Four Great Ways to Get Your Baby to Sleep

All parents of infants know what it means to have sleepless nights. Young babies and even some toddlers wake up at odd hours throughout the night. It can be even more stressful if you have a hard time putting them down for bed in the first place. Here are a few suggestions to make putting your baby to sleep just a bit easier.

1. A soothing massage: Hey, you love a day at the spa don't you? You especially love the massage, right? It is also a great way to relax your little one. I would pick a fragrance free baby lotion or cream, and very gently rub it on my child's arms, legs, and back using a soothing circular motion. It will relax the baby so much that it is likely they will be out like a light in no time!

1. A warm bath: Right before bedtime, give your child a warm bath. Warm water is both soothing and calming. Again, avoid scented baby products that may irritate your baby's skin and cause him not to sleep well because of the irritation. Couple the warm bath with the gentle massage I mentioned previously, and you have a recipe for sleepy success!

1. Lullabies: It is wonderful if you have a beautiful singing voice and know lots of soothing songs. But for those of us who are more tone deaf, there are some awesome CD's out there that can help. Parent's has Lullabies for Baby, a great compilation of familiar tunes like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Are You Sleeping. They are set to classical music, a bonus because classical music is thought to stimulate the brain.

1. Play it Out: If none of the other tips seem to be working, you might just have a child who has lots of energy. Trust me, I have one of these. One of the best ways that my husband and I discovered to help her wind down was actually to rev her up. After dinner/ last feeding of the evening, let your child expel some energy through play, if they are old enough to do so. If he's not yet mobile, sing silly songs to him or make him laugh. If your child is already crawling, let her crawl around and play with her. If she's learning to walk, give her some great practice and let her explore the house as you hold her hand, or let her cruise from the sofa to the loveseat. After about 30 minutes, your child will probably start to show some signs of being tired. At that point, get her ready for bed and try the other tips listed above.