Sleeping like a baby always conjures up images of a good night’s sleep but for many new parents this is not usually the case!
The disturbed nights during the first months are often one of the hardest things to cope with but there are ways that can help settle your child for longer periods.
It can be helpful to understand why babies wake during the night and in many cases this is simply because they wake for feeds more often during the night due to the fact that they have small stomachs and therefore need feeding more often. Babies generally become more settled in to a feeding routine by about 12 weeks.
Babies also don’t understand the difference between day and night but by between 3 and 6 months old many have established a pattern.
A consistent bedtime routine is also helpful to help their babies understand that they should be going to sleep as it helps your baby understand what comes next. In most cases this involves bathtime followed by a bottle (or night time drink or snack for older babies and toddlers followed by a story) or by music from baby’s mobile or a CD.
Of course you should also ensure that the room in which your baby sleeps is not too warm nor too cold (the ideal temperature is around 18 degrees) and that it is sufficiently dark with noise being kept to a minimum. Many wriggly babies wake because they have managed to kick the covers off and this can be solved with a baby sleeping bag. This can be layered with other clothes and bedding as necessary.
Research has shown that babies who are allowed to lie awake in their cot with a toy are more likely to drop off to sleep again during the night without a parent present.
Some parents find that an extra late feed in the evening helps babies sleep for a longer stretch through the night.
Breastfeeding mothers often favour co-sleeping as they are able to tend to their baby quicker and more conveniently for night time feeds and some research shows that babies who share the same room as their parents for the first six months or so have a lower risk of cot death. However the Department of Health makes the following recommendations:
Avoid co-sleeping if one or both parents:
- Is a smoker
- Has consumed alcohol
- Has taken any drugs, prescription or otherwise,, that affect perception cause drowsiness or affect depth of sleep
- Is excessively tired to the extent that this might affect being able to respond to the baby
Co-sleeping should also be avoided if your baby has a fever or shows signs of illness.
Amesbury Baby Centre stocks a range of Grobags, thermometers and the innovative Groclock to help toddlers learn what time they can get up!
