Helping your baby sleep - 3 months +

By 3 months your baby will appreciate a good bedtime routine. This lets him know it’s bedtime, helps him wind down and gives him a feeling of comfort and security. As a guide, aim for your bedtime routine to take about 30-45 mins from start to finish and to include : a bath or wash, a gentle massage, nightclothes on, a milk feed, a lullaby or ssshing sounds, a last cuddle before bed, and maybe a special teddy or bunny for company in the cot.

If your baby has been swaddled, by 2 or 3 months he may be ready to move on to sheets and blankets, or a special baby sleeping bag is a good choice. By 3 months he has more control of his hands and arms and they don’t disturb him when he’s trying to get to sleep. Try half swaddling when baby is ready-settle him with one or both arms outside the swaddle at the nap he settles most easily. Then try a sleeping bag. I find that even with a sleeping bag, it can really help baby to settle if you tuck him in from the waist down with a thin sheet.

By 3 months many babies are capable of sleeping for much longer periods at night. The key to this is regular, good daytime feeds, a consistent sleeping environment and a baby who is learning to settle him or herself to sleep.

During the night, many babies wake, or come into a light sleep. Your baby may learn to resettle back to sleep independently if you give him a chance to, and night wakings are not always due to hunger. Try waiting if you can, and listen to your babies’ sounds. Is he really crying out, or just calling to see if you will visit! Is he really hungry or is he just trying to go back to sleep and having a bit of a grumble?

At night keep the lights low, your voice soft, and even if you do need to feed or resettle your baby, give him an understanding of night time and he is more likely to learn to sleep through.

Many parents find that waking their baby late evening for a ‘dream feed’ can help baby sleep longer during the parents ‘night’. Others find that leaving baby happily sleeping and getting some early nights while baby is still waking at night is a better way to manage it.

Using a baby monitor means you can keep an ear on your baby if they’re sleeping in another room. They can sleep in peace and you don’t risk disturbing them as you keep a check on them. Some monitors have a built-in room thermometer to alert you if the room gets too hot or cold. It’s important not to let your baby overheat as they sleep. If your baby is older, and a noisy sleeper, look for a monitor with adjustable sensitivity. You won’t hear every sound, but you’ll know if they need you.

Gentle lullabies  can be activated from your parent unit, and a talkback function on your monitor means that you are able to reassure your baby without going into the room. This is really useful for sleep training, and also lets your baby know you are on your way.