. It may be a story followed by rocking to soft music that continues playing after baby is placed in the crib. Whatever you do, be consistent with it!
• Read the signs: Look for your baby’s way of telling you: “I’m tired!” It may be yawning, rubbing eyes, getting restless, needing a “lovey” for comfort.
• Bed while sleepy, but awake: Allow your baby to learn to soothe herself to sleep by laying her in the crib before she’s completely asleep. This is an important skill she will use throughout life.
• Avoid the TV: TV is noisy, stimulating, sometimes scary and violent, and this can make separating from you even more difficult for your baby. It may also distract you from the one-on-one attention and relaxing activities your child needs at bedtime.
• Have a Plan; Be Patient: Plan the bedtime routine and be consistent so your baby will know what to expect. Plan how you’ll handle yourself with baby’s protests or cries so that you don’t sabotage the process: What will you do if baby cries? How will you quietly check if you need reassurance that baby is okay? And be patient because parents will have to wait and stay calm while their children are learning this important skill.