These sleep tips will save you a load of hassle come bedtime

We all know bedtime routines are the foundation of healthy sleep, but it can be tricky trying to ensure your little one gets enough. 

To help you get into a routine and make sure your infant is getting plenty of shut-eye, Lucy Wolfe, paediatric sleep consultant and Baby Elegance brand ambassador, shares the following tips:

1. Understand that helping your baby sleep can be challenging at times – this is totally normal. 

2. Work on having regular wake-time, ideally between 6am and no later than 7:30am. Always start the day with a feed. 

3. Learn to read your baby's body language for sleep. Attempt sleep when you observe brief eye rubs, yawns and moments of quiet. 

Try to avoid waiting for obvious sleep cues as this normally indicates over-tiredness that makes going and staying asleep more challenging. 

4. Develop a flexible feeding and sleeping balance to the day. Remember very young babies (0-6m) do very well if they do not stay awake for longer than 1.5-2 hours at a time. 

5. Master a relaxing pre-sleep ritual that helps your baby associate certain actions and phrases that represent 'it's time to sleep'.

6. As your baby gets older, gradually bring forward bedtime to between 6-8pm by around age 4-6 months. 

This will help them consolidate their nighttime sleep phases and decrease sleep regression. 

7. Always respond to your baby's needs, be emotionally and physically attentive. 

8. Parent yourself. Self care means that you will always have enough to give to your beautiful baby.