DO maintain a routine. Establish a schedule for baby's bedtime and stick to it. Think about incorporating a warm bath, reading, singing, tucking baby in with a favourite toy for company and even a gentle back rub.
DO be consistent. No matter what's happening around you and how cokicky baby is, stick to your guns and your routine.
DON'T add new things to baby's bedtime routine unless you're confident it will help both baby and you.
DON'T get routine crazy. It's a fine line, given the above advice, to maintain a helpful routine without becoming obsessed with everything happening at precisely the right moment. This is one of those things that parents need to work out for themselves; ever family is different and every baby has different needs.
DO keep activities relaxing. Don't over-stimulate baby before bed. Stick to one favourite toy, don't fill the crib with teddy bears and other toys.
DON'T leave the lights on. Baby needs to know the difference between nightime and day. If baby wakes in the night and it's still dark, she/he will know that it isn't time to be up yet. Leaving the light on confuses these distinctions.
DON'T put baby to bed with a bottle. Drinking milk or juice at nightime will encourage tooth decay and drinking while lying down can aggravate colic. Besides, baby needs to know that feeding is a separate activity from going to sleep.
DON'T rush baby to solids. Milk is best for younger babies, rushing them on to solid foods won't help their health or their sleep.
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