The hardest part of having a new baby is not sleeping. All new parents are in a bleary-eyed daze those first few weeks from the constant feeding, burping and changing newborns require. And sometimes it can go beyond the first few months. We've created our sleep section to help you through the rough spots. We have expert advice on topics including early wake-ups, medical reasons your baby might not be sleeping and even sleep tips for kids sharing a bedroom.

Tips for creating a great sleeper

Kira Ryan and Conner Herman

Dream Team Baby

info@dreamteambaby.com

1. Add White Noise. This is truly a must-have sleep item and well worth the investment. White noise helps comfort small babies and cancels out household noises. Our favorite is the Marpac™ sound conditioner, available in our online sleep shop (www.dreamteambaby.com). Use it every time your child sleeps, day or night, and bring it with you on trips away from home too!

2. Darken, Darken, Darken. The ideal level of darkness should allow you to barely see the outline of your hand. This is hard to achieve with blinds alone so we generally recommend blackout liners.

3. Clear the Clutter. The crib should be a place to sleep, not play. Clear out mobiles, electronic crib toys, and that mountain of stuffed animals. If your child shares a room with others, partition off his or her crib with a hanging curtain or divider to eliminate distractions and create sleep independence.

4. Cool It Down. The ideal temperature for sleeping is 68 – 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Take the guess work out by having a room thermometer on hand. It will help your child sleep better and longer. We love the Mobi digital thermometer for its instant readout and functionality, also available in our online sleep shop.

5. Pick an Appropriate Bed Time. The best bedtime for babies and toddlers is between 6 – 8 p.m. Choose a bedtime that you can commit to for the long term and try to make sure 8 p.m. is the cutoff.

6. Create a Calming Bedtime. Your bedtime routine should not last more than 15 minutes (excluding bath time) and be free of television or stimulating toys. Incorporating massage time can also be a wonderful source of connection while helping to transition children into a more calming state.

7. Pick the Right Time for Sleep Teaching. Do not start sleep teaching if your child is sick, received shots within the past 48 hours, or is currently experiencing a major life transition. We also generally suggest waiting until a child is at least four months of age and avoiding travel for two weeks.

8. Ensure Partnership Among Parents. Both parents should agree on the sleep teaching method you’ve decided to utilize and understand the approach. Start sleep teaching on a night you are both at home, ideally on a weekend.

Here are some sleep highlights from our Parenting Center: Baby: Sleep Log Baby: Daylight Savings Baby: Sleep Schedules Baby: Cry it out method Toddler: Bed Time Battles Toddler: Moving Up: The Toddler Bed Transition  Toddler: Tips for Siblings Sharing a Room Toddler: Early Wake Ups Toddler: Nightmares and Sleep Terrors Featured Article Baby Won’t Sleep? Maybe there’s a Medical Reason By Edward Kulich MD FAAP As a House Call Pediatrician and a Sleep Consultant, I see many infants and children who have trouble sleeping through the night. Often times, there is an issue with the routine, or nighttime feedings, which can often be corrected with some simple instructions and a consistent routine. However, if your baby is not sleeping well due to a medical issue, diagnosis and treatment are crucial to restful sleep for everyone in your family. There is a significant percentage of infants and children who have trouble sleeping through the night due to a medical issue that has gone undiagnosed. The most frequent being acid reflux, and milk intolerance . Acid reflux usually presents in the first 4-6 months of life and can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms include: Arching during feeds Spitting up during or after feeds (does NOT always happen with reflux) Frequent lip smacking Congestion Crankiness when flat on back, always wanting to be upright Reflux is treated by thickening the formula, changing the position while breastfeeding, and with acid blocking medications. Milk Intolerance (also known as Milk Protein Allergy) Frequent Spitting up Fussiness Loose stools Blood or mucus in stools   Milk intolerance is common and is usually outgrown by a child’s first birthday. It is an intolerance to cow’s milk protein in formula, but can also be seen in breastfed infants as a result of the milk protein in the moms diet passing into the breast milk. Milk intolerance is treated with a hypoallergenic formula or diet restriction in the mother. If your baby is not sleeping through the night, you should first speak to a doctor or health care professional  to discuss if there is a medical issue that is preventing your little one’s slumber. No amount of sleep training will work if your child is uncomfortable from a medical issue that requires treatment. The information presented here is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Should you have a specific medical question regarding your child, please consult your child’s doctor directly. --Dr Kulich is a Board Certified Pediatrician who makes House Calls in the New York Metro area, and provides sleep consultations in the comfort of your own home. For more information, please visit www.BabySleepDoctor.com