Ready For Baby? How To Get Your Baby On A Good Sleep Schedule

If you and your partner are about to become first-time parents, it's time to start thinking about sleep. You know that your first few days of parenting will include some sleepless nights, but that doesn't have to last forever. In fact, with the right strategy, you can have your baby sleeping through the night in no time at all. Here are some tips that will help you get your baby into a restful sleep routine.

Start Out as a Team

Now that you and your partner are about to embark on this journey together, you need to make sure that you start out on the same page. Teamwork is essential to getting your baby on a satisfying sleep routine. Before your baby is born, sit down and work out a routine that you can both agree on. Some of the things you'll need to agree on include acceptable crying time and methods used to calm when crying exceeds acceptable time limit. When both parents are on the same page, creating a sleep routine becomes easier and less stressful.

Hit the Ground Running

Once you bring the baby home, be ready to hit the ground running. You may not have the schedule down pat for several weeks, but that's okay. You and baby will need some time to adjust to each other. However, from day one, try to implement some of the basics that you and your partner agreed upon. For instance, put your baby to bed at the same time each night and start the day at the same time each day. These early steps will help prepare your baby for their routine.

Make Bedtime Count

When it comes to bedtime, it's important that you make it count. Babies need to know that there's a routine involved in every bedtime. The first thing you should do is begin each evening with a soothing bath. Follow that with a massage and fresh pajamas. Next, swaddle your baby to avoid the startle reflex wake-ups. Finally, pat your baby gently on the their side or chest, dim the lights and leave the room.

Get With a Program

If you find that your attempts to get your baby on a sleep routine that works well, it's time to get with a program. Sleep programs, like babywise, are a great way to train your baby how to get to sleep, stay asleep, and wake up refreshed and happy.