Start Establishing a Bedtime Routine

from Minnesota Extension Service University of Minnesota

Many 8 month-old children have trouble settling down to sleep. They're so excited about sitting, creeping, crawling and exploring that they don't want to go to bed! Parents need time to themselves. Don't feel guilty about wanting to enjoy some peace and quiet, or some time with your partner. Baby's bedtime is your decision.

Here are a few tips to make bedtime easier:

• Always put baby to bed at around the same time.
• Put baby to bed in the same room in which he will wake up.
• Spend some time each evening cuddling, reading, singing or talking to baby at bedtime. Routines help children settle down to sleep.
• Put a night-light in your child's room.

Some babies make a game of calling out for you or dropping toys out of the crib for you to pick up. If you don't stop these habits right away, baby may wake up a few times a night. When baby cries after you put him to bed, check on him, but keep the lights dim and don't pick him up. If baby is OK, put him on his tummy, pat his back for a minute or two, and leave.

If you try this for a few weeks and baby still wakes up and cries during the night, you may try letting her cry. Here is a way that works for many parents. Pick a weekend night. When baby cries, check on her and rub or pat baby's back, then tell her you'll be back in 10 minutes. Check on baby every 10 minutes until he falls back to sleep, even if he is still crying. It probably won't take more than a night or two to end the habit for good.

Letting baby cry like this can be hard on you. Be sure you're up to it. Baby may cry for hours. If you give in after an hour, you could be training him to cry for longer periods. The goal is to help baby learn to sleep on his own.

To go back, click your browsers' "Back Button"

or press here to return to parentingthoughts.org lists of Parenting Tips to Print Out

or press here to go to opening page