Sleep....they don't tell you about that at antenatal do they?!!!

During the course of my teaching I've found the biggest concern parents have is over sleep. Mainly because they're not getting enough! There is more to say on this than can be covered in a blog but from talking to many parents over the years and from my own experience of four babies I think they're are probably some things that are worth stating here.

Firstly, there is no rule book. I know they're are many experts out there that advocate this method or that and very often these methods work. But equally, there are many parents who don't follow the rules and do things their way and are very happy with it. So I'd encourage you to let go of the idea that there is a 'right way' to get your baby to sleep and be brave enough to find out what suits you and your family best.

Having said that there are a few guidelines that are worth trying out and to which most babies conform. If you, ideally, want a baby that goes to sleep by itself and sleeps through the night then here are a few of those guidelines. But remember if you're happy to wake and feed at night after 3 months or find your baby doesn't sleep during day but that suits you...good, stick to that and ignore what's coming.

• encourage your baby to be put down to sleep awake even if its just once in 24 hours.
• develop a simple pre-sleep routine. For example, putting them in a sleep bag, singing a song (it helps if its the same one and babies generally love songs). Hot tip choose one you like as you may be singing it for some time. Always use this routine to signal to your baby that it is sleep time
• Start the going to sleep process before they're really tired and grizzly. Look out for the signs, turning the head away from toys you offer, tugging at ears, rubbing eyes, yawning, staring into the distance and many babies have particular 'I've had enough' sound, it may be a screech or a grunt. As soon as you see a sign get them heading for bed or wherever they sleep.
  
• The commonest cause of problems settling babies to sleep is that they have got overtired.
• I can't swear to it but my guess is that there are very very few babies who won't benefit from daytime sleep even if so far they've resisted. Use the tips above during the day.

If you start these good sleep habits early, with a bit of luck, you'll have a baby that sleeps through the night spontaneously.

I know there's a lot more to know but that's all for now folks! Good luck.