People should be certain to study the concepts surrounding Sleep Experts when researching this particular subject.

Where should your baby sleep? Sleeping on a sofa or chair with a baby is very dangerous and should always be avoided. If parents fall asleep with their baby they are much safer in a bed than on a sofa or chair. Some parents say sleep training has helped them and their baby both sleep better during the night. However the long-term effects of sleep training are not well researched. Some experts do have concerns about it and do not recommend doing it, particularly for babies under 12 months. We all hear stories about babies who sleep through and are no trouble at all. But the vast majority of wee ones are up during the night. Most parents are in the same boat. It is important to look after yourself. A lack of sleep isn’t easy for anyone. Naturally, getting baby into a routine may become a little easier. But your baby’s sleep routine will need to adapt to suit these changes – so keep a flexible approach and make small, subtle changes as your little one grows. If baby wakes because of a middle-of-the-night blowout, keep the nappy change “business-like.” Don’t turn on too many lights, talk too much or play with baby. Set the precedent that this isn’t time for play or fun—it’s time to get back to sleep.



Sheets and blankets should be firmly tucked in and not above shoulder height. A baby sleep bag that is a good fit for the baby is safe for a baby to sleep in. A good fit is described as fitting well around the shoulders so that the baby’s head does not slip down into the sleeping bag. Keeping the house as quiet as you can at night, combined with the dark, will naturally encourage your newborn to associate this with sleeping. By 4 months, some babies will sleep for about five to six hours at a stretch. But that doesn’t mean yours has settled into a predictable cycle. If your baby is still fighting sleep, waking early or confusing night and day, it’s time to review her sleep habits. Every baby or child needs to wind down before bed, so that they don’t go to bed excitable or upset. Toddlers and older children will still need about 20 minutes before bed where you move to quieter, more relaxing activities. Turn off TVs and other screens and have a cuddle, a chat or a read. For smaller babies, a cuddle, a feed in a quiet, and a gently sung lullaby in darkened room is a perfect wind down. There are multiple approaches to ferber method and a sleep expert will help you choose one that is right for you and your family.

Settling Your Baby

There are two schools of thought on the best way to put babies to sleep: the parent-soothing method and the self-soothing method. Both have advantages and possible disadvantages. After 4 months, your baby is becoming very aware of their surroundings and this includes when you want them to go to sleep. To encourage the most healthiest, deepest and restorative sleep, most sleep should be now taken in their cot. Some parents choose to bed share with their babies. This means that their baby shares the same bed with an adult for most of the night, and not just to be comforted or fed. Some parents also choose to sleep with their baby in other places. For those times when you can get a quick snatch of sleep but aren’t quite feeling the urge, you may reach for medications to help you conk out faster. But be wary of reaching for meds flippantly, especially without the green light from your doctor. Toddlers can be very sweet with babies, but they just can’t be expected to be cautious and protective. They have no idea about the fragility of infants. So don’t let your defenseless baby sleep in the same room as your marauding little tyke. Wait until your younger one can really protect herself, probably around her second birthday. The gentle approach and caring manner of a baby sleep expert allows them to assist you in the most preferable way to deal with 4 month sleep regression and to assist you and your family in any way possible.

It might be reassuring to know that it is both normal and essential for your baby to feed during the night. Babies grow quickly in the early weeks and months of their lives and have very small stomachs. Therefore, they need to feed around the clock to meet their needs. While it can be frustrating when your sleep is disturbed during the night, it can also be a lovely quiet time to be with your baby away from the bustle and distractions of daytime. For some new parents, one of the toughest challenges is sleep or should I say, the lack-there of. It is important to recognise that every baby is different, especially when it comes to how often and how long they sleep for. It sounds a bit mad, but a gentle stroking motion – downwards from between the eyes – can relax them and encourage baby to close their eyes. Avoid putting your baby to bed when overtired. You’ll soon become a pro at spotting when your baby is becoming tired. Some rub their eyes while others start fussing. When you see your baby starting to show signs of tiredness in the evening get them ready for bed straight away. Overtired babies find it harder to fall asleep naturally but if you can put baby down while drowsy she’s more likely to sleep for longer stretches during the night. If your baby has been used to sleeping on you, they may wake when you put them down in their bassinet as they went from a warm, comfy body with a soothing heartbeat to a cold sheet with a firm mattress. A sleep consultant will take a holistic approach to create a sleeping system that you can manage and one which takes into account gentle sleep training as well as the needs of the baby and considerations of each family member.

Positive Routines

It's also unlikely to fit in with your need for sleep. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps. If you're breastfeeding, in the early weeks your baby is likely to doze off for short periods during a feed. Carry on feeding until you think your baby has finished or until they're fully asleep. This is a good opportunity to try to get a bit of rest yourself. In the lead-up to bedtime, try to set a calming atmosphere and carry out the same bedtime routine every night. The following rituals can help your baby associate nighttime with sleeping: taking a bath, changing into pyjamas and a fresh nappy, singing a lullaby or having a nighttime feed. There is some research to suggest an increased chance of SIDS when using a second-hand mattress brought in from outside of the family home, although the link is not yet proven. To help reduce this risk, if parents/carers are using a second-hand mattress for their baby, make sure that the chosen mattress was previously completely protected by a waterproof cover, with no rips or tears and is in good condition. The mattress should also still be firm and flat to keep the baby sleeping safely. Balancing how to respond to night wakings and the need for night feedings is something to discuss with your baby’s health care provider when you are working on sleep training. Colds and ear infections can keep anyone awake at night — and your baby is no exception. Rest assured, once he starts feeling better, your baby should start sleeping better too. For sleep training guidance it may be useful to enlist the services of a sleep consultant.

If a baby takes naps or sleeps at night away from their parent or caretaker, a video monitor should be on them at all times, and they should only be put to sleep in a room other than their parents’ bedroom with direct pediatrician approval. It can take several weeks, even months before your baby is sleeping through the night and being more awake during the day. In the meantime, there are a number of strategies you can employ to help your baby get into the habit of sleeping at night and being awake during the day. Contact your doctor if you are concerned. Babies who are extremely fussy or frequently difficult to console may have a medical problem, such as colic or reflux. Also, be sure to contact your doctor if your baby ever seems to have problems breathing. If your baby falls asleep in a car seat, stroller, swing, infant carrier, or sling, you should move him or her to a firm sleep surface on his or her back as soon as possible. Surprisingly, the best time to start your bedtime routine is in the morning. Infants who get sunlight and walks outside during the day (and whose nursing moms avoid stimulants, like dark chocolate) sleep much better at night. If you need guidance on sleep regression then let a sleep consultant support you in unlocking your child's potential, with their gentle, empathetic approach to sleep.

The Science-minded Parent

The amount of sleep babies need changes with every passing month. Newborns may spend between 14-17 hours of the day asleep, but by the time they are toddlers this has reduced to 11-14 hours. Gadgets to put and keep baby asleep are becoming big business. Tired parents pay high prices for a good night’s sleep. It’s all right to use these as relief when the main comforter wears out, but a steady diet of these artificial sleep inducers may be unhealthy. Your newborn’s nocturnal ways should correct themselves as she adjusts to life on the outside, but there are a few things you can do to help baby differentiate between day and night, including limiting daytime naps to three hours, and making clear distinctions between day and night (like keeping baby’s room dark when she naps and avoiding turning on the TV during nighttime feedings). You can check out further details about Sleep Experts on this NHS page.

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