Hush little baby

We know the pain that comes with a baby or toddler who just won’t sleep. If you haven’t experienced it yourself (lucky duck!) then there’s a very good chance that you know somebody who has struggled night after night with a little one that won’t sleep, most of the time suffering in silence while they battle through dreaded sleep deprivation. Unfortunately we were that somebody… Marissa: When my youngest (Atticus) was born I knew immediately he was going to be a bad sleeper. He screamed the full five nights I was in hospital and did-not sleep! The next three months were a blur. He just wouldn’t sleep- twenty minutes max during the day (unless he was rocked or fed to sleep) and two-hour (max) blocks overnight. I remember having this overwhelming feeling that there was actually something wrong with him. The other two were great sleepers and Atticus is my third, so surely, I should’ve had this baby sleep thing down pat? Wrong. Amelia: When Alfie was three months old, my dream sleeper did a U-turn and I could not get him back on the right track – no matter what advice I took or book, website, routine I read. Catnapping was the new norm and I can’t even tell you the amount of night wakings that were occurring. I tried everything! I co-slept (and he HATED it), I fed him to sleep (then he began using me as a dummy and ended up resenting the breast come night time), I walked and drove for hours on end to no avail, and I almost broke my back from hours of rocking, shooshing, swaying, patting and nursing. You name it.

After both experiencing and overcoming sleep and settling issues with our own little ones we decided to come together to launch Baby Sleep School.

If you’ve come this far, there’s a good chance you are struggling with your baby’s sleep and desperate for some advice from an experienced sleep consultant. Well, you can breathe a sigh of relief because we have compiled our top 10 sleep tips to help you and your bubs finally get on the road to a well-deserved sleep!

1. Routine

Easier said than done, we’re well aware of this, but babies are creatures of habit and if you do the same thing at the same time each day, your baby will soon be using this as their sleepy cues. For example, wake up from nap, feed and then play, then back to sleep. After a few days your bub will know that after playtime comes bedtime and there will be much less resistance come nap time!

2. Relax

This one’s for you, Mumma. Our little ones feed off of our temperament and anxiety, so if you approach sleepy time with a nonchalant approach, we guarantee your bub will go down MUCH easier. Next time you put your baby down for a nap, take a super relaxed approach and think to yourself - ‘what is the worst thing that can happen if my baby doesn’t sleep?’

3. Sleepy Blinds

A dark room decreases the chances of your bub becoming distracted by anything on the wall or surroundings. Something as small as a shadow or a print on the wall is enough to keep your baby awake and overstimulate them. Our Sleepy Blind is a great way to ensure this doesn’t become any issue!

4. White Noise/Lullabies

Rumour has it that lullabies can cause a baby to become more stimulated at bedtime, but we disagree. White noise is great for many babies, but we personally believe gentle lullabies are far more relaxing than the sound of a vacuum or hairdryer in your ear. Every bub is different though, so it’s best to see what works best for your little one.

This is a big one! Our children are our greatest educators, so we need to listen to them. If your baby is showing any tired signs, pop them to bed. Even if it isn’t bedtime according to their schedule, your baby is telling you what they want in this instance, so follow their lead.

6. Consistency

You need to stay consistent to be fair to your baby. Stick with the same routine and settling techniques for a few days before you try a new one. Chopping and changing will lead to a disastrous sleep and an overwhelmed bub.

7. Patience

This really is key. Without patience, sleep will not be achievable. This is when you need to go back to tip number two - just relax.

8. Nap Resistance

If your little one is refusing sleepy time, take a short break. Regroup, calm baby and try again in 15-20 minutes. Nap resistance can be a sign of both an overtired or under tired baby. Find the sweet spot by tweaking nap times over a few days if your bub continues resisting.

9. Wind Down Routine

This is CRITICAL in setting the scene for a full night’s sleep ahead. It can be as simple as cutting all technology (TV, iPad etc.) which we recommend a few hours prior to bed. Keep your dinner, bath, feed and bedtime routine consistent.

10. Let Them Be Little

This could not be more true! Whilst sleep is so important for your baby’s overall health and development, sometimes they just want and need you. Embrace it and enjoy those snuggly, sleepy cuddles while you can.

By Amelia Lamont (aka The Midwife Mumma and mum to Alfie & Essie) and Marissa Wallis, (mum to William, Rafferty, Atticus & Bowie). Amelia and Marissa founded Baby Sleep School. Designed with real-life experiences at the forefront, their PDF sleep guides cater to all stages of little ones’ sleep and are instantly downloadable online at https://sleepschool.co/