As the founder of Sleep Shop, a company dedicated to helping new babies and parents get the sleep they need, I get asked all the time, "How do I get my little one to sleep?" While my answer varies based on the situation, the baby, and the parenting style, there are some things that remain the same no matter what. I refer to these as sleep fundamentals. While every baby is different and will sleep through the night based on a variety of factors, there are little things every parent can do that will help with the process.
Sleep is so important for babies, especially their first year of life! They will nap anywhere from three to five times a day the first seven to nine months of their lives. At around seven to nine months, they'll usually take around two naps a day, and by 15-18 months, most babies transition to one midday nap. It's important that we offer them the opportunity to sleep throughout the day, because the better they sleep during the day, the better they tend to sleep at night! The more consistent we can be with their sleep routines, the more sleep babies tend to get. Here are five things that parents can do that will greatly help their little ones get the sleep that they need.