The UK’s No 1 baby sleep expert Jo Tantum tells you how to get you baby into a sleep routine that will benefit baby, you and all the family.
SLEEP IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY
To be a good sleeper has got to be high on your list of priorities of what you want for your baby. It’s important for your baby’s well-being and yours too, so you have the emotional and physical resources to be the best parent you can.START SLEEP TRAININGYou can sleep train very young babies from under the age of three months. For it to work you have to stick to the programme for the recommended length of time – usually not more than 7-10 days.
It’s vital that you react to your baby in exactly the same every time they wake so they quickly learns the routine of how to sleep and that it’s OK to sleep without mum, or any sleep prop they may associate with sleeping i.e rocking or a dummy .
Be prepared for your baby to cry because she might be confused. Previously, she probably told you when and where she wanted to sleep. Now you’re taking charge so she may be cross and frustrated. Always remember you’re doing the right thing so stick with it!
Begin a sleep plan at the start of the day so your baby will have enough food and be tired enough to want a nap. Make sure she isn’t overtired, so watch for tired signs . Your baby will learn about falling asleep at least twice on her own – at naptimes and bedtime – and be more confident about soothing herself if she wakes.
Sleeping in the day (naptime) also means that you have time for yourself, or other siblings. It can be a time for you to eat, relax or even get dressed!SLEEP ROUTINE RULESA routine is a guide, make sure it’s flexible so that you can make adjustments as and when needed.
 Routines should be based on babies’ natural feeding and sleeping patterns, so you can choose which routine suits your baby
TOP TIPS
Try and keep a log of baby’s feeding and sleeping patterns as well as dirty nappies. That way you can see your baby’s progress and if a baby is grizzly you can look at your log and work out if it’s constipation, hunger or tiredness.
Change baby’s nappy 15 minutes before a feed, even if it means waking them up.
PLAYTIME - FEED - PLAYTIME - NAP.
This pattern means your baby will not associate feeding with going to sleep, which later on will cause sleep problems. Neither will your baby learn to fall asleep by herself which is something they will rely on again and again. Babies are capable of one long sleep every 24 hour and you can encourage this by waking them for feeds in the daytime and giving them a dream feed around 10.30 -11pm.
TOP TIP
Swaddle your baby day and night to help them sleep more and stop them waking themselves by sudden movements.
October 2009
Jo’s best selling book Baby Secrets is available from Amazon.co.uk.
Twins specialist Jo Tantum is the author of the best-selling Penguin book Baby Secrets and writes a regular column for Prima Baby. She teaches parents how to sleep train their children. See www.babysecretsltd.com. | 
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