Health Tip: Help Baby Develop Healthy Sleep Habits

Try not to interfere with the infant's natural sleep patterns

(HealthDay News) -- It's never too early to teach infants sleep habits that will help prepare them for a lifetime of healthy sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation offers these guidelines:

• Look for baby's natural sleep patterns and when he or she starts to get sleepy.
• Place baby in the crib sleepy, but not asleep.
• Create a consistent daytime and nighttime sleep schedule, and a soothing bedtime routine.
• Make sure the environment is dark, cool, and otherwise conducive to sleep.
• Teach baby to fall asleep on his or her own and to self-soothe to sleep.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: July 30, 2012

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