![]() ![]() In the first few weeks your baby may only fall asleep in your arms (or those of your partner) or while you’re close by or standing next to the cot. Experts advise sleeping in the same room as your baby at least for the first six months. Extra-absorbent nappies are great for keeping tiny bottoms dry the whole night through. At night, keep the lights dim, speak softly, avoid playing with your baby and try keeping nocturnal nappy changes to a minimum. There’s no need to shush everyone while your baby’s having a daytime snooze – a little background noise is fine. During the day, keep the curtains open and play between naps. It’s never too early to start helping your infant understand that night-time is different from daytime. Teach your baby the difference between night and day. Start doing these things each night before your baby is overly tired. It could include, for example, giving your infant a bath, perhaps followed by a soothing baby massage, soft singing, reading a story or just a cuddle. Try to begin your routine at the same time every day. This little ritual can be calming for your baby and help prevent sleeping problems further down the road. When your baby’s around 3 or 4 months old you can start laying the foundations of a bedtime routine that will make sleep training easier later on. Here are some tips on how to get ready for sleep training:Įstablish a calming bedtime routine. Safe sleeping measures include always laying your baby down on his or her back and keeping the cot free of toys, pillows, duvets, cords and anything else that could pose a suffocation or strangling hazard. Whenever you put your baby to bed, always follow the guidelines for safe sleeping to help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Keep in mind that for the first few months your infant is unlikely to have a regular sleeping schedule, and every child is different. ![]() Your baby will function best with a reasonably regular schedule and dependable routine for naps and night-time sleep. ![]() We describe several sleep training methods below, including what baby or toddler age it’s most appropriate for. It might help to think of sleep training as an ongoing process rather than a one-off event. Sleep training a 6-month-old baby will not be the same as sleep training a 2-year-old. Keep in mind that the amount of sleep your baby needs will change over time, and your child’s natural sleep patterns won’t necessarily fit in with your own needs. It’s helpful to know that sleep training starts with recognising your baby’s natural sleep patterns and creating a regular routine around bedtime. The process also involves helping your little one learn to fall back to sleep after waking up in the middle of the night, for example for a feed or nappy change. You could define sleep training as the process of helping your child learn to wind down before bedtime and soothe him or herself if necessary when it’s time to go to sleep. As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your baby or older child get the best sleep possible, so read on to learn about sleep training, when to start sleep training and what sleep training methods might be best for you and your baby. Sleep plays a crucial role in your baby or toddler’s healthy development. ![]()
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