Newborn Sleep
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    Building Healthy Sleep Foundations: Understanding Sleep Associations from Birth

    From the first days, babies begin forming sleep habits. Learn how to shape healthy associations gently—starting with connection and predictability.

    Published March 3, 2025
    Building Healthy Sleep Foundations: Understanding Sleep Associations from Birth

    What Is a Sleep Association?

    A sleep association is anything your baby connects with falling asleep. This could be:

    • Feeding
    • Rocking
    • Pacifier
    • White noise
    • Darkness
    • Your presence

    Some associations help sleep. Others can cause challenges later.

    Healthy Associations to Build

    Not sure where to start? Discover your baby’s personalized plan.

    Plan My Baby's Sleep (Free)
    • A consistent bedtime routine
    • White noise machine
    • Sleep sack (vs. loose blankets)
    • Darkened room
    • Soft phrase like “It’s time to sleep now”

    When to Start?

    From day one. But don’t worry—changes can always be made gently over time.

    Final Thought

    The earlier you build positive associations, the easier sleep becomes. Small shifts now = smoother nights later.

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