Avoid sleepless nights by following these simple guidelines:
1. Try to create a baby bedtime routine for your newborn as soon as possible, as babies respond well to consistency.
2. Allocate an hour before bedtime to an energetic activity.
3. This should be followed by a relaxing bath to calm baby down.
4. A change of nappy and a clean sleepsuit are essential before bedtime.
5. Always give your baby a feed before putting them down to sleep. Warm milk is comforting and will stop them from waking up too soon due to hunger.
6. Keeping lights dim in the evening will help Baby distinguish between night and day. It's also important to keep your baby's room quiet at bedtime, so remove any distractions such as tvs, telephones or toys and speak in low voices.
7. Read a story at bedtime as your baby will find the rhythm of your familiar voice calming. It's also a good idea to keep a baby blanket or teddy with you for a while so it gathers your scent. .
8. Stick to the same elements, in the same order, with the same people, every night. At the same time every night give your baby lots of cuddles and then lie your baby on their back in the cot.
9. Newborns usually sleep for around 17 hours a day, but normally for only four hours at a time.
10. If you are struggling to send your baby to sleep, persevere with reassuring cuddles. |