How to Establish a Sleep Schedule for a Baby

Doing simple things like monitoring nap time or creating a relaxing environment, will help parents during the process and will make it easier for the baby to adjust.

Here are practical things that parents can do to create and establish a sleep schedule for their baby.

Activity- Throughout the day, babies should have as much play time as possible. They should always have opportunities to explore their world which will help them develop in the future.

Scheduling activities like going to the playground or having a play date will give babies the exercise they need and will ultimately cause them to want to sleep.

Nap- Children; especially younger ones, need to take a nap sometime during the day but a parent should closely monitor and limit a nap to a certain amount of time and/or time frame.

Babies should not be allowed to sleep for long periods in the late afternoon because they will not be able to settle down for the night. Instead of laying a baby down at 3:00 pm for a nap, it should be changed to 1:00 pm and the nap should be no longer than 1 hour.

Environment- The sleeping environment should be an area of serenity; one that promotes peace and relaxation. Parents can create a peaceful environment for their baby by playing soft music, such as soundscapes, smooth jazz, or classical.

Bathing- Depending on the parent some give their baby a bath first thing in the morning while others right before going to bed. To establish a sleep schedule, parents should bathe their baby close to bed time. A nice warm bath will promote relaxation and the baby will have an easier time falling asleep.

Story Time- Regardless of the age of a child, reading is beneficial. Even if they don't understand what is being said, or can read themselves, it is still important that reading is implemented into their day.

Reading a story close to bedtime will promote relaxation which will ultimately cause the baby to fall asleep. Note: Bedtime stories should always be read in a calm and soft tone of voice.

These are just a few things that parents can do when trying to establish a sleep schedule for their baby. It may be challenging and at times difficult but the baby will eventually adjust to the new sleep schedule as long as parents are consistent and remain dedicated to the process.