Raising a child is a long journey with many hurdles to over come. One of the most difficult tasks is teaching your newborn to sleep through the night. It’s not only essential to the baby’s growth and development, but also essential to your quality of life for a few years’ time.

There are many tips and tricks about how to help your child sleep better. Some of them are contradicting in nature, for example, the “Cry It Out” method vs “ No Tear” method. There is no verifiable data to support either, and each baby is an individual case. The best thing a parent can do is to be informed about the basics, then through tests and trials, find out what works best for your baby.

After 4-6 months, babies would naturally want to sleep, sometimes they just need a bit of help. Here are some general tips for starting the training process.

1.Establish a regular routine for bed time

Put your baby to sleep at roughly the same time everyday, and establish a soothing bedtime routine, such as singing a lullaby, reading a story or taking a bath.

2.Set the bed time earlier rather than later

You might think putting your baby to sleep later in the evening could result in a longer sleep, but a tired-out baby may be harder to sooth and less likely to fall asleep quickly. Therefore instead of setting the bed time at 9pm, considering an earlier time between 6pm and 7pm.

3.White noise for easier sleep

Some gentle humming white noise can help your baby fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly. There are many white noise mp3 available to download from the internet. Sounds such as gurgling spring water or a turning electric fan can create a sense of calm that assist your baby’s sleep.

4.Create a comfortable sleeping environment

Lower the light in the room where your baby sleeps; make sure your baby is dressed comfortably without chafe or bind, and the room temperature is neither too warm nor too cool.

5.Stop nighttime feeding

Once you get the green light from your paediatrician, you can gradually stop nighttime feeding. If you are giving multiple bottles to your baby every night, reduce one bottle at a time over a few days, or reduce the amount of formula in each bottle.

6.Learn to distinguish a real cry

Don’t rush to your baby as soon as you hear a cry, learn to distinguish what is a real cry and what is a whimper. If you respond promptly every time, your baby won’t get the chance to learn to sooth himself or herself.

7. Take preventative measure to protect your baby from diaper rash

Apply a Paediatrician recommended Baby Butz cream before bedtime. Using Baby Butz cream will provide complete protection of your baby’s delicate skin from painful rashes. You will sleep soundly knowing your baby is protected without the use of chemicals.

For more tips on how to get your baby sleep through the night, read more at:

Parents.com, “5 Sleep-Trough-the-night Strategies”, available at <http://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/issues/5-sleep-through-the-night-strategies/?slideId=50531>, accessed on April 5 2017.