creating strong sleep habits — for you and for your child — is not just an important goal it’s an achievable one. there are several simple practical steps you can take to help your entire family get the nightly good rest they need. keep in mind these basic new-parent strategies for protecting your sleep and your relationship. share the workload: rotating feedings at night trading off chores — when both partners are involved in family work everyone gets a break. know yourselves: pay attention to your own natural inclinations when it comes to sleep. the night-owl of the two of you is probably better suited for the midnight feeding than the early bird. one-on-one time: it can be tempting to put every moment of attention to your baby especially new moms. nurturing your marriage is important too. find time every day to connect with your spouse. to help your child develop strong sleep skills start early with these basic habits: slow things down: as bedtime approaches quiet the activity level in the house. television music and high-octane running around can be replaced with reading and quiet play as you prepare for your child’s bedtime ritual. bath bed repeat: create a bedtime routine that you can follow nightly. maybe it’s bath then pjs followed by a book and a back rub. your child’s routine should be quiet soothing and enjoyable for you both. set that bedtime: once you’ve picked a bedtime for your child stick with it. toddlers ages 1-3 should be sleeping from 12-14 hours a night. (the national sleep foundation has recommendations for sleep amounts for children from infancy to adolescence. ) whatever time you pick remember — consistency is the key. don’t skip the naps: skimping on naps won’t make babies more apt to sleep. also it’s best to put your child when she’s sleepy not exhausted or actually asleep. this way she’s better able to develop self-soothing techniques that will help her fall asleep on her own.
what can i do to help my baby sleep better at night and keep my marriage strong?