Sleep can be a significant challenge to many parents. Overtiredness, colic and reflux rank high as the most common factors that result in frustrating sleep challenges in the early months. Here are six simple strategies that can help you and baby achieve and maintain longer stretches of sleep both during the day and overnight
- Have a flexible feeding and sleeping approach to the day. Anchor the morning with a regular wake time no later than 0730am.This will help to balance the feeding and sleeping patterns of your baby.
- Learn to read your baby’s early sleep cues to avoid overtiredness and a resistance to sleep.Brief eye rubs and zoning out indicates the ideal time to attempt sleep, whilst more intense or obvious signals can make achieving and maintaining sleep more challenging
- Help baby to understand the difference between day and night: expose to bright natural light in the day and keep lights low and without distractions for night time
- Get out and about, especially in the mid morning and afternoon to help promote positive sleeping patterns and fill baby’s sensory diet
- If your baby is struggling with colic or reflux, safely elevate their sleeping position to reduce discomfort
- Use motion, rhythm andwhite noise to help your child stay asleep for longer periods during the day
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