parent. For the parent, an uninterrupted seven or eight hours of sleep is well needed and deserved. For the child, learning to fall asleep on her own and back to sleep when she awakens, teaches her valuable skills she will need to succeed throughout life.

A child depends on his parents to help him develop good sleep habits. In order to do so, it is important to have a sensible plan that both parents agree to and stick with. The earlier the guidelines for sleep are established, the easier it will be to prevent sleep problems in the future.

Around three to six months, many babies begin to sleep through the night on their own from time to time. Once a child has slept through the night at least once, it is possible to begin teaching her how to fall asleep on her own and continue to sleep throughout the night.

By following a few simple guidelines, parents can be on their way to a stress-free, sleep-filled night.

For babies under one year:

• Put your baby in the crib before he falls asleep in your arms. It can take 20 minutes of restlessness before a baby actually falls asleep. Do not pick him up. This will lead him to believe someone will pick him up each time he cries.
  
• During the day, do not let your baby sleep for more than 3 hours at a time. This teaches the infant that nighttime is when she sleeps the longest.
  
• Maintain a two-hour interval between daytime feedings. Feeding your baby more often will most likely lead to frequent awakenings for small feedings at night.
  
• When your baby awakens in the middle of the night, try soothing her back to sleep before offering a feeding. If this does not work and she is truly hungry, make the feeding as quick and unentertaining as possible. This will teach your baby that nighttime is for sleeping, not playing or snuggling.
  
• Do not allow your baby to sleep in your bed. A baby who becomes used to sleeping with her parents, will not want to move to her own bed.

For children over one year:

• Establish a bedtime routine. Because children need familiarity, a bedtime ritual can be very comforting. This may include eating dinner at least one-half hour before bed, taking a warm bath, and putting on a fresh diaper and clean pajamas, and reading a bedtime story. When establishing the routine, add one element each week until you find a routine that works. Be sure to complete the bedtime routine before your child falls asleep.
  
• Insist that once your child is put to bed, he must stay there. This can be difficult at any age. If your toddler is having a temper tantrum, you should ignore it and leave the room. By responding to protests, you will only teach him he can prolong his bedtime.
  
• Never ignore a child's nightmares or bedtime fears. Everyone has four or five dreams each night, some of which may be nightmares. Always reassure your child. If nightmares continue, consider what might be causing the fears, such as something on television. Consider eliminating television at least a half-hour before bedtime.

Contact your child's physician during office hours if you are unable to find a way to soothe your newborn's crying, continual crying continues beyond 4 months, or if you have other concerns. However, if your baby cries constantly for more than 2 hours or acts sick, call his or her physician immediately.