Sleep Guide from Olivers Babycare

Ask any new parent how they are getting on, and the subject of sleep, or lack of it, will soon surface. There's no getting away from the fact that the issue of sleep - your baby's and your own - dominate the early months. Sleep is a subject that everyone will have an opinion on, and this won't always coincide with your own. If you are feeling overwhelmed by advice, whether from friends or the internet, you might want to take a step back and just consider the main things you should know.  

TOP PRIORITY

The priority is of course safety, with the fear of cot death always at the back of a parent's mind. Years of research have underlined the importance of putting your baby to sleep on their back. The increased use of this sleeping position has almost certainly reduced the numbers of babies who succumb to cot death. Your baby should also be placed in the ‘feet to foot' position, ie their feet should be at the bottom end of the cot. This prevents babies from wriggling down the cot and getting caught under the blankets and then over heating.  One marvellous new device to shorten the cot while your baby is small is the Safababy Cot Divider. This can be used from birth.

SWADDLING

When it comes to getting a tiny baby to sleep, the traditional idea of ‘swaddling' is now much encouraged.  Newborn and very young babies love to be securely wrapped in a cotton sheet or blanket. This keeps their arms by their side and restricts their movement, reminding them of being in the womb and increasing their sense of security. Research now suggests swaddling can also reduce the risk of cot death. There are some lovely swaddling blankets available, such as the Baby Sense Cuddlewrap Swaddling Blanket and the Grobag Newborn Baby Swaddling.

MATTRESS

Every new baby should have a brand new mattress, preferably a firm one, even if their cot is a hand-me-down. This is because a used mattress will contain bacteria from the previous occupant. While pillows are not safe for babies, the Delta Baby Rest Easy can be useful for babies with breathing problems, for example if they have a cold. This sleeping wedge, which can be used from birth, supports the upper part of the body. When it comes to bedding, many new parents swear by a baby sheepskin. This is so soft for a baby to lie on in bed, helping to maintain temperature summer and winter.  Among the nicest are the Bowron lambskin fleeces from New Zealand. 

LEARN TO SLEEP

Encouraging babies to learn to go to sleep by themselves is vital if they, and you, are to get some good quality sleep.  The age old advice that you should put a baby down to sleep when they are awake, rather than asleep, really does stand the test of time.  Otherwise, whenever your baby wakes in the night, they will cry out for a parent to soothe them back to sleep. Also many people find that letting their baby have a bedroom of their own, rather than sleeping in their parent's room, does mean that everyone sleeps better. Remember too that experts advise that you should not let your baby sleep in your own bed, because of the risk of overheating, or you rolling onto them.

FINAL WORD

Don't believe your friends when they all say their babies are sleeping through the night from six weeks.  Very few babies do.