Helping your newborn baby sleep

Many newborn babies are very happy to doze off to sleep easily if they are fed, dry and cosy and feel physically secure.

Some newborns are a little more unsettled and less sure of their new surroundings. It is entirely natural for your newborn to want to be close to you, to feel your skin, and to hear your familiar voice and touch.

Newborn babies who are more unsettled benefit from skin to skin contact, lots of cuddles and possibly swaddling in a cotton sheet. Ask your midwife to show you how to swaddle your baby. Many babies settle well in a swaddle for the first 2 or 3 months.

Newborns find movement very soothing. If your baby won’t settle try rocking him or her in your arms, taking them out in the pram, or in a sling or baby carrier. Suckling is also very soothing, so try a breastfeed or soother. (It may be beneficial to avoid a soother if your baby is having any problems breastfeeding-you can discuss this with your midwife first).

Try to encourage your baby to settle themselves to sleep more after the first few weeks. Settle them into their cot in a drowsy relaxed state, and leave them to do the last part themselves. This may not work every time and your baby may need an extra cuddle, or a soothing pat or stroke before drifting off to sleep. Encouraging your newborn to go to sleep by him or herself is the best way to encourage good sleeping habits for the future.

A night light is comforting for many babies, and is useful when checking on your baby when it’s dark. The night light on your monitor, for example, is not too bright to disturb your baby.

What your baby wears to bed will depend on the season and how warm the room is. A swaddle will be an extra layer, so if you are swaddling your newborn he may need only a thin layer underneath. A special baby sleeping bag is a great alternative to sheets and blankets if you are not swaddling. They are tog rated for the different seasons, and keep your baby at an even temperature as they sleep. For safe sleep advice and information on reducing the risk of cot death see www.fsid.org

Babies and parents really benefit from a bedtime routine from about 2 to 3 months onwards. In the early evening try a bath, a quick gentle massage, a milk feed and maybe a special soothing bedtime song.

For  at least the first 3 months it is normal for your baby to still need to feed during the night Encourage your baby to sleep more at night by feeding well and regularly during the day. At night, keep lights low, avoid too much stimulation and only change their nappy if necessary.