Some quick tips
Kate's top sleeping tips
Most children have periods of not sleeping well, but by getting into healthy bedtime habits, you can keep broken nights to the minimum. Start these when your baby is 4-8 weeks old and you'll avoid common sleep pitfalls, but it's never too late to get into good rouintes. Here are some quick bedtime tips- if you want more advice either contact me to arrange a consultation or visit the help page.
- Try to make bedtime the same time each day and give your child a 10 minute warning.
- Don’t let your child return to the living room once bedtime routine has begun, keep her to her bedroom.
- Make bedtime routine unrushed, calm and happy, with stories and time to chat.
- Go through a mental checklist before your child goes to sleep that they are clean, well fed and not too hot or cold.
- Don’t let your child fall asleep with a dummy, breast or bottle feed or being rocked, instead let them learn to fall asleep in their cot.
- Try visiting your child every 5 minutes to briefly reassure them, if crying before falling asleep.
- If you prefer to stay in their room while they fall asleep, keep busy in the room (helps if it’s messy), avoid eye contact, reassure them of your love with a brief stroke of their tummy before continuing to tidy.
- Stay calm and firm when sticking to a chosen routine.
- Use a night light in their room if your child dislikes the darkness.
- If your child wakes in the night, go to check they are ok but try not to lift them out of bed and keep your attention to the minimum.
- Keep to your routine, as much as possible, as it will build on your child’s sense of security.
Both you and your child are individuals, so no standard advice will ever fit your unique situation perfectly. Therefore take the advice that feels instinctively right for your family and forget the rest.
