You should also establish a routine for your infant that signals to him that it is bedtime. This may include giving him a bath, changing him into a gown or pajamas, feeding him, and rocking him to sleep. As he grows, this ritual may change somewhat, but you are still signaling to him that it is bedtime. Eventually, his days and nights should straighten out, and then you will be ready to encourage longer sleep patterns at night.
Routines or bedtime rituals play an even greater role as your child grows. Once your baby is four or five months of age, she should be sleeping for longer periods of time at night. She will not be eating as often as she did as a newborn, so she should not be waking up as often during the night to eat.
Babies and children thrive on routine, and while it may be unrealistic and even impossible to stick to the same schedule every day, you should make an attempt to establish regular feeding times and bed times. If your child has a daycare provider, you should let your caregiver know when you would like your child to be fed and put down for naps. You should also let your daycare provider know that you would like your child to follow as regular schedule as possible.
Sleep Problems
Some children have difficulty going to sleep, while others continuously wake up during the night. Once your child reaches four or five months of age, it is a good idea to begin placing her in her crib while she is drowsy but still awake. Children who are solidly asleep when placed in their cribs haven’t learned how to settle themselves to sleep on their own. If they wake up once they are in their cribs, they will need someone to help them get back to sleep. This can become a disruptive and tiring habit that affects both the child and the parent’s sleep.
Once a child has learned that she can cry and her parents will run to her side, she will have discovered the power she has over her parents. It is your job to break these patterns and help your child learn to comfort herself to sleep.