There are a number of ways you can help your baby become a better sleeper. These include:

• Work on shifting your baby's sleep cycle more toward nighttime by 2-3 months of age.Newborns frequently have their days and nights reversed and often the awake/sleep cycle is governed by the need to feed. When there is a need to feed during the night, keep lights dim and reserve stimulating interaction for the daytime hours. Eventually, this will help develop a more consistent sleep/wake schedule. Also, try not to cut back on nap time, as this will result in overtiredness and lack of a good night's sleep.
• Learn to understand signals that your baby is getting tired.Signs of being tired differ among babies but can include things like becoming fussy, crying, tugging on body parts, yawning, and rubbing eyes. Putting your baby to bed when he or she is showing these signs usually allows them to fall asleep more quickly and begins to establish a bedtime routine. Most experts recommend putting your baby to bed while he or she is still awake but drowsy. This way the baby will learn how to go to sleep on his/her own and learn not to associate your presence with sleep onset.
• Establish a bedtime ritual.Your baby can respond well to such near bedtime rituals as bathing, rocking, reading, quiet talking, singing, playing soft music, cuddling, and gentle massage. Even though your baby may not understand these signals yet, setting up these bedtime drills now can help establish a regular bedtime routine that will lead to good sleeping habits in the future. Avoid making bedtime feedings part of the bedtime routine after about 6 months of age. Try to introduce a security object (eg, a stuffed animal or blanket or a knotted T-shirt with your body odor on it) around the age of 1 year. This object, if accepted by the baby may help the baby soothe itself at night. Make sure the bedroom environment is quiet, cool, dark, and comfortable for sleeping. A nightlight or area light on the very lowest dimmer setting is fine.