It's preferable that your baby fall asleep in her own crib rather than in another spot. There are parents who lie down next to their babies on their own beds and snuggle the baby till she falls asleep and then transfer her to her crib. Some parents put their babies to sleep on a sheet, quilt, or other surface in the middle of the living room or even the kitchen so that the baby can see Mom or Dad cooking or reading or the family watching TV while she goes to sleep.

A baby who falls asleep on Mom's bed, lying next to Mom, may be reassured that Mom is nearby and may indeed fall asleep more quickly, but she isn't learning to go to sleep independently. A baby who falls asleep in the midst of the family hubbub is learning not to let sound and light disturb her, but she isn't learning to associate sleep with darkness and relative quiet. She too isn't learning to go to sleep independently.

Just as you don't really want to run in every couple of minutes to rewind your baby's mobile (and this is especially true at 1:00 A.M.), the same principle applies to playing music in your baby's room. It's great by day, but don't rely on music to put him to sleep at night. Your baby may fall asleep to the music and then wake up when the music goes off. You don't want to have to keep running into his room to turn the music back on every hour!

The best place for your baby to fall asleep is in her own crib (or bassinet), not on the floor, not on your bed (unless you are cosleeping), and not in your arms. Once she's reached the age of about six weeks, try to get her used to going to sleep in her crib. It will not only get her accustomed to going to sleep in her own bed at bedtime in the months and years ahead, but it will also aid her in getting accustomed to settling herself down to sleep so that when she wakes in the middle of the night she can resettle herself without awakening you.