Over the years of putting our own children to sleep and keeping them asleep, and counseling thousands of other moms and dads on various styles of nighttime parenting, here are some time-tested, proven attitudes and techniques. Most of these are applicable to infants and toddlers of all ages.

Here are a few simple tips you may want to try to get a bit more uninterrupted sleep:

1. Keep to a routine. If your baby wakes up late in the morning to help make up for some of his late nights, begin waking him at an earlier time each day to help encourage him to get the sleep he needs at night — when the rest of the household sleeps.
2. Put baby in bed while awake. Yes, they can go to sleep by them selves if not hungry! This you should do both at night and every time your baby takes a nap at day time. During his first weeks your baby will probably fall asleep at your breast every time he nurses (or with the bottle). Don’t worry about it.
3. Increase daytime feeds. Feeding your baby more often during the day will allow him to meet his nutritional needs at a time more convenient to you.
4. Sleepy Sounds. The calming, repetitive sounds of traditional lullabies recall the ‘womb music’ your baby heard before birth (your heartbeat, and fluids whooshing through the placenta). Baby music that incorporates elements such as the rhythm of the maternal heartbeat or ‘white noise’ has remarkable soothing effects, especially if played continuously through the night.
5. A light cotton cloth over the eyes. I know many babies that fall asleep almost instantly if their face is cover by a very thin cotton cloth. I suppose it helps them shutting out distracting visual impressions.
6. Choose a well-lit area for your baby’s naps. This will help encourage shorter naps, which in turn may help your little one sleep better at night.
7. Stuffed animal or blanket that smells MOM. Mom and milk is usually what babies want when the most waking up. With a stuffed animal with your smell on it, he might not feel as lonely when waking up in the middle of the night. Put the animal close to your body for a few day and nights and then give it to your baby every time he goes to sleep.
8. A Magic Touch. Silent nights could be at your fingertips: Research from Miami University showed that infants and toddlers who were massaged daily for one month, for 15 minutes prior to bedtime, fell asleep more easily by the end of the study.
9. Avoid using Aids to Help your Baby Sleep. Many exhausted parents resort to external aids to get their babies sleeping (for example, constantly using a pacifier, driving your baby around, and rocking or nursing your baby to sleep). Though your baby might initially fall asleep sleep quicker with these external aids, you are ultimately making your job much more difficult. The problem is that it helps you avoid teaching your baby how to fall asleep alone. Instead, take the time to get your baby falling asleep without any help, and he will fall asleep faster and sleep

10. Waking up Throughout the Night. Most, if not all, babies wake up several times throughout the night. Even a baby who is already sleeping through the night wakes up numerous times during the night. The key is that if your baby knows know how to fall back to sleep on his own, he won’t need you to put him back to sleep. So, don’t rush in as soon as your baby wakes up in the middle of the night. Instead, give it some time and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that your baby falls back to sleep on his own.

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. Read The Full Story…