When kid isn’t sleeping well, it can do havoc on the whole household. Not only is your infant or toddler probably cranky, but you are too. We are all more effective and patient parents when we are well-rested and your baby or toddler will be able to learn new skills and be happier when he’s getting the rest he needs so much.
1. Sleep Routines – Children thrive on routine and with a proper nap and bedtime routine, your child will begin 
to know what to expect and likely start welcoming the next part of his day with open arms.
A typical nighttime sleep routine might include diaper change, a quiet game, breastfeeding/bottle/cup (for babies younger than 1 or 2), brushing teeth, potty (if applicable), book (or 2), singing and cuddling, and then lights out. A nap routine is usually very similar to the bedtime routine, but usually shorter (about 10 minutes).
2. Early Bedtime – An early bedtime is often crucial to a good night’s sleep for your baby or toddler under 2 years old. When babies and toddlers are overtired, he will have more difficulty falling asleep and, most importantly, staying asleep and often wake up too early in the morning. It’s counter-intuitive, but an early bedtime will lead to a more restful sleep and a later waking in the morning very often. A typical bedtime is between 6-8 p.m., but mostly based on when the last nap ends and it is important not to allow too much wake-time. When a baby does not nap well, usually bedtime needs to be even earlier.
3. Naps – The better your child naps during the day, the better they sleep at night. Again, this is counter-intuitive, but the better he naps, the less likely he will be overtired and can settle down and sleep better at night. A good nap is at least one hour. Moving sleep (such as in the car, stroller or swing) is not as restorative and should be avoided, if possible. Short naps are common up through 6 months of age and thereafter may need to be encouraged. You may be interested in knowing ways to help your baby nap or toddler nap.
4. Sleep Associations – We all associate certain things when we fall asleep such as sleeping on a pillow. If you
woke up during the night and your pillow was gone, you would most likely have a hard time going back to sleep. If you become your child’s “pillow” such that she needs to call out for you to “find her pillow” whether it’s a pacifier, bottle, nursing, rocking, etc., she will have a much harder time sleeping through the night. If she associates going to sleep a certain way, when she wakes up periodically through sleep cycles (that we all have!), she will be able to go back to sleep, because she won’t be “looking” for anything. Sleep associations are a key problem for babies having trouble sleeping through the night or napping well.
5. Lovey – It is sometimes helpful to introduce a baby lovey that your baby can find comfort in while sleeping in his crib/bed. A lovey can really be anything that comforts your baby, but you also need to be safe. Any item in the crib or bassinet, before your baby is at least one year old, should be smaller than his head and should not have anything that can come off that he can choke on. I usually recommend a small blanket that he can also suck on (particularly if he does not take a pacifier or you wish to break the habit).
