tips for mom that actually work

thought new moms might like these tips im trying them out myself and the one iv tried has already worked

That newborn of yours took a while to figure out the difference between night and day -- and you expected this. But you didn't anticipate that his whole first year could leave you feeling like you got a job working the graveyard shift. If sleep deprivation has you weeping into your coffee mug, take heart: It's possible to put an end to those 2 a.m. wake-up calls. "After 4 months, a baby's natural preference is to sleep," says clinical social worker Jennifer Waldburger, coauthor of The Sleep-Easy Solution. "He just doesn't always know how to stay asleep. But even bad habits are usually fixable in just a few days." Use our advice to sort out what's keeping your baby up at night.
Slumber-buster: Your baby loses his paci again and again, waking him often.

Sleep-through solution: By 8 months, most Binky babies have the fine motor skills to put their paci back in their mouth -- a good thing since experts say using a nighttime pacifier can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) during the first year. "Until then, your choice is either to get rid of the pacifier altogether, or to let your baby cry it out in the middle of the night," says Janet K. Kennedy, Ph.D., founder of NYC Sleep Doctor, a sleep-consultation service. She's helped many babies with this problem, including her own daughter when she was 5 months old. "From 4 to 5:30 a.m., we were constantly going to her room to put in her paci, so I finally just let her cry it out. It took a couple of days and was really brutal at first, but she was eventually able to go to sleep with a pacifier and then not need it again."
Slumber-buster: Slight noises -- even you clicking off a lamp -- wake your baby.
Sleep-through solution: Use a white-noise machine or a fan to create a gentle hum that masks other sounds. "A whooshing white noise becomes a sleep association," says Dr. Kennedy. "If you turn it on as part of your baby's bedtime routine, it'll cue her to relax and go to sleep." Don't want to buy a noise machine? Search online for "white noise MP3s" for downloadable sound tracks, like one of a hair dryer.

Slumber-buster: It's 4 a.m., but your baby's ready to play.

Sleep-through solution: If she's going through a developmental growth spurt, like learning to crawl, she may be too excited about practicing her new skill to quickly fall back asleep. Be firm about the fact that nighttime is not the time to play. "One night Alyssa awoke, wanting to cruise from one side of the crib to the other," says Stephanie Gaczewski, of Darien, Illinois. "After a few moments, I left the room. She whined a little but soon stopped." If your baby is chatting and cooing, ignore her. "Hopefully, she'll entertain herself until she decides to go back to sleep," says Waldburger. But if she's crying, your baby may be experiencing separation anxiety, which usually comes with new motor development. When this happens more than 30 minutes before her typical wake-up time, soothe her for a few minutes, tell her you'll see her soon, then leave the room.

Slumber-buster: Nursing is the only way your baby will go back to sleep.

Sleep-through solution: The one thing that seemed to soothe her colicky daughter was nursing, but before long, Jonna Rubin, of Framingham, Massachusetts, felt like an all-night diner. Finally, her pediatrician suggested putting the baby down sleepy but awake, then checking in every three minutes until she nodded off. Amazingly, she conked out after just five minutes, no feeding necessary. In fact, 90 percent of 6-month-olds can sleep through the night without snacking, says clinical social worker Kim West, author of 52 Sleep Secrets for Babies. Once you get the green light from your pediatrician to cease night feedings, you can slowly reduce them. If she's getting multiple bottles, eliminate one at a time over a four-day period. You can also try decreasing the amount of formula in each bottle. When she realizes that milk is no longer on the menu, your baby will stop angling for it.

Slumber-buster: You rush to your baby's side before he wakes his sibling.Sleep-through solution: Running to your baby the second he sniffles can make him depend on your presence to fall back asleep. But it's hard to let him fuss if you're worried he'll wake the rest of the household. Try warning an older sib in advance: "Jonah may cry at night, but he's just trying to learn to sleep all night." When the baby wakes up and so does your older child, soothe your big kid first. He's more likely to fall back asleep without a ton of added help, and you'll give the baby a chance to settle himself before soothing him. If you're in the thick of sleep training and anticipate a few grueling nights, consider sending an older sibling to Grandma's during this time.

Snooze Schedule Follow this first-year guide to your baby's nighttime zzz's to find out how many hours of p.m. sleep she needs at every age.

1 week old: 8 hours. Babies can sleep 16 to 18 hours a day. Half is at night.6 weeks: 8.5 hours. Nighttime sleep finally begins to solidify.3 months: 9 hours. You'll see a hint of a schedule. Move bedtime up.6 months: 10 hours. Now is the best time to sleep-train your little one.9 months: 11 hours. If she needs it, reteach your baby how to go to sleep.12 months: 12 hours. Still not sleeping? Ask your pediatrician for advice. Originally published in the November 2010 issue of Parents magazine.

sleep mistakes parents make 

Skipping the bedtime routineMost people need time to wind down before bed, and babies are no different. A bedtime routine will not only help your little one get into relaxation mode before being placed in his crib, but it can also serve as a wonderful bonding experience for both of you."A bedtime routine is an easy strategy that makes a world of difference in how quickly your baby will settle to sleep and how much support he'll need to fall asleep," says Megan Faure, author of The BabySense Secret. "As time- consuming or rigid as it may feel, it saves you time and energy in the long run." One hour before you want your baby asleep (6 to 7 P.M. is an appropriate bedtime for your baby or toddler), begin your routine. Close the curtains, dim the room, and prepare his bottle and story. A warm bath can help soothe him, and when it's over, take him straight to his room and dress him in the darkened room with a lullaby CD. Read a story and then feed him in your arms. Once he is finished, settle him into a sleepy state and then put him to bed awake, but drowsy.

Putting him to sleep wherever you are No one wants to be a slave to her child's sleep schedule, but the simple truth is that naps in thestroller, in the car seat, or in the high chair do not provide your baby with the sleep he needs. "Motion sleep keeps the brain in a light sleep, so the child isn't falling into a deep, restful slumber," says West.To develop good sleep habits, your baby should have a familiar sleep zone, a space where he goes to sleep for naps and bedtime at the same time each day. You can work around this rule in the case of important events and appointments, but most of the time you should stay consistent. Try to run errands in between naps. And if you are going out at night, get a babysitter or a family member (that's what grannies are for!) to help out so your baby isn't falling asleep overtired in an unfamiliar environment.

Not sticking with a sleep scheduleConsistency is key with children, especially when it comes to sleep, says West. "They need regular naptimes and reasonably regular bedtimes to regulate day and night hormone cycles--and their little hearts and minds need the predictability to feel secure."Dr. Meltzer agrees: "Sleep schedules are very important for setting our internal clocks. A consistent sleep schedule will help a child get sleepy and fall asleep around the same time every day. If the schedule is constantly changing it's like flying back and forth across time zones every night; the body doesn't know when to fall asleep. Bedtime struggles often result from an inconsistent schedule as parents may be trying to put their children to bed too early (when the child isn't tired) or too late (when the child is overtired)."Of course, there's room for some flexibility. Some days your child will nap more, and others she will nap less. "As you learn to read her sleep cues and recognize her sleep windows, you'll be able to adjust the schedule more easily," says West. If your little one is content, you've probably got a good sleep schedule going on. If she's fussy and demanding, she may need longer naps, an earlier bedtime, a later wake-up, or all of the above.

Letting them stay up late, hoping they'll sleep in It sounds like a good idea--after all, when teens go to bed late, don't they want to sleep until noon the next day? Unfortunately, that just doesn't work for little ones "Again, the internal clock is a powerful force that typically wakes young children up around the same time every morning, no matter what time they go to sleep at night," says Dr. Meltzer. "So parents who lets their child stay up late are simply asking for an overtired child the next day." Instead, keep a set bedtime to make sure your child gets the 10 to 11 hours of sleep he needs each night.And if your little one is getting up way too early (before 6 A.M.), it's probably a sign that your child is going to bed too late, so try putting him to bed 30 minutes or even an hour earlier.  Mom and Dad aren't on the same page"Parents must be a united front when it comes to improving their child's sleep," says West. "You need to agree on what tactic you're going to use to help your child learn to self-soothe and get a good night's rest. It's okay for your routines to be slightly different--Dad might like to read a few books at bedtime and Mom reads only one--but the big decisions need to be agreed upon in advance."Those decisions include what time Baby needs to go to sleep and whether you?re going to rely on any sleep crutches to get her to sleep. That means one parent can't decide rocking the baby to sleep is A-OK if the other parent doesn't want to do it at bedtime and throughout the night. Sit down together and figure out what works for both of you. And if one of you (hello, Mom) is getting up more than the other, then what makes that parent most comfortable should take precedence. Remember: Being consistent every night is imperative to the sleep process.all info from This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an 

executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fuss. executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fu This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an all http://www.parents.com/baby/sleep/issues/sleep-mistakes-baby-how-to-get-baby-to-sleep/#page=11

executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fuss.

executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fuss.

executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fuss.

This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an  This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an all info from al
executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fuss. 
executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fuss.

This advice is based on a fallacy--that babies are incapable of falling to sleep on their own. My Mom is an 
executive nanny who has often been hired solely to help infants sleep through the night. She advocates the Eat-Play-Sleep routine of the book, Baby Wise. Swaddling to give baby security also helps calm them. Never let them fall 
asleep on the bottle. Do we eat dinner in bed till we pass out? Its not good for digestion, much less, future habits. 
Feed them last an hour before bed, help them spend their energy in play, then wrap them snug and lay them in crib fully awake. They will be much less dependent on you and you won't have to disrupt the whole family by creating some sleepy-time atmosphere with reading, bathing and soft music for an hour before bed. My son is nearly one and goes to sleep on his own without a fuss.