TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU& YOUR BABY SLEEP

Kellie Eason RN, RM, IBCLC

Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

1.  Find your village

• Gather some mummy friends and create a mummy village
• Take it in turns who is doing the car pooling, kid minding, dating with dad, catching up on sleep, catching up for a playdate etc
• Gather your other support sources to help entertain other children
• (ie. friends, family, neighbours, babysitters)

2.  Routines can start from birth

• Aim for a relaxing night time bath every night for your baby 
• Ensure your baby sleeps in natural light during the day and dark at night

3. Aim to get your baby into a more definitive routine from 3 months of age

• Routines take time to establish, don't give up on the first go
• Feed - play - sleep routines can work well for some
• Feeding and cuddling baby to sleep may work better for others

4. Learn to read your baby’s cues
It’s important to take notice of your baby’s language
​Signs of baby tiredness include:

• Looking away from you
• Jerky movements
• Irritability
• Yawning

 
5.  Continue to feed your baby on demand

• Its OK to feed your baby to sleep
• Babies do the bulk of their growing during the first 8 months, so they need lots of food to grow

6. . Ensure your baby is comfortable and feels safe to sleep

• Ensure surroundings aren't chaotic
• Ensure a warm bed during the cold weather
• Lullaby's & white noise work well to help your baby lull into sleep
• Read a book to your baby before bed to develop a positive sleep association

6. Wear your baby

• its the normal way for babies to sleep
• A soft wrap is most comfortable to wear around the house
• It gives you free hands
• It enables your baby calm, which if it fails to accumulate, can result in a very cranky baby

7. If you are a first time mum and the house is quiet, strike while the iron is hot and sleep while your baby sleeps

• Trust me, your baby will be awake for a lot of the night, so you really need to listen to this one

8. If you aren't a first time mum…….

• You can try to get some sleep while your other toddler sleeps

9. If your toddler refuses to sleep, you can try:

• A sticker and reward chart
• Grow clock
• Close the curtains and have your toddler sleep/play quietly  until they are open
• ​Establishing a quiet time routine every day

If you have any other tips to share, please comment :-)