Basic sleep tips

As discussed in the last module, there are things families can do, even from a very young age, to help baby learn to settle themselves to sleep more easily – simple things which really do make a big difference to sleep. These are always worth trying before embarking on more focused sleep coaching. They are all ‘no cry’ solutions that should help move baby in the right direction, should that be the approach a family wants to take. 

Improving sleep without ‘sleep coaching’ can include:

• Waking baby at the same time each day (e.g. 7am) 
• Putting baby to bed at the same time each day (e.g. 7pm) 
• Introducing a consistent bath and bedtime routine 
• Introducing the difference between day and night (lights, camera action in the daytime, darkness and quiet, whispering in the evening or for any feeds between 7pm and 7am). 
• Having regular feed and sleep times each day (introducing a routine) 
• Comforters are good to introduce if other sleep associations are being taken away (e.g. removing feeding to sleep, a dummy etc). A comforter can be used as early on as wanted, though baby should not be swaddled if they have one. A muslin or a baby comforter (such as the mini animal head blankets) are perfect, rather than a big soft fluffy toy, which is less safe. Parents must make the decision on whether they feel a comforter is the right thing to use with their baby, and should also take into account the safe sleep guidelines before coming to that decision.

Ex 2 – What are three of the basics that you would check with regards to baby’s sleep, before you go on to troubleshoot in more detail? (250 words)