If your baby can fall asleep without your help, he must have learnt a key - he only needs to wake you up at night when he is hungry. For your child, the cradle, sucking on the breast or bottle, and trips in the pram have nothing to do with sleep. Your child will be able to fall asleep on his own, day or night. In other words, as long as your child doesn't need to drink any more milk at night - this is around the age of half a year - he will be able to sleep through the night.

　　Mum and dad catch the three keys to getting your baby to sleep peacefully on his own (MassHealth.com)

　　When should I put my awake baby to bed?

　　The prerequisite for helping your baby fall asleep on his own is to put him to bed when he's awake. But when is the right time to train your child? What should I do if my baby cries every time?

　　Never let yourself succumb to time pressure. If your newborn baby falls asleep contentedly on your chest, enjoy the moment! You still have several weeks left for your baby to gradually develop the habit of falling asleep alone. You can decide for yourself if you want to wait until your baby is 6 to 10 weeks old before you start trying; you'll know when it's the best time to kick the habit.

　　At first, you don't have to put your baby to bed awake every time. You can do it once during the day and find a time, preferably when your baby looks tired, to try. Gradually, falling asleep on your own will become a habit. It doesn't matter if your baby still occasionally falls asleep in the car, while breastfeeding or while riding in the pram. What's more, your baby can fall asleep alone and the more he or she sleeps, the better.

　　What should I do if my baby cries?

　　If your baby obediently lets you put him in his cot and after a while his eyes close naturally, you are of course not in trouble at all. But if he cries every time and struggles desperately to go to sleep, what should you do? The following suggestions are provided for your reference.

　　* Babies who move too freely can sometimes make it more difficult to fall asleep. When your baby is still very small, you can ask your carer or midwife to guide you on how to wrap your baby. For larger babies, you can achieve your goal by relying on a sleeping bag or a T-shirt worn by the mother. The T-shirt can be used to wrap the baby like a bag with a knot underneath.

　　* Some babies like pacifiers. Pacifiers are effective in helping babies fall asleep, and nowadays it is generally recommended that babies be given a pacifier to suck on. But babies should only be given a pacifier once when they fall asleep. If your baby cries when the pacifier is dropped, it's better not to give it to him.

　　*Stay with the baby. To soothe your baby, lay him down on the bed, talk to him gently and pat him gently. If he continues to cry, hold him in your arms and rock him gently for a while, either standing or sitting, then put him back to bed before he falls asleep. If he continues to cry, or if he doesn't stop crying even when he's in your arms, you can start all over again. You can also decide, at your own discretion, whether you want to stay with your baby or leave the room for a few minutes.

　　By following these principles, your baby will be able to fall asleep without much help from you. Your help will be gentle and in the right direction. I am in favour of the basic educational principle that "God helps those who help themselves" and that sleeping is something that children can do well on their own.

　　Highlights of the collation

　　Sleep safety for babies

　　You can effectively prevent sudden infant death. The point is, make sure your baby sleeps face up!

　　Good Habits

　　During the first week of your newborn's life, you can start the habit of having your baby's dinner regularly. You can help him differentiate between day and night so that he can sleep alone without you.