How to Get Your Baby to Sleep Every Night

It's important to treat each situation separately and to deal with each baby as an individual. Establishing a good routine is crucial to a child getting a good night's rest, even if it seems nearly impossible to do so. Parents can help establish a routine by continually doing the same things at the same times each day, even if the child doesn't want to. Eventually, the child will begin to expect that certain things will happen throughout the day. Establish a bedtime routine that lets the child know that he or she can expect to go to bed when everything has been completed. Give the baby a bath and dress him or her for bed. Read a story or sing a lullaby. Feed and burp the child so that they are relaxed and all needs have been met.

One to two hours before bed, everything should become darker in the house. Don't keep a lot of lights on or music or television turned up loudly. The volume should go down and lights should be dimmed, so that the child knows it is close to bedtime. White noise may help, such as a fan, in the child's room. This will also help block out noises outside of the child's room and will automatically make the child feel sleepy.

Make sure the child has full days with lots of stimulation and interaction. If a child isn't worn out, he or she will most likely not want to go to sleep. Naps should be at the same times each day and parents should establish a bedtime.

When it's time for bed, a parent may do everything that he or she can and the child may still struggle against going to sleep. If all needs have been met and the child continues to struggle against being put in their crib, put them in anywhere. Cover the child up and talk to him or her in a soft and soothing voice, explaining that it's time to go to bed now. Give the child a kiss and leave the room. The child may cry for a few minutes. If the crying persists, the parent can go in, leaving the child in the crib, but making sure all is well and safe with the baby. Give the baby a kiss and say goodnight again. Don't return to the room more than two or three times and give the child at least 10 or 15 minutes in between visits before returning. After the last visit, leave the child be to cry it out until they fall asleep (even if you have to stand outside the door). There comes a point in every parent's life when they have done everything they can for the child and the child is safe, but is still unhappy. It can be heartbreaking for a parent to hear, but the only way the child is going to learn to fall asleep is to do it. If possible, when the child wakes up in the middle of the night with a dirty diaper, change the diaper in the crib and don't remove him or her unless necessary.