Getting a baby to sleep can seem like a very elusive task and can really test your patience, one that affects not only your growing baby, but the entire household. And because sleep is crucial to your child's development—babies who get adequate sleep become better learners—the pressure to establish a regular sleeping routine can mount quickly.

The key to making the whole baby sleep process easier is to be realistic about your goals and consider what is best for your baby, as opposed to what's easiest or more comforting for you the parent. It takes time to determine what makes your baby sleepy and when bedtime should be, but a full night's sleep can be achieved for your baby, if he or she is at least 4 months old. Keep in mind that infants younger than that naturally have more erratic schedules and often cannot sleep through the night. But for the babies and kids that are older than 4 months, you as parents should be able to enjoy a full and peaceful night of sleep. This guide, How to Put a Baby to Sleep, will help you lull your little one toward sweet dreams.

• Even when you think you know about when your baby goes to sleep at night and naps during the day, close monitoring can help you help your baby rest easy.

1. Try using a printable sleep chart from a source such as babycenter.com, to get a real handle on when your baby sleeps.
2. Closely monitoring your baby's sleep cycles will help you understand just how much sleep your baby's been getting, compared to how much sleep your baby should be getting.
3. Once you've determined when your child is sleeping, it's important to discern how he/she acts while awake. Babies who are overtired will often be clingy, eruptive or not interested in playing by themselves.http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Care/How-to-Get-Your-Baby-to-Sleep/2
4. If your baby is exhibiting these behaviors while awake, it's probably time to reassess how much sleep he or she is getting, and if bedtime is at the right time.

• What you do during the day can predict a good night's sleep, for both you and baby.

1. During the day, it's important to encourage your by talking, playing and singing, as well as exposing your baby to plenty of natural light and normal daytime activities. This contrast will lead to better sleep at night.
2. Watch your napping baby carefully. Sleeping for too long during the day may make it harder] for your baby to sleep at night.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/baby-sleep/FL00118
3. If your baby has a tendency to want to sleep after every feeding, try keeping him or her active after feedings by moving around and creating visual stimuli to keep your baby interested.
4. Although healthy babies over the age of 4 months can usually sleep through the night without a feeding, if you still opt to get yourself and the baby up during the nighttime hours for a feeding, thereby disrupting your baby's sleep cycle, try to minimize noise and light by feeding, changing and burping your baby in the dark and being very quiet.
5. Over time, you can increase daytime feedings to encourage better sleep at night http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bsleep/0,,81s5,00.html

• Establishing a bedtime routine is one of the most oft-expressed pieces of advice when it comes to babies and sleeping.

1. You can start establishing a regular sleep routine when your baby is about three to four months old.http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bsleep/0,,40g7-3,00.html
2. Creating a bedtime routine that is familiar and relaxing will clue your child into the fact that it's again time for bed.
3. Whether you bathe your child before bed, read a story or rock her for a little bit, a consistent pattern will teach your child to associate these steps with going to sleep.
4. If you play music before bedtime, choose the same songs each night to encourage familiarity with sleep.
5. Do not have your babies watch television before bed.
6. Babies between the ages of two and three months often enjoy being rocked to sleep] just before you lay them down in their cribs.
7. Slightly older babies--between the ages of three and four months should be put in their cribs while still awake, so they can "teach themselves" how to fall asleep without your constant assistance.http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bsleep/0,,40g7-3,00.html
8. Remember that if holding your baby for a period of time before sleep becomes part of the routine, your baby will need you in the middle of the night] when he wakes up and isn't sure how to fall back to sleep. So wean him off too much holding and rocking lest you be required to do it at 3 a.m. every night!
9. You should put your baby to sleep while he or she is "drowsy" but still awake.
10. It's okay if your baby cries for a little bit] or is generally fussy when you first put him or her down.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/baby-sleep/FL00118
11. Depending on the sleep methods you prefer, once you baby has been crying for some time, you will either go into the nursery and rub the baby gently on the back, or you will go in and whisper soothing words without touching the baby. The latter approach is to avoid signalling the baby that it is time to get up and that he or she is being removed from the crib, a signal that could create and all new panic and tantrum.
12. You may also try give a pacifier to your baby before sleep, which not only soothes your child, but may prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).[http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/baby-sleep/FL00118

1. Be careful not to place your sleeping infant in an area that is void of any sounds. The baby may become used to the total quiet and awaken when any noise occurs. Some new parents turn on a music box, a radio or a television set, in the vicinity of the sleeping baby. Experiment to see what works best for your child.
2. To relieve stress, try taking walks with your baby during the day. And be sure to sleep while your baby sleeps! That precious two hours is probably better spent resting than catching up on emails.
3. It's important to remember that how long or how well your baby sleeps is not a reflection of your parenting skills.
4. And remember that visitors, a new home, teething and developmental changes] like crawling for the first time will all affect your baby's sleep pattern.
5. If your baby's sleep habits are still of concern to you, it's time to contact your family doctor, who will be able to determine if there is a reason your baby isn't sleeping or might simply be able to reassure you that you're on the right track.

• New parents supposedly lose about 200 hours of sleep in their baby's first year.[http://www.parenting.com/article/Baby/Care/How-to-Get-Your-Baby-to-Sleep/2 It's not surprising, therefore, that getting your baby to sleep can be frustrating for the whole family. But with patience and a consistent routine, in time your baby will sleep for longer periods at a time, and you will be able to establish a sleep schedule that works for you and your baby. It's crucial to keep in mind that there is no right way to put your baby to sleep. It may take a while to determine the tricks that work in your household, but once you do, everyone can rest easily. For at least a few hours.

• Introduction
• Step 1: Determine a Schedule
• Step 2: Establish Daytime Habits
• Step 3: Just Before Bedtime
• Step 4: Be Realisitic
• Conclusion