Should you let her cry?
You thought your baby would be asleep by 8 p.m., but at 10 p.m. she's still fussing for no reason apparent to you. Should you let her cry it out? The short answer is No when the baby is less than six months old. Child-care experts agree that very young babies can't distinguish between needs and wants. Their cries are vocal solicitations for any number of needs, some that are obvious, like a clean diaper, and others that are not so easily discerned, like comfort and love. They shouldn't be ignored.
Establishing a schedule
Although your baby's sleeping and feeding schedule may still be a little erratic, you can start some routines that will have some positive effect now and will pay off later by making your life much easier. It's never too early to establish a schedule for your little one.
A regular sequence of events is particularly important at the end of the day. A bedtime ritual is indispensable for encouraging sleep -- have a parade of predictable events such as bathtime, story time, and a last feeding. Keep the nighttime feeding very quiet and low-key, to prepare your baby psychologically for sleep. Dim the lights, speak and sing softly.
Sleeping through
For most parents, the first time their baby sleeps through the night is a major milestone. This much-heralded event occurs on average at three months of age. About 10 per cent of infants sleep through the night at one month of age, and an equal number won't sleep through until about six months of age. But it's important to realize that these statistics refer to the first time, not when the child sleeps through the night as a regular occurrence. Take note: Sleeping through refers to a sustained sleep period of at least five hours.
