Falling Asleep on Her Own

Question
“My baby wakes up almost every night and cries until I go to her. Then she wants to play instead of sleep. What can I do?”

Answer
If she wakes in the night and cries for you, wait for about five minutes. She may be able to fall back to sleep by herself. If her crying continues, go to her. Speak softly to her to comfort her. You can rub her stomach, but don’t pick her up.


If she needs a diaper change or seems sick, take care of that. Avoid feeding her unless you think she is truly hungry. Then tell her it is time to sleep, and leave her alone. Don’t play with her, or she will begin to expect you to play every night.

Most babies will learn to fall back to sleep by themselves. Babies who wake up a lot or cry for a long time during the night may be sick. Talk with your doctor or clinic about what to do.

Try this idea as you train your baby to fall asleep on her own:

Your baby needs to learn how to fall asleep by herself. You can help her by doing the same things each night when you put her to bed. Doing the same things before bedtime will help her know that it is time to sleep.

At the same time each night, rock her for a few minutes and sing to her or read her a book. Don’t let her fall asleep in your arms. As she gets sleepy, put her down in her bed. Put a favorite toy in bed with her. Stay with her for a moment. Then leave her alone to fall asleep by herself.

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Let Your Baby Feed Herself

Your baby will be a messy eater as she learns to feed herself. She might put her fingers into her mouth to suck on while she eats. It helps her swallow solid foods. She might also spit out foods. It will take time for her to learn to feed herself.

Put a bib or apron on your baby, or let her eat with just her diaper on. You can put a washable cloth under her high chair to make cleaning easier. Let her play with her food. Always watch your baby when she is eating.


She may want to grab a spoon while you feed her with another spoon. If she drops her spoon on the floor, she will want you to pick it up for her.

Make sure you know what to do if your baby starts to choke. Call 911 right away if you don’t know what to do. To become prepared, you can get instructions from your doctor or from your local American Red Cross. After you learn what to do, you will be able to help your baby. Always keep emergency numbers near your phone.

Try giving your baby a little fruit juice, breast milk or formula from a cup. When you give her a cup to drink from, help her hold it. Use a tippy cup with two handles. It is easier for your baby to hold.

Babies with a disability or medical problem may need special help. They may have physical problems that make it hard to feed themselves or chew. They may not be able to digest food like other children. Ask your doctor how best to help your child with solid foods.

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Baby Bottles Can Cause Tooth Decay

If your baby needs a bottle to help her fall asleep, fill it with water only. Don’t put breast milk or infant formula in the bottle at night. Don’t put fruit juice or sweetened liquids
in the bottle. These liquids pool around your baby’s teeth while she is sleeping. They can damage and decay her teeth. Water cannot hurt her teeth in this way. Any drink other than water in the bottle at bedtime can cause “baby bottle tooth decay.”


Baby bottle tooth decay can cause your baby a lot of pain. Damage to her teeth may have to be treated in a hospital. Protect your baby’s teeth even before you can see them. Gently wipe inside her mouth with a clean, soft cloth each day. Be sure to wipe her gums and teeth.

At six months, show your baby how to use a cup. You can put some breast milk or formula in the cup. By the time your baby is one year old, she will stop needing a bottle and will use a cup instead. Introducing the cup now helps prepare her for this development in her life. It also helps prevent baby bottle tooth decay and give your baby a bright, healthy smile.

Before bedtime, give your baby a hug. Instead of a bottle, give her extra attention for comfort. You can also give her a soft blanket or toy to hold. You are more of a comfort to her than a bottle ever can be.

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Eating New Foods

The types of foods your baby eats will change over the next few months. Breast milk or infant formula is still the most important food for your growing baby. Sometime between six and eight months of age, your baby will be able to eat strained or mashed fruits and vegetables in addition to infant cereal. Try meats if your doctor says your baby needs more iron. You can tell when she is ready. She will show interest by leaning forward and opening her mouth. Her teeth may begin to appear. She needs to be able to sit up and hold her head steady in order to avoid choking.


Use a fork or potato masher to prepare your baby’s foods. The consistency of food you feed your baby should be like mashed potatoes. Foods such as ripe bananas and cooked apples, squash, carrots or potatoes are good to use. Be sure to remove any seeds from your baby’s food. Don’t add salt, spices or fats to your baby’s food. You can also use baby foods in jars.

Try new foods one at a time. Offer her one to two teaspoons. Wait one week before trying another new food. Watch her for any reactions like diarrhea or rashes. Choose plain foods rather than mixtures. Your baby may not like some foods. Don’t force her to eat. Wait for one to two weeks before trying them again.

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Finding a Doctor You Trust

Try to find a doctor you like and trust. It helps if your baby sees the same doctor or nurse every time. That makes it easier to keep track of your baby’s needs.

If you don’t know where to take your baby for care, call your local health department. The phone number is in the “government” listings of the phone book. You can also try a local hospital.


Ask a close friend or relative who has children whom she takes her children to for health care. Ask if she really likes her children’s doctor and if the doctor is good at taking time to explain things and answer questions.

If your baby is eligible for Medicaid, she can get free checkups. You can call your local social welfare, health or family services office to see if you qualify for Medicaid services.

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Your Baby’s Six-Month Checkup

Your baby needs another checkup at about six months of age. Several things will take place at this visit. The doctor will check to see how your baby is developing.

Here are some of the things the doctor will look at:



• Your baby’s ability to control her head
• Her ability to reach and grab objects
• Her ability to roll over
• Her ability to make sounds
• Her ability to stand while she holds on to someone

The doctor will also check your baby’s weight, length, and the size of her head. Your baby should have what is called a “hematocrit” blood test to check for anemia. The test is done by pricking her toe.

Your baby will also get the shots she needs to stay healthy. Ask the doctor for a copy of the shot record.

Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about your baby. They may ask about her development and about how well she is eating and growing. You should make a list of questions to ask before you go to the doctor.

They may ask about your baby’s sleeping and her behavior and mood. They may talk about how you can keep your baby healthy. Be sure to write down any instructions that the doctor gives you.

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Six-Month

Your baby is halfway through her first year. She is really active now. She may be grabbing at things and shaking her rattle. She may be sitting up with support. She babbles and makes a variety of sounds.

She is interested in everything around her. She wants to touch things. She wants to put things in her mouth. She wants to pull on them. Keeping up with her curiosity can be a challenge. Have fun with her. Be patient.

Your baby has learned a lot in her first six months. So have you! You have learned a lot about being a parent. You have learned how to take care of your baby even though she can’t tell you what she needs. You have learned what her crying means. You can tell that she is hungry by the way she cries. You can also tell by her crying if she is tired or needs her diaper changed.

You can help your baby be healthy and safe. You can help her learn many important things like how to talk, how to walk and how to feed herself. You can help her learn how to drink from a cup.

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