Sleep Routines that work           

•    Decide what baby’s bedtime routine is going to be.

Discuss what it will be e.g. bath, then a massage, then a story, and then to  bed. New parents who haven’t had to do this before draw on their own childhood experiences. Different families develop different routines and you and your partner will have different ideas. The key is to discuss what’s right for your baby, agree a strategy and stick to it.

•    Tell baby what is happening.

Say “it’s nearly bedtime so we’re going to have a bath, then after your bath mummy will massage you then we’ll read a story. After we’ve read the story we’ll have a cuddle and go to bed.” Keep repeating what’s going to happen next.

Babies and small children respond to calm, confident carers. By repeating what is happening both you and baby know what’s coming next and you both remain calm and relaxed because you are in charge and focused.

•    Try to put baby to bed awake.

•     If you have a toddler definitely put her to bed awake.   

This means that when your child wakes in the night, she knows where she is. This is important because baby needs to know that his cot is a safe place, and that he can safely go back to sleep.

•    Using a night light can reassure your baby.

This also helps with night time waking.

•    Think about possible  disturbances if your baby/toddler wakes frequently in the night.

For example is baby’s cot in the room above the TV? Some programmes can have loud noises that can be heard upstairs. If you can’t move the cot be aware of this fact, especially if watching action movies.

Also does the heating come on through the night? Does the time the heating come on correlate with when baby wakes? Even the most efficient heating system has to fill.

•    Try not to encourage night time waking.

When baby is small differentiate between daytime and night time feeds. Make night time feeds quiet, keep the light low/off. Put baby back to his cot as soon as possible after the feed.

As baby gets older and doesn’t need night time feeds, if she wakes try to comfort her in the cot, calmly and quietly. Don’t talk more than necessary and make very little eye contact. If baby gets no response she’ll soon learn not to wake.

If your toddler wakes at night, put him back to bed quietly and calmly, saying it’s bedtime and you have to sleep in your bed. If this is a frequent occurrence say this the first two times then just take him back to bed without speaking if possible. Remember if your child is upset touch can be more reassuring than words.

                            GOOD LUCK with you sleep.

For further information and support please contact me today.

To arrange a no obligation telephone consultation and find out more details about your individualised, bespoke  programme  contact me today by email or Phone 01207 570398

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