Most new parents experience most of their problems at bedtime, when it’s time to put the baby to sleep. Many newborn babies are fussy at bedtime and don’t like being away from their parents for long periods of time. There is a great deal of advice on baby sleep problems available to parents, of varying quality; the main problem is that what works for one family may not work for the next. A general rule of thumb is to remember that when it comes to baby sleep problems, the more specific the advice, the less likely it is to apply to your own baby.

I’ve put together some tips to help both baby and parent get a restful night’s sleep. Due to the general nature of these points, they should be applicable to most families.

• Try to establish a relaxed bedtime routine, with a set pattern that the baby can learn. This should be fun, with time set aside for little rhymes and songs for the baby as she gets ready for bed. Babies love routine and feel safe, happy and calm with a familiar pattern at bedtime.
• Routine is important for the whole family, not just your baby. As a parent, it’s important to have some time to yourself in the evenings to relax or catch up on things. However, don’t worry if the routine doesn’t work one day, and don’t be tempted to change anything…just start over the next day! This is the only way a set routine can be established, and it can take weeks or even months. Perseverance is key.
• Don’t expose your baby to anything too lively or energetic that stimulates or excites him just before bedtime.
• Set your night’s activities in the same order each night, when practical. Mealtime, bathtime, playtime, and bedtime is an order that works well for most families.
• Always try to keep things quiet and relaxing before bed. Newborn babies need food, warmth, security, and comfort. It sounds obvious, but try to make sure your baby doesn’t need anything before trying to soothe him; otherwise, she will inevitably return to serve them very soon.
• Try to create a relaxing environment in the room when you put the baby to bed. The lights should be dim (lamps or night lights are better than the main lights) and the background sounds should be soothing and relaxing. A CD of lullabies or baby songs can be great for setting the perfect bedtime environment. Songs should be slow tempo, preferably natural, acoustic sounds and low volume.
• You should try not to pick up your baby at the time he begins to cry at night. It is better to check them and see if they can install themselves; after all, this is what you’re eventually working on.
• However, contrary to some advice, if your baby really doesn’t want to settle in, it’s perfectly fine for you to pick him up. Soothe him for as long as necessary, but it’s important to resist the urge to play or entertain him. Try to calm and reset.
• If the baby still won’t calm down, don’t be tempted to bring your baby over to see everyone else in an attempt to comfort them. This is likely to make your baby overly excited when she sees what she’s missing by being in bed!
• Let your baby get used to being in his own crib. The more time a newborn baby spends in her crib environment, the safer and happier he will be in her, even when he is left alone to sleep.
• Regardless of the room environment before you settle your baby, playing a CD of baby sleep songs is one of the most effective ways to lull your baby to sleep. There are several good quality CDs available that contain soothing baby songs. Natural acoustic sounds like scintillating harps and pianos, soothing vocals and slow tempo are great for creating a soporific effect on your baby.
• Be careful though, as there are many lullaby CDs available that are not suitable for bedtime; that music can have the opposite effect. Avoid any obviously electronic sounds and impact instruments like drums and other types of percussion. Complex arrangements are also not recommended, as they can overexcite your baby’s cognitive processes, creating activity in the brain. Bass sounds are excellent, as long as they are warm and natural, with a minimum of staccato. Try to find a lullaby and baby song CD that works for you; More and more families are turning to baby songs and lullabies for sleep as a cure for their babies’ sleeping problems.
• As a professional music therapist, the baby lullaby CDs that I have found most effective for the widest range of families are My CD of lullabies by Quality Children’s Music (QC Music). My CD of lullabies it uses 100% acoustic instruments, with scintillating harps, simple arrangements, and a well-thought-out song list containing delightful lullabies and baby songs. The voice, from the singer Sara Mullet, is absolutely beautiful; she is very reminiscent of Julie Andrews and incredibly calming and motherly. As a bonus, Ella’s Lullabies and Baby Songs use a variety of Mozart Therapy techniques to provide learning benefits that help with your baby’s development.
• I have recommended My CD of lullabies many families with infant sleep problems, and a fairly staggering percentage find CDs to be fully effective within a couple of weeks. However, simply playing the CD from time to time will not have the desired effect. When played regularly, specialized baby sleep songs have a cumulative effect; In order to enjoy the full benefits of these lullaby CDs, your baby needs to get used to listening to songs and lullabies as a basic part of her bedtime routine. Also, it should be close enough to create a sense of security, without distracting the baby from sleep.
• As a final point, always remember that each baby is unique; There are no hard and fast rules. Whenever possible, follow her parental instincts and try to do what feels right to you. its baby!