Experienced moms know that daily routines and structure are helpful to not only get their children through the day, but themselves as well. Many moms say the most important structure of all is the bedtime routine, because it helps their children know what to expect when winding down to get ready for sleep. Try some of these tips to establish a regular bedtime routine that can help set up healthy sleep habits for your baby and a good night’s sleep for you:

Time it right. Keeping bedtime at the same time every night helps set your baby’s body clock to know when it’s time to be asleep and time to be awake.

Make sure she’s comfortable. A good night’s sleep is easier to come by when the room is at an ideal temperature and your baby is dressed in warm (but not-too-warm) clothing.

Be consistent. A bath before bed, singing the same song each night or rocking her before you put her in the crib are all cues to let your baby know it’s time for sleep.

Put her down before asleep. Putting your baby down while she’s drowsy instead of asleep will help her learn to soothe herself back to sleep if she wakes in the night.

Try some white noise. Especially when there are older (and louder) children in the house, a fan or noise machine can help muffle other household sounds.

Keep night visits quiet. Many moms find that keeping nighttime diaper changes as dark and quiet as possible help the baby fall back asleep faster. Too much talking activity might make the baby think it’s playtime.