A Baby Checklist For Things You Must Do To Easily Get Her To Sleep

First-time parents and even old pros often find themselves a little overwhelmed at bedtime.

Trying to get a tiny little baby to go down for a few hours or even the night is more difficult than it looks. There are things to remember, discomforts and insecurities to overcome and even mistakes that need to be avoided.

To help parents out, we've put together a checklist of things to do before putting baby to sleep.

Some of the items only need to be done once in a while, but others require constant vigilance. If getting a good night's sleep is a priority, the basics to cover for a baby bedtime check list will fall into a few different categories.
 

Knowing When And Where To Put Baby Down

These two concerns are often big ones for new parents. There are some things on both fronts to consider.

The first thing to pay attention for on when to put baby down is not necessarily a time on the wall (at least in the first few weeks.) Pay attention to your baby for the cues.

The things to look for to help you know it's her bedtime include:

Yawning baby checklist

Loss of attention or focus

Stretching baby checklist

Eye rubbing baby checklist

When she shows the right signs, it's time to put her down. baby checklist

As far as where to put her down, that's entirely up to you. A crib, bassinette or other similar device that contains baby and keeps her on her back at night is generally the best though. Keep her comfort and safety in mind when selecting the spot.
 

Safety And Comfort First

This is and should always be a parent's number one priority at bedtime. Beyond making sure she's well fed and diapered, safety is a huge issue. To make sure everything is done that can possibly be done before putting her down for the night, check these things:

The crib. This is one of the top concerns when it comes to safety. A crib should be checked for structural integrity on a fairly regular basis. This is especially the case when baby starts pulling up and even bouncing. Make sure the screws are tight, the wood or metal is in good condition, the mattress is well supported and so on. Also, make sure the slats are distanced so as to not allow little arms or legs to get stuck.

Positioner. A baby sleep positioner is a relatively newfangled contraption, but it can be a lifesaver. Make sure you have one for a newborn. Use this to keep her in place on her back until she is old enough and strong enough to roll over with ease. These generally should stay in a crib until a baby is about six months old. baby checklist

Blankets and toys. Newborns do not need blankets or toys in their cribs. In fact, these items can become very dangerous at night. Make sure to remove all obstructions from a newborn's crib before walking away for the night.

Other obstructions. As baby grows and can pull herself up, things in her room can start to present problems. Make sure that electrical cords are out of baby's reach, that blinds and drapes do not touch the crib and that pictures and other objects on the walls are secured in their spots. It's best to keep heavy pictures and ceiling fans and other items cleared from the crib in the first place.

Temperature. Baby's room really should not be set above or below the basic room temperature of about 74 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is, adjust the controls.

Bedding. Before placing baby down into a crib, bassinette or playpen, make sure the sheets are not cold to the touch. This is a surefire way to wake a sleeping baby in a big, fat hurry. If the sheets are too cold, warm the room. Consider buying flannel or other warmer sheets.
 

Regular Routine

Establishing a bedtime routine even from Day One is not a horrible idea. As baby gets used to "what comes next," she'll find comfort in the routine. This, of course, doesn't mean that she'll enjoy going to bed, but she'll at least understand nighttime is coming up.

To establish a regular routine that helps send baby off to bed on the right food, check these things off as you go each night:

Feeding. Baby should be well fed before going to bed. This can take place either right before putting her down or even prior to a bath or other hygienic routine. baby checklist

Cleaning up. While baby might not require a bath every night, the act can really help calm her down for bed. Working this into the bedtime routine, or at least a good sponging down is not a bad idea. Older babies respond very well to aromatherapy baths with products designed for infant skin.

Diapering. Clean diapers before bedtime are an absolute must. If baby sleeps in a wet diaper, the impending rash can cause problems for you both! Plus, it's not likely she'll sleep well if she's wet or dirty.

Dressing. Before putting baby down for the night, check the clothing selected. Make sure it fits properly, doesn't bunch up and is warm or cool enough for the conditions. Ensuring her comfort can ensure you get a few hours of sleep, too. Remember, babies grow fast so what fit two weeks ago might not now. Stay on top of this and do make certain clothing is flame retardant at bedtime.

Music, books, play. Many parents work something else into the bedtime routine to help them get their little ones to settle in for the night (or at least a few hours). Pick one or several things to do and try to keep the routine consistent. Whether it's a continuous play CD or a bedtime book, pick the route and stick with it. If she doesn't respond, try something different.

Health check. It doesn’t hurt to give baby a once over before bed to make sure she's not stuffy, doesn't have a rash and isn't having teething discomforts. Address anything that requires it. baby checklist

Lighting check. Newborns don't generally love sleeping with the lights on. Make sure to turn them out as you leave and have a switch operated nightlight to guide your steps into the room for middle of the night feeding and changing time. The less light the better – especially for late-night changes.

Quick safety check. While safety is its own category, it doesn't hurt to work a quick inspection into the bedtime routine. Make sure she's secure in her sleep positioner, inspect the crib for any stray toys and just give the room a once over before walking out.
 

Advanced Preparations

One of the best ways to get baby to go back to sleep after middle of the night feeding and changing time is to have your act together in advance - be well prepared! baby checklist

The longer you let her cry or you fumble around for bottles, diapers and wipes, the more likely she is to wake up for real. To avoid this, check these things off before you turn in, too:

Have a diaper and wipes ready to go. Make sure the changing table or changing area is well stocked. It does not hurt to have diaper wipes warmed – especially for the middle of the night changes. The cold wipes can provide just the stimulus to wake up a little one for longer than you'd like.

Bottles ready to go. While it's not advisable to make bottles too far in advance, keeping everything out on the counter and ready to go before she wakes up is smart. Consider getting this together before you go into her room, too.

Any other considerations. If your baby requires medications or special treatments at night, have these "locked and loaded" for middle of the night use. The less time the late-night routine takes, the better. Plus, the less time you keep her up, the more likely she is to go back to sleep with relative ease.

Reset music or other sleep aids if necessary. Don't forget to do this before you walk back out of the room, or you'll likely find yourself right back in there in a few minutes.

The trick with the advanced preparations is to make sure the late-night routine works as smoothly as possible. The longer you keep baby up, the harder it is to get her to go back down with relative ease.

Advanced preparations can really help on this front a whole lot. baby checklist