The addition of a “just born” bundle of joy to the family is a rush of excitement, love & amazement !  But they don’t just come with the joys and amazements, they also often bring along sleep-deprived nights!

Night-time waking can get quite challenging for new parents; especially when baby is not yet used to a routine.  And the often continuously interrupted sleep can lead to uneasy times at  home.  

Here are a few simple things that you could try out: 

 1. A routine is good.  Get into a comfortable routine that works for you both.  If your baby wakes up late in the morning, begin waking him/her earlier every day.  This will encourage your baby to get the sleep he needs at night- and when you sleep.
2. Have a well-lit room for your baby’s naps.  This will encourage him/her to take shorter naps during the day. . . and it might help your baby to sleep earlier and better at night-time.
3. Avoid night-time nappy changes – if at all possible…
4. Carry your baby close to you in the beginning of the evening.  It’ll make your baby feel much more relaxed earlier on, and you might find that you could get away with putting him / her in bed earlier than normal.
5. Increase the daytime feeds. Your baby will be satisfied during the night if you feed him more frequently during the day. He will have already met his nutritional needs at a time more convenient to you.
6. If your baby is easily distracted during feeding in the day-time, feed him in a quiet and darkened room. In this way you ensure that come bed-time at night, he / she will be satisfied with a full tummy.
7. If you are breastfeeding, give your baby time to finish the first breast before you offer the second breast during the same feed.  He’ll get to enjoy the rich milk that contains the proteins, fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates he needs to feel satisfied.  And in turn it would help him/her to space out the night-time feeds.
8. Keep the evenings calm and relaxed and avoid overstimulation of your baby. If your little one melts away into relaxing mode when you bath him/her, do so before you put him/her to bed. If a bath is too stimulating for him/her, then you might want to wait until the morning to bath him/her.
9. Make sure the bed is nice and warm. Placing a warm baby into cold sheets might be what your baby does not want.  Use flannel sheets in cold weather, or place a warm towel on the sheets to warm them.
10. Don’t turn on the lights to feed your baby should he wake during the night. By feeding him in a dark room you’re letting him know that nights are meant for sleeping.

The last tip- and maybe even the most important tip: take care of yourself!  Rest while your baby rests, especially if you have a high-need baby. If you don’t feel like sleeping, take a walk,  put your baby in a stroller and go out in the sunshine and get some fresh air.