Top tips for getting baby to sleep
1 Always aim to get your child down into the cot when they are still awake and wind them properly to avoid any false starts! Use the time spent winding them to rouse your baby, even just a little, before you place them in the cot. They don’t have to be wide awake but just ‘awake enough to know where they are going’.
2 Ensure tea time and last bottles/feeds are good ones. Tea doesn’t necessarily have to be heavy, just plentiful.
3 Don’t fret if your baby grizzles a little going into cot. Grizzling noises are those “mooching” sounds baby makes just before they fall asleep. They are trying to create the environment for themselves with their familiar sounds, blocking out other noises in order to soothe themselves. It’s a bit like their own personal white noise machine. It’s not exclusive to newborns; older babies do it too, sometimes in the form of real-life crying.
4 The soother. I am not so much anti-soother as you might expect. Used properly, they should be given to a child when settling to sleep. It allows the baby to suck on it until they are calm and their breathing steadies into a nice rhythm. It can become a strong sleep association tool. In between feeding and sleeping a soother should not be used, although I’m well aware there are times when it’s your only saving grace.
5 Once a baby is weaned onto solids (ideally at the latter end of 5-6 months) they should start to be able to make it through the night without feeds; with the exception of little ones still having a dream feed (that late night feed where you simply lift them from slumber and feed them before you go to bed – a top-up of sorts). This should continue with a bottle-fed baby on three solids up to around the 6-7 month mark. Another exception, but not always, would be breastfed babies, who I suspect would still be feeding a couple of times overnight.
6 Check the temperature of the room at night. If it’s a little cold, it's better than it being a little hot. You can always add layers and extra vests. Ideal room temperature is within a range of 16-20 degrees C.
7 Have a regular bedtime routine, it can be the anchor of your day. Allow up to an hour for a winding-down period. This time can include baths and reading to your child as long as it's calm and relaxed. But don’t get too caught up in making this over-complicated. If baths are a pain to do daily, skip them. Do them in the morning or every few days. There’s nothing a baby wipe can’t fix. And bedtime, whether with one child or many, should be manageable by one person.
8 Make sure the room provides a peaceful environment for baby. Their bedroom should be exactly that – a BEDROOM. No toys, no fancy mobiles. It should be a place of sanctuary.
