Whether or not you're getting any sleep these days, you can at least have a little fun and try anything to set yourself up for a good night's sleep! You're Such a Baby's "Sleep Kit" is especially made with new mamas and papas in mind.

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Your baby is now 4 months old and unless you’re one of the lucky few, you haven’t had a full night’s sleep since he made his debut into this world. You’re definitely ready to get back to those delicious 8 hours of sleep you got before becoming a mama. But is he?

The answer, of course, depends on your baby. Infants are not physiologically equipped to sleep through the night because their stomachs are so small they cannot fill them for long enough. But experts say that by the time a baby is 11 pounds, this is no longer the case. So if he’s reached this milestone, chances are, it’s time.

How you go about it, of course, is as personal as how you approach everything else with him. But word to the wise: Once you choose a method, be resolved to stick to it. And even more important, make sure papa is resolved to stick to it. Any gains you make can be wiped out in a single night either of you doesn’t follow the agreed upon plan.

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Sleep training methods run the gamut from the stern to the coddling, from the abrupt to the long-term. Choosing one depends on how fast you want results, and to how much crying you’re willing to subject yourself and your baby.

Here are some books you may want to consult as you consider which approach best fits your style and your baby’s temperament:

	Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth outlines proven strategies to get your baby to sleep; walks you through the different sleep cycles of different temperaments – from quiet babies to active toddlers; and helps you avoid the common mistakes parents often make to get their children to sleep.
	Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber. Dr. Ferber has the reputation of being a let-your-baby-cry-herself-to-sleep kind of guy, but if you read his book you’ll find that this is not what he advocates. He offers concrete advice on developing good sleep patterns to ensure that sleeping problems don’t develop in the first place.
	The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley and William Sears. This is the method for you if you cannot bear to let your baby cry. The book clearly explains step- by-step the ways that will help your baby get a good night’s sleep without letting her cry.

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Babies love predictability because it makes them feel in control. Bedtime will go much more smoothly if your baby can anticipate what’s next and what’s happening in general. This, in turn, will help him relax and get ready for a (cross your fingers) long night’s sleep.

A word of advice to mamas: Choose a routine you can live with. You’ll be doing it for months to come, which means reading the same books or singing the same songs for just as long!

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