What are your top tips for getting and keeping a baby asleep?

[milkyman]

Would love to know!

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

Me too.

[iwillsleepagainsomeday]

bf and keeping him in my arms
rocking chair and keeping him in my arms

but i guess this was not the answer you were looking for

[Snusmumriken]

Bf and letting him sleep next to me.

[Janberryxx]

Hi Milkyman, I have an app on my phone called ChromaDoze which is essentially a white noise generator. It's brilliant and gets my babe's in the mood for sleep. I play it to them when I'm getting them ready for their nap/ bedtime, and when they're in their pushchair/ cots getting off to sleep. It really works!. But isn't necessarily going to keep them asleep! I have a bad nightsleeper !
Also I rock and sing them to sleep....my bonnie lies over the ocean....daisy, daisy...rocking rolling riding....twinkle twinkle little star...they love it - it works well, but I think it's the building it into a habit that really does the trick. Best of luck!

[PoppyWearer]

Feed to sleep, cuddles, back-rubbing, rocking (in buggy if needs be). Also white noise.

Sorry, my two have always been a right PITA to get to sleep, so I do whatever works!

[Janberryxx]

Oh, I just wanted to add that I try to put the babies down awake, but use the singing and rocking etc go get them all drowsy. My DTs love lying on their tummies and having their backs stroked, whilst being sung to. Then when they seem to be completely chilled, I sneak out! Sometimes they howl, but mostly they drift off!

[zoobaby]

The 5Ss of Dr Harvey Karp make an awful lot of sense and worked really well with DS. Think they are detailed in his Happiest Baby book (I ended up getting a £2 copy of his earlier book called Baby Bliss). First 3 are swaddling, shushing, swaying but can't remember the last 2 as never needed them.

[JaneLane]

Thought very useful "tips" might help... (video link)

[Zara1984]

Sleeping bag

Room pitch black, and not too warm

Swaddling before baby is big enough for sleeping bag

[Zara1984]

And shushing

[Angelico]

Harvey Karp book on 5 S's saved our marbles at the start, especially swaddling and white noise. Swaddling was especially brill for colic or when she got overtired and bonkers.

White noise is still brilliant and saves on shushing - I remember getting light-headed from shushing one time :o

Our bean likes her dummy to go to sleep and thankfully doesn't need it reinserted when it falls out when she's asleep.

Introducing a 'lovey' can help - a little bedtime toy. Read about it in no cry sleep solution. We picked a nice soft toy (present, not too soft) that is currently available and bought three more to have as spares!!! Rub it on your body to get your scent and let bean cuddle it during bedtie story, last feed etc to associate with bedtime snuggliness.

Most of all try and get them into good sleep habits when tiny especially falling asleep themselves in basket or cot - we did this from the beginning. We've had periods of sleep regression growth spurts but once they're over DD goes back to good sleep habits - so far!