JODI MINDELL, PhD: What you want is a bedroom that's cool, that's quiet, that's dark, that's comfortable. There is this whole question about, if you're completely silent when your child's sleeping, are they going to get used to that silence and not be able to tolerate noise. We really don't know. One thing that can be helpful is running a white noise or a fan in the room to mask household sounds. However, you want to be careful, you don't want the house to be absolutely, utterly silent when your child is sleeping.
Number eight
Make the crib a safe haven for your baby.
JODI MINDELL, PhD: All babies should sleep on a firm surface. There should be very little bedding in there. You don't want to give your child a pillow until they move to a bed. And, of course, all babies should be put down on their backs to sleep to decrease the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Number seven
Have a consistent bedtime routine.
JODI MINDELL, PhD: One of the key things in getting a baby to have good sleep habits and fall asleep easily and quickly is to have a bedtime routine. You want that bedtime routine to be twenty to thirty minutes, about two to three activities which are the exact same every single night.
Number six
Make sure your bedtime routine is sleep-friendly.
JODI MINDELL, PhD: You don't want to be doing anything that's way too active, because it will stimulate them and have a hard time falling asleep. A typical bedtime routine may include taking a bath, massaging a baby, reading to a baby, singing lullabies. You want things that are soft and soothing. Now, if your baby hates taking a bath or can't sit still for books, you want to do that at a different part of the day.
Number five
Keep your baby awake until it's time to put him down to sleep.
