Babies come with their own sweet joys and also bring exasperations to the new parents. It’s not uncommon to see bleary-eyed parents complaining about a lack of sleep. Babies function on a different biological clock, one that is programmed more to keep the parents awake at night rather than getting some sleep for the baby.

The sleep pattern of a baby gets set during the early days when they experience erratic sleep patterns. Parents rock them to sleep and babies come to expect being rocked to sleep every time they are in their parent’s arms or after a session of breastfeeding.

So, in order to cultivate a proper sleeping habit in your baby, do not allow him to fall asleep in your arms. The best place for your baby to get sleep is in his bed, so inculcate in him the habit to sleep independently. However, ensure that he does not get deprived of his mother’s touch and in fostering an independent sleeping habit the bond between mother and touch that is formed by togetherness and touch during the early days does not get strained. Place the baby on the cot sleepy but awake.

Set a routine for the baby, babies need a lot of sleep and if they can have a pattern or a routine then you can work out your schedule according to their routine. Place the baby to sleep at the same time every night; soon the baby will learn to fall asleep on his own at that particular time. Encourage the baby to fall asleep independently after around 3 months.

As far as possible put the baby to sleep on his back, it is the only known way to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Keep the baby’s sleeping area clear of soft toys and blankets. The baby’s cot should not be very soft, it should be firm and you should use a safety-approved crib mattress. Give the baby a good sleeping area and get him to follow a routine, soon you will be able to get back your night’s rest.