Teaching day and night
It's common for babies to arrive with their internal clocks set back to front; they want to sleep all day and party all night. This usually resolves itself after a few weeks but you can hurry things along by keeping night times quiet, peaceful and dark.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Moving from moses basket to cot
Some babies seem to find their cot a bit open and exposed when they outgrow their cosy Moses basket. Try putting the basket into the cot for the first few nights while he settles in.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Co-sleeping
Sometimes mums might find things easier if their baby sleeps in bed with them, breastfeeding mums especially. If you decide to try co-sleeping do read up on how to do it as safely as possible.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Giving comfort
Babies who struggle to settle at night might need some additional form of comfort. Maybe a dummy would help? Or you could wear a T shirt in bed for a couple of nights and put that into your baby's cot so that your smell is nearby.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Back to sleep
Don't forget that babies must be put to sleep on their backs to help to reduce the risk of SIDS. Once she can roll over though, don't worry if she turns onto her side by herself, or onto her front. Check www.fsid.org.uk for more information.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
What is the matter?
Sometimes a baby who was previously sleeping well will start to wake up more often at night. Think about what might be causing it. It could be his teeth, or has the weather changed - is he too hot or too cold? It could be a growth spurt making him hungrier.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Practicing new skills
Babies learning new things often want to practise at night. It can keep them, and you, up past bedtime! She's learning to crawl, it's so exciting she doesn't want to stop. As her parent you should provide plenty of opportunity in the daytime for crawling and remember this will soon pass!
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Providing daytime fun
Keep your baby entertained during the day and he should sleep better at night. Take him out to look at different interesting things, sing to him, let him play and get some baby exercise by shaking his rattle about and stretching and reaching for his mobile.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Having a routine
Have a calm nightly routine before you take her up to bed: a bath, a cuddle, and some milk. She'll enjoy a story too, even if she's very young. Or you may find she likes to drop off to some music. You could sing, or get a CD of lullabies to play in the evenings.
Sleep solutions from birth to one
Controlled crying
Many people will recommend controlled crying to you, especially if you complain of feeling tired. It's probably not the ideal strategy for babies under six months old who can't understand what is going on. If you do go ahead when he's a little older, be prepared for a battle of wills!
