Establishing good sleep habits:

• Parents assume that the baby should be put to sleep only when he is tired, that way he would sleep quickly and soundly. But once babies are overtired, they find it difficult to settle, so baby should be put to sleep before he shows signs of tiredness.
• Parents need to be patient with babies who appear cranky. Many a times, putting baby to sleep earlier can make him sleep for longer.
• Swaddling helps baby snooze comfortably, most of the time they are not even disturbed during night feeds.
• There should not be any delay in establishing good sleep habits.
• Just like sleep times, wake up times are also important. If baby sleeps for a longer period during day, he might find hard to sleep at night.
• Babies should be allowed to learn to go to sleep on their own (parents should not pickup or hold till they fall asleep). This way they can go back to sleep each time they wake up during night.
• Consistency (Doing same routine at same time in same order) plays important part in baby’s daily sleep patterns.
• If a baby is having persistent sleepless nights, it is better to consult a doctor for teething pains or ear infection or similar problems.
• Caregivers or day care centers should be informed about baby’s daily routine and habits, so as not to get into any bad sleep habits.
• No two babies (or two families) are same, so there should be flexibility in deciding rules. Routines should be selected to suit the baby and the family in the best possible ways.
• ‘Cry it out’ method works for many parents. When the parents do not rush t the child every time he cries, soon he learns to go back to sleep without fuss.
• Only nighttime sleep is not enough, babies need naps. So they should be put to sleep regularly during day, even though they do not appear tired.

Devices make baby sleep soundly:

1. Many parents find some or the other household machine’s monotonous sound helpful as ‘white noise’, in making baby sleep peacefully.
2. Some parents use particular things like a small toy, mother’s nightshirt (that would smell like mother) at bedtime. Babies find comfort in it and take it as a signal to go to sleep.
3. A baby sleep sack or wearable blanket keeps baby warm all the while. As it is closed at the bottom, baby cannot kick it off and it cannot ride up to cover baby’s face.

Role of a partner:

1. If both the parents share baby duties, it would take the load off a single person.
2. If both the parents are attending to the baby, baby gets used t different ways and grows more adjustable and less fussy.