Sleep your baby and you

SLEEP TIPS

Think of a baby, a new born baby, and nine times out of ten the image that comes to mind is that of a soundly sleeping infant, lying all cosy, warm and innocent in his cot watched over by a favorite teddy bear. Now think about the amount of time and effort it probably took his mum or dad to get him off to sleep. They might have got up to tend to his cries many times that night, leaving either one or both of them red eyed and exchausted.

The question most parents are asked after "how's the baby?" is "is he sleeping through the night yet?" And in those first few hectic, chaotic months of having a new baby in the house, sleep will be a topic close to most parents' hearts. Will the baby ever stop waking five times a night? Will he ever sleep through? Please, when are we going to be able to get some sleep?

• How a baby's sleep patterns will change.
• How to build up a bedtime routine for you and your baby.
• How to provide an environment in which baby will want to sleep, and which is safe for sleeping in.
• Some common sleep problems, and tips for solving them.
• Sleep when your baby sleeps if you can.
• Ask a family member or friend to mind your baby for a few hours whilst either you or your partner take a rest.
• Jointly share the baby's care and getting up to baby during the night with your partner so you both have an opportunity to get some sleep.

You will soon find, especially as you bond with your baby, that you will begin to understand his behaviour- his different cries, his sleep patterns. All this will help in building up a bedtime routine that will prevent difficult sleeping habits from the start. Then both your baby and you will hopefully get to sleep through the night.