One expert has shared why it's totally normal for babies not to sleep through the night - and it could actually be a good sign.

As many parents will know, having a baby means kissing goodbye to a good night's sleep. Just when you think you've figured out when babies sleep through the night you might be hit with the 10-month sleep regression, or any other number of new challenges that have altered your baby's sleep routine.

And while we know that your baby waking up at 5am is one of the less enjoyable aspects of parenting, perhaps next time you're trying to soothe your baby in the small hours you can take some comfort from the fact that it might actually be a good thing.

One scientist from the University of Bristol has explained some of the positives of your baby not sleeping through the night, including an association with higher intelligence levels and better mental health. Every cloud, right?

Speaking to Buzzfeed, Peter Fleming, professor of infant health and developmental psychology, explained, "Human infants are not designed to sleep for long periods, it's not good for them, and there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that there is any benefit to anybody from having a child that sleeps longer and consistently." He added, "That's not perhaps what most parents would like to hear."

The good news, however, is the link between "very high levels of developmental and intellectual achievement and not sleeping throughout the night," according to Professor Fleming.

He also explained that babies prefer to be awake between 6pm and midnight, and would rather sleep during the day, adding that there is a biological advantage to this, because "they will have more attention from their two primary caregivers at that time of day than at any other, because there are fewer distractions."

Professor Fleming adds, "From a biological point of view what the baby is doing is completely normal and sensible. It just doesn't fit in with our 21st-century expectations."

In fact, Professor Fleming explains that the idea that babies should sleep through the night is a modern expectation, when it's actually more natural for them to wake up often.

"One needs to remember that society changes faster than biology," he says. "A biological pattern that's taken half a million years to develop can't just be suddenly ignored and turned around. Particularly when there's no advantage in doing so."

It's worth remembering that for many adults it's rare to sleep through the night without waking, but the difference is that babies struggle to get back to sleep themselves.

As Professor Fleming explains, "Adults tend to go through a 90-minute sleep cycle and come up almost or perhaps completely to the point of waking up and then go back to sleep.

"We tend to have two or three of those during the night time before we become aware that we've woken and go back to sleep. Babies have a 60-minute cycle."

So while it might not be the news parents want to hear, take small comfort in knowing that if you've tried everything to get your baby to sleep through the night and it's still not happening, this is normal and you're most certainly not the only parent going through it.

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'Can you sleep on your stomach while pregnant' is a question pondered by many a pregnant person, you are not alone in wondering if this is a safe position or not, especially if it's your go-to sleep stance pre-pregnancy. 

Before you start researching and investing in the best cot mattress for your soon-to-be-born little one, take a look through our pregnancy pillow buys, some people swear by them for a comfy pregnant night's sleep. 

And, while sleeping on your stomach is typically safe during the early stages of pregnancy, as your pregnancy progresses and your belly grows, it can become increasingly uncomfortable and potentially place pressure on your womb and other organs. It's best to find more comfortable sleep positions to ensure a restful night's sleep and support your changing body throughout pregnancy.

We ask three medical experts to share the lowdown on safe sleep practices during your pregnancy and for practical advice on getting comfortable in later pregnancy, as your bump grows, see what they tell us below.

Can you sleep on your stomach while pregnant? 

Yes, it is safe to sleep on your stomach during pregnancy for as long as you want to, but you'll likely find that your growing bump, tender breasts, and backache make it more uncomfortable as your pregnancy progresses.

According to Midwife Pip, a practicing midwife, and podcaster, "While you can sleep on your stomach, most women will find as their breasts and bump grow, sleeping on their front is no longer comfortable or practical. So, although you may sleep on your front in the first trimester, as your pregnancy progresses, it is recommended to sleep on your side."

The Modern Midwife Marie Louise shares a similar perspective: "Until you have a bump, it's fine to sleep in whatever position you find most comfortable. Once you have a bump (timing around this varies significantly), you'll naturally assume more comfortable positions."

Why should I stop sleeping on my stomach during pregnancy?

While there is no specific medical or safety reason to stop sleeping on your stomach during pregnancy, it can start to feel "unnatural," according to Marie Louise. She explains, "Sleeping directly on your tummy will mean putting increased pressure on your baby. You may feel little feet or knees more, which can be uncomfortable and encourage the baby to change positions. Yet many mums tell me they wake up in all kinds of positions!"

You may have heard myths about sleeping on your stomach during pregnancy from other mums or well-meaning family members. Let's debunk four major myths:

1. Myth: Sleeping on your stomach can harm the baby. 

Fact:  As long as you feel comfortable, sleeping on your stomach is safe during the early stages of pregnancy when your bump is still relatively small. Your body naturally provides cushioning and protection for your baby. 

 2. Myth: Sleeping on your stomach can cause the umbilical cord to wrap around the baby's neck.

Fact: The position you sleep in does not cause the umbilical cord to wrap around the baby's neck (a condition known as the nuchal cord). Nuchal cords are common in pregnancy, affecting up to a third of babies in the womb, but they are usually harmless.

3. Myth: Sleeping on your stomach can lead to miscarriage.

Fact: No evidence suggests that sleeping on your stomach causes miscarriage. Miscarriages often occur due to chromosomal abnormalities or other factors unrelated to sleep position.

4. Myth: Sleeping on your stomach can restrict blood flow to the baby.

Fact: While ensuring proper blood flow to the baby is important, sleeping on your stomach does not significantly affect blood flow. As your pregnancy progresses, experts recommend sleeping on your side to optimise blood circulation. However, sleeping on your stomach earlier in pregnancy is unlikely to cause any issues. 

What are the best sleeping positions during the first trimester?

"It’s best to tune into your body and get decent rest in a position you prefer,” says Marie Louise. “The more we tune into our bodies earlier in pregnancy, the better."

If you have any concerns or specific medical conditions, talk to your midwife or GP. Otherwise, try experimenting with different positions and use pregnancy pillows or cushions for support. Here are some positions to try that may help you get more comfortable in the first trimester;

• Side sleeping: Sleeping on your side is considered one of the best sleeping positions during pregnancy, particularly in your third trimester. This position improves blood circulation to your baby and helps prevent your womb from pressing on major blood vessels. Try placing a pillow between your knees and under your growing bump for added comfort and support. 
• Semi-reclined: Some women find it comfortable to sleep in a semi-reclined position, propped up by pillows. According to the NHS, this can also help if you have heartburn or acid reflux, which are both common during pregnancy. 

Sleeping on your back (not after 28 weeks): While sleeping on your back is generally considered safe during early pregnancy, avoiding this position after 28 weeks is crucial. Researchers have found that going to sleep on your back in late pregnancy can, sadly, raise the risk of stillbirth.  

Dr Nauf AlBendar, Medical Scientist and Founder of the Womb Effect, explains why: “When a pregnant mum sleeps on her back, the baby tends to be less active and changes their heart-rate patterns. This might be due to the pressure on the main blood vessels that supply the womb, which restricts blood flow and oxygen to the baby.”

How long is it safe to sleep on my back while pregnant? 

Until you reach 28 weeks of pregnancy. After this time, the risk of stillbirth increases if you sleep in this position. However, midwife Marie Louise suggests that it's beneficial to develop a habit of sleeping on your side even earlier than this to avoid a sudden change.

Marie Louise and Midwife Pip reassures Goodto.com readers that waking up on your back is not a cause for alarm. Marie Louise says, "Many mums tell me they wake up in a panic on their back, but there's no need to worry. You can't control the positions you assume while asleep." She adds, "I'm currently 35 weeks pregnant and wake up on my back all the time."

The key point to remember is to begin your sleep on your side, and if you happen to wake up on your back, there's no need to fret. Simply roll back onto your side and continue snoozing. Midwife Pip suggests using pillows to support your bump and placing a pillow between your knees for added comfort. These measures can help make the side sleeping position more comfortable and support any aches you may experience in your joints or back.

 Why can’t I sleep on my right side while pregnant? 

You can! In fact, it doesn’t really matter which side you sleep on - left or right. There was a small amount of research in the past to suggest that sleeping on the left side slightly reduced the risk of stillbirth, but this research hasn’t been borne out in later studies. Sleeping on the left side does, however, help your kidneys to get rid of waste products and fluids from your body, which Dr Nauf says can help with swelling in pregnancy.

The NHS reassures mums-to-be that sleeping on the left or right is perfectly safe, as do our expert midwives. Sleeping on either side is fine,” confirms Marie Louise. “The left side is preferable as this optimises blood flow. But if you find your right more comfortable - that’s fine too. Your rest and comfort are key.”

For more information about pregnancy health and symptoms, check out the NHS’s guide to pregnancy, labour and birth or visit Tommy’s PregnancyHub for advice on having a safe and healthy pregnancy.

Get more expert advice and information about sleep, from the best positions for a good night’s sleep to creating a safe sleeping environment for your newborn baby. 

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When do babies sleep through the night? must be one of the most-asked questions among new parents. And when you’re exhausted it may feel that everyone else's baby is the 'perfect sleeper'. But most babies don’t sleep through the night, so you're not alone. 

Whether you've invested in the best cot mattress, or an amazing white noise sleep aide, sleeping through until morning is one of the big baby development milestones that most parents look forward to, if your baby is not sleeping through you are not a failure, and your baby isn't broken, they're not supposed to sleep through, we actually all wake up during the night, it's just that babies need help dropping back off to sleep.

Infant sleep consultant Rosey Davidson, the author of The Just Chill Baby Sleep book, agrees. She tells us: “In theory, no one sleeps through the night. We all go through sleep cycles, between light and deep sleep. Babies are no different. What we tend to mean when we say a baby 'sleeps through,' is that they sleep for a long chunk of the night without parental input or milk feeds. Every baby is different. Some will naturally do this in the early weeks, and some won't do it until toddlerhood, or even childhood.”

All very true, though there are some steps you can take to ensure your little one is set up to have the best night’s sleep they can. We talk to the experts to make this challenge a tiny bit easier.

When do babies sleep through the night? 

According to the NHS, between 6 to 12 months is when babies will “sleep for up to 12 hours at night”. However, we talk to baby sleep experts who agree that it could be toddlerhood or childhood before your little one manages to sleep through the night, completely unaided. 

Like adults, babies naturally wake during the night. The difference seems to be how easy they find it to settle themselves back to sleep. Baby sleep expert and author Rosey Davidson explains: “Temperament plays a big part. Some babies are naturally less likely to call out for their parent’s help to get back to sleep. As parents, we can also set them up for the best chance at a more settled night by working on an age-appropriate daytime routine and sustainable ways of settling them to sleep at bedtime and during the night.” 

It's also important to remember that different parents will have different ideas of what ‘sleeping through’ means. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that of 757 babies aged either 6 or 12 months found that 27.9% to 57.0% of 6 and 12-month-old infants did not sleep through the night (defined as either 6 or 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep).

Audrey, who has a 12-month-old daughter, Beatrice, said: “My best friend kept telling me how her baby was sleeping through every night. I found it difficult to hear, as I was so sleep deprived and emotional. But one day she mentioned in passing that she meant her baby slept for six hours at a time. That made me feel so much better, as I realised what we were going through was totally normal."

Typical sleep patterns by age group

Typical sleep patterns by age group vary greatly as a baby gets older. When babies are first born they spend most of their day sleeping. However, by the age of 1, they will be getting most of their sleep at night, with just one or two naps in the day. Baby and child sleep coach Nicole Ratcliffe, who is the founder of Baby2Sleep, tells us: “Every baby is different so there is no way to say when a baby will sleep through. I have spoken to parents who have said their baby 'slept through' from two weeks old. However, it is important to understand that each parent’s version of sleeping through can be different.”

Newborn - 6 months

Nicole explains: “Newborn babies have a very different sleep structure to 6 month old babies. Newborn babies tend to have no circadian rhythmicity when born and it takes until around 12 weeks old to emerge fully. They are also missing two stages of their NREM (non-rapid eye-movement) sleep, and this is important as we are designed this way to help both physical growth and brain development. If we try to 'force' a baby to sleep through before they are biologically ready, it can become a SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) risk.”

For the first few months be prepared for your little one to take frequent naps, especially if you are doing something which is mentally tiring, such as attending a group. Also remember that the younger the baby, the more likely they are to be feeding during the night.

Rosey says: “Between 0 to 3 months most babies sleep 14 to 17 hours within 24 hours, averaging 4 to 5 naps.” As your baby gets older you will start to develop more of a routine and find that they often nap at a particular time of the day. 

6 months - 12 months

Nicole explains: “By 6 months old, babies tend to have more structure and a more regular sleep pattern. Between 6 and 8 months sleep tends to average 11 hours overnight with 3.5 hours during the day over 3 naps, and by 9 months this tends to drop to 3 hours over 2 naps. 

Once your baby nears the 12 months mark they will need less sleep during the day. Rosey says: “By 10 to 18 months most babies sleep 11 to 14 hours in 24 hours, averaging 1 to 2 naps.” Through the baby’s first year, it is normal for them to wake up frequently. In this study of 5,700 children, 8 out of 10 parents of both three-month-olds and eight-month-olds told researchers that their babies woke more than five nights a week. 

12 months +

However, as they got older this changed. By 18 months old almost two-thirds of babies no longer needed resettling at night. This is also around the time that babies will often start to change their nap routine. 

Lucy, a mum to two-year-old Ava, says: “At around 18 months old Ava dropped to just one nap a day and we noticed a huge difference in her nighttime sleeping. She went from crying for us most nights to only once or twice a week.” 

Nicole says: “Between 15 and 18 months, babies start to transition from two naps a day to one nap of around 2 to 2.5 hours, still with around 11 hours overnight.

“However, it is important to note that these are averages. There are some high and low sleep needs babies. But, as an average, they tend to sleep a certain amount in a 24-hour period and this could be split differently over day and night for each baby.”

Should I let my baby sleep through the night?

If there are no concerns about their weight then it is fine to let your baby sleep through the night. You only need to wake them at night to feed if they are not taking in enough calories during the day. Don’t forget to always follow advice from the NHS and The Lullaby Trust to sleep your baby on their back to reduce the risks of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Nicole says: “In the very early stages, if your newborn baby appears to not want to wake for feeds, then you may need to intervene to make sure your baby is getting enough calories over those 24 hours. "After a couple of weeks, if there are no issues with your baby's growth and you haven't specifically been asked to wake to feed, it is fine to feed upon waking in a responsive manner.”

Rosey agrees: “Once your baby has regained their birth weight, and there are no other health or feeding concerns you can let them sleep as long as they want at night. "Your midwife or paediatrician will be monitoring your baby's weight in the early weeks. Some babies will naturally start sleeping for longer chunks of time, and others will need a bit of help for longer.” 

What else could prevent baby from sleeping longer through the night?

• Daytime naps
• Temperature 
• Separation anxiety 
• Hunger 
• Sleep regressions

There are a number of things that could be preventing your baby from sleeping longer through the night. Although it is natural for babies to wake up, you can also ensure that they have the best night possible by making sure they are ready for bedtime when it comes and that they remain comfortable while sleeping.

Daytime naps

Babies need to get a certain amount of sleep over a 24-hour period. So if your little one is waking up a lot at night, it is worth considering how much they are napping during the day. Rosey says: “In order to give our babies the best chance at sleeping for longer chunks at night, we should consider their daytime sleep. Babies need to nap during the day, but if they nap too much, or too late it will impact their nighttime sleep negatively. 

"Also if they don't nap when they need to, they can become agitated and harder to settle. We should look at overall sleep requirements across 24 hours, and also take into account that each baby is slightly different. Some will need longer naps than others. It is all about finding a happy medium when it comes to naps.”

Rob, who has an eight-month-old daughter Bella, says: “A couple of months ago we realised that when Bella slept after 3pm she always took a long time to get to sleep at bedtime and woke multiple times during the night. We decided to have her lunchtime nap as the last one of the day and have found that she now sleeps so much better at night.” When and where your baby naps can also have an impact on their sleep patterns.

Nicole explains: "It could be that your baby has started nursery and they aren't able to accommodate your baby's sleep needs. As an example, I speak to a lot of parents who find sleep falls apart when their baby turns one. But this tends to be because it suits the nursery schedule to put babies this age onto one nap a day at lunchtime, which for most babies is too young. So they go home at the end of the day extremely overtired. 

"Parents may end up feeling stressed because their baby falls asleep in the car on the way home and they end up with a bedtime battle. Or they are extremely wired or cranky and then the sleep battles begin."

Temperature

When considering nighttime waking, it is also worth thinking about the temperature your baby is sleeping at. Being too hot or too cold can also cause them to wake up. Rosey says: “They should be appropriately dressed for the temperature, 16 to 20 degrees is optimum. Overheating can be a SIDS risk and can make our babies unsettled. Being too cold can also mean that baby is uncomfortable.”

Different babies will also require different comfort levels at night; some learn to self-soothe more quickly than others. In fact, this study of 80 babies over 4 nights found that the number of night wakes did not change over the first year. However, older babies were more likely to self-soothe and parents did not take older children out of their cots as much as younger ones. 

Mum-of-one and Family Editor at Goodto.com relied on her GroEgg when her son was tiny she tells us; "Ted was a NYE baby, so I was terrified he was cold or I was overheating him, the egg gave me some loose guidance in the early days which was hugely welcomed."

Separation anxiety

Some babies may suffer from separation anxiety, particularly if they spend the majority of their day with one parent. Nicole says: “If you think separation anxiety is partly to blame for poor sleep, playing games such as peekaboo can really help babies learn that just because they can't see you, it doesn't mean you aren't there and that you always return.”

Rosey adds: "How babies settle at bedtime can also affect how the night goes. Working on how our babies fall asleep can mean that they learn how to fall back to sleep without our assistance when they stir between sleep cycles during the night. 

"It is entirely normal and natural to attend to our babies during the night, but we can gently work on strategies to help them to fall back to sleep in a sustainable way for the family, and baby in question." 

Hunger

Another factor that can cause babies to wake in the night is hunger. Studies have shown that breastfed babies often wake up more. So don't worry if you find that to be the case.

Nicole says: "Introducing a dream feed before you go to bed can potentially give you a good few hours of sleep before your baby wakes up needing a feed. This would also help you understand whether your baby is waking with hunger or for something else."

Sleep regression

It’s also important to remember that babies are learning so much every day and sometimes as they reach different developmental milestones their sleep can be affected. Nicole says: "You may have heard of the term 'sleep regression', but I like to call it 'brain development'. Babies are developing so fast that sometimes sleep takes a back seat while the brain and body are trying to process all the new changes. 

"At 4 months, sleep cycles are maturing, babies are becoming more alert and interested in the world around them, and they may begin rolling amongst a number of other things. Around 8 months, babies may start to crawl, around 10 months they may start standing and around 12-18 months babies start walking. These gross motor skills play havoc with sleep while the brain and body adjust."

So, while "When do babies sleep through the night?" may be a question you wail out in the early hours, rest assured it will happen eventually and every child works on their own timeframe. And remember, no matter how tired you are, do not be tempted to lay your baby on its front to promote deeper sleep, as studies have shown that this increases the risk of SIDS.

However, if you are really concerned that your baby is waking too frequently or if lack of sleep is beginning to impact your mental health then do make sure you reach out to your GP or midwife.

If you’re trying to develop good sleep routines and are looking for a comfy cot, check out our best cot mattresses guide. Plus the SnuzCloud Baby Sleep Aid could help you to create a good bedtime routine. And if you’re looking for a cool sleeping bag for the summer or holidays, check out this aden + anais Baby Sleeping Bag Review.

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We all know that a good night’s sleep is a must-have for growing kids. 

It affects their energy levels, attention span and overall health. The amount of sleep they need is longer than that recommended for an adult, meaning that sleeping through the night is even more important. Children aged three to five should get 10 to 13 hours of rest (including naps), and children aged six to 12 need just a little less at nine to 12 hours.*

Making sure they can nod off – and stay asleep – can be a challenge. However, there’s plenty you can do to help keep your kids in the land of nod for longer, from practical tips to clever new products. Here are five easy ways to help your family get better sleep all through the night.

1. Tuck away the tech

Whether it's TV, tablets or mobile phones, tech at bedtime is a no-no. Not only will the light they emit prevent your child from settling by suppressing their sleepiness, but devices can disturb them through the night with alerts - meaning that by morning, they’re wired and tired. For those kids who use a device to help them fall asleep, try replacing screens with story time or relaxing music.

2. Keep them comfy 

If you’ve ever slept on an uncomfortable bed, you’ll know the difference that good bedding can make to staying asleep. Ensure your kid’s bed is as comfy as possible, starting with their pillow. 

Multi-awarding winning Panda London Pillows are ideal for little ones: made from memory foam to provide support without flattening (though still with enough give), they align your child’s neck and spine perfectly. And because each one is hypoallergenic and wrapped in a naturally silky-soft bamboo cover, they’re gentle on sensitive skin too. There are two sizes of the kid’s pillow: toddler and 4+, and even a specially contoured baby pillow too which can help to prevent flat head

Each one also has a built-in pillow protector, which includes a strong and breathable mesh fabric to make sure it stays intact. There’s even a 30-night trial and a 10-year guarantee, so you know that your kid’s Panda London Pillow will keep supporting them as they grow.

3. Don’t forget to look after yourself

It’s not just the little ones who need a great night's sleep. As a parent, it can be all too easy to spend every waking hour making sure the kids are happy, healthy, and taken care of - but it’s just as important for the grown ups to rest and recharge. Being well rested helps you stay calm and focused, and will make your day so much more enjoyable.

Panda’s Hybrid Pillow is the perfect way to turn those restless nights into a dreamy indulgence. By blending the soft and soothing natural properties of bamboo with innovative design and technology, Panda has created charcoal infused memory foam that adapts to the unique pressures of your sleep position, and is naturally antibacterial too. 

4. Make bath time more fun

A soothing bath before bed is an ideal way to get your kids in the mood to snooze. But if they’re less than keen, getting them in the tub can be a hard sell.

Turn bath time into play time by adding bubble bath, bath bombs or calming scents to the tub – and don’t forget the toys. Floating toys that light up or bath books that change colour or can be coloured-in instantly brighten up bath time. 

5. Control the climate

Being too hot or cold often leads to broken sleep. Cool but comfortable (usually around 18-22C) is best, so invest in a room thermometer and ensure the bedding stays cool, even on hot summer nights. Panda London Pillows have a luxurious bamboo cover that wicks away moisture to keep your kids at a comfortable temperature as they sleep, plus the sustainable bamboo is also breathable, naturally antibacterial and odour resistant. 

6. Have a routine in place

A set bedtime and wind-down routine, which can be 30 minutes to two hours ahead, is a must to prepare your child for sleep. Stick to the same pattern nightly, and remove distractions such as toys, as these can prevent your child sleeping. Instead, tuck them up with their familiar Panda London Pillow – each one features a friendly panda face that’s sure to be their bedtime buddy. Happy snoozing!

Don’t miss out on dreamy sleep

You can buy Panda London’s Kids Memory Foam Bamboo Pillows and Baby Memory Foam Bamboo Pillows at pandalondon.com – as well as the new luxury Hybrid Memory Foam Bamboo Pillow for your own bed! All pillows have free delivery, and a 30-night trial, so you can try them and return for a full refund if you don’t love them. Panda London will even cover the postage costs. Each Panda London Pillow is also guaranteed to remain supportive and intact for 10 years – that’s a lot of peaceful nights. Plus every purchase will help to protect the rainforest.

The best travel cots should be three things: lightweight, compact and easy to assemble. 

If you're heading away on holiday, staying overnight at a friend's house or visiting family far, far away, the best travel cots offer a safe and secure place for your baby to sleep in comfortably, when you're away from home. 

Unlike the best bedside cots, a travel cot is made to be portable. Therefore, many of today's travel cots are lightweight and very quick to assemble so when you reach your destination, you can construct it in minutes. The best travel cots enable you to do this with just one hand. Let's face it: after all that travelling — be it by train, car or plane — a long journey is bound to take it out of you. So your baby will most probably be tired (and so might you)!

Along with being easy to pop up, these handy sleep solutions will also be easy to disassemble and can be packed down neatly into their own storage bag so you can carry them easily to the car or stow them as luggage. To find out what we believe to be the best travel cots keep scrolling. We've included a range of the top options all tried and tested by parents and their little ones. 

Best travel cots 2023 at-a-glance

• Best travel cot overall: Joie Kubbie Sleep, £99.99 | Very
• Best travel cot for assembly: BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light, £220 | Amazon
• Best budget travel cot: Red Kite Sleeptight Travel Cot, £36 | Amazon
• Best travel cot for camping: Little Life Arc 2, £119.99 | LittleLife
• Best travel cot for a plush mattress: Nuna Sena Aire, £249.99 | Very 
• Best travel cot for entertainment: Graco Contour Electra, £114.99 | Amazon
• Best travel cot for co-sleeping: Micralite Sleep & Go, £120 | Micralite

The best travel cots - tried and tested

What we thought: The Joie Kubbie Sleep Travel Cot gets our vote as the best travel cot to buy. 'Not only is it excellent value for money at just under £100,' says our Deputy Editor (and mum of three), Heidi Scrimgeour, 'but we also love that it comes with a newborn insert that zips into place inside the travel cot so that you don't have to bend all the way down to the ground to lift your baby in and out.' 

What our tester thought: ‘Having a tiny baby positioned up higher feels much safer than travel cots that place them on the ground, plus, it’s much easier on mums like me who’ve had a C-section,’ says our mum tester, Charlotte Clarke, who reviewed this travel cot with her 20-month-old daughter, Adelaide.

In co-sleeping mode, the cot sides drop down with a few simple clicks and the cot can be attached to a bed with straps, which are provided. But the innovation doesn’t stop there; the Kubbie Sleep Travel Cot also converts into a playpen with a zippable entrance so that toddlers can roam freely in and out. 

Overall verdict: No matter how you’re using this travel cot, it’s easy to assemble. ‘I like that this has been designed with common sense in mind,’ adds Charlotte. ‘There’s nothing too complicated or hi-tech about it, so it's perfect for sleep-deprived parents.’ Her daughter seemed to agree and slept well in the Joie Kubbie Sleep.

• Read our full Joie Kubbie Sleep Travel Cot review

What we thought: BabyBjörn's take on a travel cot is an easy-to-assemble design with mesh sides and a surprisingly soft and thick mattress. Our tester Hollie was able to put up this travel cot one-handed while holding a baby and without reading any of the instructions - a pretty impressive feat. The is the best travel cot to buy if quick and easy assembly is your number one priority.

What our tester thought: Mum Hollie Bond and her 10-month-old daughter Margot, aged ten months, reviewed this travel cot for Goodto. Margot slept well in the cot and had ‘enough space to move around in her sleep,’ but Hollie doesn't think it will be big enough for her to sleep in up to the age of three, as the brand claims. Hollie also had some reservations about using this travel cot as she found the base very low to the ground. ‘I wouldn't want to have the cot positioned anywhere that might be draughty or cold as I felt that Margot was a little vulnerable being so low to the ground.’ However, the low base does mean that the cot is multi-functional and can be used as a playpen at home or on holiday.

Overall verdict: When the holiday is over, everything can then be folded up and put into the handy bag that’s included. ‘When packed up the bag definitely feels sturdy enough to withstand any rough handling in transit,’ adds Hollie. ‘It'll make my holiday less stressful too because it's so easy to assemble. And I can use it as Margot's playpen to keep her safe if we're near a swimming pool.’

• Read our full BabyBjörn Travel Cot Light review 

What we thought: The Red Kite Sleep Tight Travel Cot is a classic, stylish design with supporting legs that are easy to assemble. Its mesh sides are fully padded to avoid injury but also allow babies to see out easily.

What our tester thought: Mum Darryl Baker put this travel cot to the test with her 10-month-old daughter, Cole. Darryl tells us she couldn’t get over how easy this travel cot was to put together. In the past, she has struggled with travel cots borrowed from friends. ‘Kneeling on them, pushing them, and mostly pleading with them to just PLEASE fold down,' she says. But there were no such dramas with this. ‘The knack for putting up and down a travel cot can be tricky, but it's not an issue with the Red Kite Sleep Tight travel cot,’ she says. In terms of comfort, Darryl's daughter Cole slept well, waking just once and settling easily after a feed.

Overall verdict: Weighing just over 7kg, this is a relatively lightweight option, so it's one of the best travel cots to buy if you're looking for something super portable but also sturdy enough for older babies to sleep in. At just £36 (yes, we've double-checked the price), this is definitely the best travel cot to choose if you're looking for a good quality budget buy.

• Read our full Red Kite Sleep Tight Travel Cot review

What we thought: The Little Life Arc 2 is not your average travel cot. It’s one of the lightest in our buying guide, coming in at just 2.5kg, so it's hands down the best travel cot to buy if you're keen to take your baby with you on camping adventures. It's probably not right for you if you're not a fan of the great outdoors, however.

What our tester thought: ‘It comes in a neat, portable rucksack which it is easy to pack the cot in and out of,’ says our mum reviewer Charlotte Clarke, who put this to the test with her 19-month-old daughter Adelaide.

The Little Life is more of a tent than a travel cot and has to be put together with poles and a single specially-designed sheet. Once the poles and sheet have been bent into position, you insert a surprisingly thick, waterproof mattress into the cot via Velcro strips. 

‘This wasn’t the easiest cot to assemble but I think you’d get quicker with practice,’ adds Charlotte. Her daughter tested the cot during one of her naps and after initially finding the mesh sides fun to pull and push, she settled down on the mattress and snoozed for a decent period of time.

Overall verdict: This isn’t really a travel cot for a weekend away – its features include a ventilated, anti-insect mesh, ground pegs for outdoor use, and zip-down panels. ‘This would be perfect if you're travelling in a hot country, attending a summer festival, or going on a UK camping trip,’ said our tester. ‘But for indoor use, you need to attach it to a suitable piece of furniture, which we found a bit difficult to find.’ It's good value for such a niche item - but you’ll probably still need a standard travel cot for indoor overnight trips.

• Read our full Little Life Arc 2 Travel Cot review

What we thought: Once you’ve got this travel cot up, you’ll see why it justifies its £200-plus price tag. Firstly, it comes with a newborn insert that sits up high and saves your back from extra bending – especially good if you’ve had a C-section. And when your baby has outgrown this stage, the insert can be removed and the baby sleeps on a luxuriously thick, padded mattress over a cushioned base. There are lots of other noteworthy stand-out features too such as skid-proof feet, an organic cotton sheet to pop over the mattress, and soft, padded edges.

What our tester thought: The Nuna Sena Aire Travel Cot has a unique assembly system which our tester Darryl - who reviewed it with her 10-month-old daughter Cole - found a cinch to use. ‘I’ve read up on it and it’s to do with a zig-zag leg design, which means it pretty much just pushes into place and can be folded away with one hand,’ she says. Easy!

Overall verdict: The Aire doubles up as a playpen, which is always handy, but our tester did find it quite bulky - something that you’d need to think about if you plan to regularly move it around. ‘The only downside is how big it is but if space isn’t a problem in the car, then this can’t be faulted,’ she adds. At 10kg, this isn’t a light travel cot but the design is more focused on the baby’s comfort than on portability. As the most expensive travel cot in our lineup, this will appeal to anyone willing to pay extra for the plushest travel cot mattress we've ever seen.

• Read our full Nuna Sena Aire Travel Cot review

What we thought: This travel cot isn't especially portable as it's large and robust - but that does allow your baby lots of space to move around, plus it doubles as a playpen. It comes with a newborn insert, a changing mat, a nightlight with music and vibrating features, and a toy bar so there’s lots to keep your little one entertained and to (hopefully) help send them off to sleep.

What our tester thought: ‘Other than it being heavy and a bit bulky to store and travel with, I think the Graco Contour Electra is an excellent travel cot that has some fabulous features,’ says our tester Hollie, who reviewed it with her ten-month-old daughter, Margot. ‘It folds out really easily into a full-size cot.’

Hollie found this a doddle to assemble and says she didn’t even have to read the instructions. ‘I love that two of the legs are on wheels so, although it was big, I could easily move it around the room to put it in the place I wanted without trying to pick it up and carry it.’

Overall verdict: The Graco Contour Electra is a mid-priced travel cot, well suited for trips around the UK rather than holidays abroad as it’s difficult to carry on and off a plane. ‘I wouldn't want to carry this far or have to pick it up off the airport conveyor belt by myself,’ adds Hollie. ‘And people with small cars might want to consider a travel cot that is more compact.’ It's a brilliant choice if you have other children and need somewhere to pop your baby, knowing they'll be safe and occupied while you fix snacks or oversee bathroom visits.

• Read our full Graco Contour Electra Travel Cot review

What we thought: This is a multifunctional travel cot that can also be used as a playpen and co-sleeper (the latter when the newborn insert is added). It’s extremely easy to put up (and down) with a couple of clicks and zips. Our tester Amelia, who's expecting her second baby, described this as absolutely game-changing. 

What our tester thought: 'This is a very good-looking travel cot with hardy, dark-coloured fabric that looks stylish and neutral and shouldn’t show wear and tear readily,' says our reviewer, Amelia. ‘It’s easy on the eye, and on the back - even when you’re pregnant - and it's even easy on the pocket since you can use it from the day your baby is born right up until they're three years old. 

Overall verdict: One obvious plus point is that it includes a high-quality, ‘very firm’ and wipe-clean mattress, which, when disassembled, folds neatly inside the bag along with the frame. This travel cot only weighs 7kg but Amelia found it a bit bulky, mainly because it comes with such a good-quality mattress included. In terms of value for money, we recommend spending the extra £25 for the newborn insert as it transforms this product, giving you more functionality and sleeping options. A superb choice if you're used to co-sleeping and want to continue doing so safely while away from home.

• Read our full Micralite Sleep & Go Travel Cot review

How to choose the best travel cot

When picking the best travel cot for your needs, consider where and how frequently you're likely to use it. If you frequently travel with your baby, the weight and portability of the travel cot are the main priorities. But if you just need it for occasional overnight use, then a comfortable mattress and sturdy construction are more important than the travel cot's dimensions. Alternatively, if you'll be using a travel cot for a newborn, it's well worth choosing one with a newborn insert and an integrated changing station to help make nights away from home a little easier.

Here's what to consider when choosing a travel cot:

• Age - Most travel cots can be used from birth, and many come with an in-built bassinet to make things a little cosier for very small babies. Travel cots can usually be used up till the age of three or until the child is able to climb out - at which point it's no longer safe to use.
• Portability - A travel cot should be easy to carry and compact enough to stow in small places. Some cots are small enough to fit in an aircraft's overhead locker or in a small car boot.
• Weight - While lighter than a traditional cot, travel cots vary in weight. The lightest come in at around 3kg, while the heaviest ones weigh as much as 11kg. These extremes offer different benefits depending on how you’re planning to use your cot. A lighter cot is more practical for travelling, but a heavier model will likely be sturdier and longer-lasting.
• Assembly - Putting a travel cot together and taking it down should take a matter of seconds. If it’s taking longer or isn’t staying up, make sure you re-read the instructions before putting your baby to sleep in it to make sure you’ve done everything correctly.
• Mattress comfort - Don’t be surprised at the thickness of a travel cot mattress – they’re much thinner and less plush than the cot mattress you have at home in order to keep the travel cot light and portable. But just because the mattress is harder, doesn’t mean that your baby won’t have a good night’s sleep. Baby mattresses are meant to be firm and younger babies, in particular, can benefit from sleeping on a harder mattress surface. 'To comply with safety regulations you should avoid switching the mattress to ensure that the size is exact and there are no gaps around the edges,' says Baby Sleep Trainer Vickie Bowles of The Baby Academy.
• Extra features - Many travel cots have additional extras such as an in-built changing station for easy nappy changes and the option to use it as a playpen for daytime use. They might also have soothing musical features or a newborn insert to boost comfort for younger babies. Consider which of these features are worth paying extra for, and which ones you can do without. It's a bonus if you can get the extra functionality you want without paying more!

Are travel cots safe for babies?

Yes - all travel cots on sale must adhere to British safety standard BS EN 716. The Lullaby Trust advises that parents use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress that is in good condition. In addition, a baby’s sleeping space should be kept clear, with no loose bedding. As with a normal cot, babies should be placed in the ‘feet-to-foot’ position so they can’t wriggle down under any blankets. 

For young babies under one year old, avoid placing all duvets, soft toys, and pillows inside the cot. When deciding where to put your travel cot, don’t put it near to a radiator, draughty window, or blinds with cords that might pose a strangulation risk. 

If your travel cot comes with wheels, make sure they are locked in place before putting your little one down. 

Travel cots are extremely safe for babies but Vickie Bowles flags that they should not be used for long periods outside of travel / occasional use: ‘It is always good to remember that travel cots do not offer the same amount of support and comfort for your baby and therefore are not designed for regular sleep over an extended period.’

At what age can babies sleep in travel cots?

Most travel cots are suitable for babies to sleep in from birth. If you wish to use a travel cot for a newborn, choose one with a newborn insert. This offers younger babies a smaller space to sleep in than the full-sized travel cot and it's elevated off the ground to save parents’ backs as you don’t have to bend down to floor level to reach your child. 

‘If you have a young baby, I highly recommend using a travel cot with a newborn insert which makes life much easier to settle your baby while travelling,’ says Vickie Bowles. 

A sturdy travel cot will suit an active toddler and most can be used up until the age of three but check the manufacturer's instructions for the upper age or weight restrictions.

Can babies sleep in a travel cot every night?

No, a travel cot is not suitable for your baby to sleep in every night. Designed for use when you're away from home such as on holiday or visiting friends or family overnight, travel cots are much lighter than standard cots so they're not robust enough for permanent use. The mattress supplied with a travel cot is thinner than a standard cot mattress because it's designed to fold compactly for travelling, so it's unlikely to provide sufficient support for a baby to sleep on every night.

Can I change the travel cot mattress?

No, this is not recommended. Use the mattress supplied with the travel cot at the time of purchase. Replacing the mattress is dangerous because it could make the structure less sturdy and create a safety risk if the mattress does not fit the travel cot frame exactly.

How we tested the best travel cots

We only include products in our buying guides that we have thoroughly tested and reviewed. We use a robust and consistent testing methodology to review all the products, and we use a pool of parent reviewers to ensure all items are appropriately tested by a child of the relevant age. 

• Read more about how we test and review the products in our buying guides

Planning a holiday with your little one? You might also be interested in our buying guide on the best travel strollers or, if you prefer to leave the buggy at home and travel light, our guide to choosing the best baby carriers is worth a read.

It's true — the best baby monitors play an important part in helping both you and your baby to sleep soundly. But which one to choose? We've tested a range of monitors — including smart monitors and wearables — to bring you this roundup of the best baby monitors to buy in 2024.

Just like the best prams or the best cot beds, a baby monitor is one of the most important pieces of baby kit you could buy. From tracking your baby's sleep pattern to monitoring their movement and breathing, they aren’t just useful for keeping an eye on sleeping newborns either - many parents continue using a baby monitor during the toddler years when they're useful for keeping tabs on youngsters when they climb out of bed in the middle of the night. 

Whether you use one to watch your little one sleep (bliss...), to listen out for the signs that they’re stirring from a nap, or for reassurance that all is well, the best baby monitors act like an extra pair of eyes and ears, helping to take a little of the mental load away from mums and dads.

The quick list

If you want quick advice to help you pinpoint the best baby monitor to buy, here's a quick summary of our findings and test results:

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The best baby monitors 2024 - tried and tested by parents

The best baby monitor overall

Tested by:  Jenny and her two-year-old, Logan

Our baby gear expert says: The Vtech RM7767HD Smart Video Baby Monitor is packed with useful features that we'd expect to see on a premium model - yet it's significantly more affordable than other smart monitors. This is why this is our top choice when it comes to the best baby monitors you can buy.

The camera (which is full HD and comes with wall-mounting accessories) offers excellent picture quality and has adjustable tilt, zoom, and 360° pan functionality, which means you won't miss a thing during nap time or at night. You can choose whether to watch the video footage of your baby's room on the parent unit - which has a large LCD screen - or on your phone via the MyVTech Baby Pro app. We love this feature for being able to check in on your baby when they're at home with a babysitter and you're not there.

This monitor also has temperature, sound, movement, and humidity sensors so you can make sure conditions in your baby's room are optimal for sleep. Night vision mode means you can still see your baby clearly on even the darkest of nights but there's also a gentle night light if you need to see your way to your little one's side.

Our tester, Jenny, says: 'I like the fact that this baby monitor comes with both a very large parent unit and a smart app that I can access on my phone,' she says. 'The smart app gives you free live remote access to the camera so I can keep a close eye on Logan at all times - even when I'm out and he's with a babysitter.'

The Vtech Smart Video Baby Monitor also has excellent picture quality and a colour night vision mode - proving that the best baby monitors aren't necessarily the most expensive ones. 'I really liked this feature as it meant I could get a good picture of Logan in the dark,' says Jenny. 'It has 10 x zoom capability from the smart app and 8 x zoom from the parent unit and I can move the camera around easily on the screen using my fingers, so I can keep a very close eye on my child.'

Verdict: Topping off the reasons why this has the No.1 spot in our roundup of the best baby monitors is the talkback feature - you can use the device to talk to your little one. That's truly useful for soothing a tired but wakeful baby back to sleep without disturbing them by entering their room. Lullabies can help babies sleep and this monitor has five to choose from, plus five ambient sounds to help your baby drift off.

• Read our full Vtech RM7767HD 7″ Smart Video baby monitor review

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The best smart monitor overall

Tested by: Rachel and her three-month-old, Freya

Our baby gear expert says: The Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor is a step up from the Nanit Plus, which we've reviewed before. To use, simply download the app and you can pair the camera with your smartphone to get high-resolution stills and video direct to your device. It has data encryption for security and you can add multiple users which means a partner or the baby's grandparents can coo over the footage too.

The Nanit app will alert you with sound and motion notifications if your child moves so you'll know when they need attention. And if you choose the floor-standing option you can also get a bird's eye view of your child's cot. You can zoom in on this picture and, with built-in night vision, you'll always get a sharp image.

Our tester, Rachel, says: 'This baby monitor is a particularly good choice for anyone keen to analyse their child's sleep data. The insights on how well your baby has slept and for how long could be very useful if you're trying to establish a good sleep routine. The app also tracks developmental milestones - including your baby's height - and collates all the information in a digital scrapbook. This could be lovely to look back on as it's hard to remember much when you're sleep deprived in the early days!'.

Verdict: This is an expensive option so it won't appeal to everyone but it's one of the best baby monitors you can buy if you're looking for a premium model with an array of features that you won't find on less expensive devices.

• Read our full Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor review

The best movement monitor

Tested by: Kate and her five-month-old daughter, Tilda

Our baby product expert says: The Angelcare Ac327 Baby Movement, Sound, and Video Monitor is the best budget baby monitor you can buy. For significantly less cash than premium devices, it comes with everything you need to keep tabs on your baby - plus extra value with the addition of a reliable movement sensor for further peace of mind.

The zoom and pan camera gives a good view of your baby and the large full-colour LCD display on the parent unit has easy-to-use touch controls. While this isn't the highest resolution camera footage you can get, this monitor does a more than adequate job of giving you a clear picture of your baby in real-time.

The parent unit has an open-field range of up to 250 metres, which is more than enough for the average home. It comes with an ‘out of range indicator’ so you know if you’ve stepped too far away to keep monitoring your baby. It also has infrared night vision so you can easily see footage of your baby when the black-out blinds are down.

Kate says: "The monitor was easy to set up, without too many cables or fiddly parts. Inside the box is both a wall mount and a magnet stand so you have options in terms of where to place the camera in your baby's room." Kate felt the cable for the camera could possibly do with being a little longer. However, she found the overall design of the unit slick and says it worked well in her baby's nursery. "The camera's crisp white finish makes it unobtrusive and versatile plus it will blend easily with any nursery decor."

Verdict: The Angelcare AC327 has the benefit of a movement sensor that comes with the device. This has SensAsure technology and can be placed under the cot mattress. It tracks the movements of your baby’s chest as it rises and falls. It also tracks every wriggle and turn so you know how your baby is sleeping at all times. Kate liked the fact that she could track her baby’s breathing without attaching any devices to her child's body. The alarm to the parent unit sounds after 20 seconds of no movement, and she didn't report any false alarms. 

• Read our Angelcare Ac327 3-in-1 Baby Movement Monitor review

The best for image quality

Tested by: Alex Sexton, mum to five-month-old Oli.

Our baby gear expert says: The Kodak Cherish C525 Smart Video Baby Monitor lets you view video footage of your baby on both its accompanying five-inch parent unit and on a smart app via your phone or tablet. It comes with rechargeable batteries and WiFi connectivity so you can use it freely around the house or take it with you on holiday.

Our tester, Alex, says: "As it’s made by Kodak we expected the image to be great quality - both in daylight and when viewing in the dark and it was, particularly at night due to infrared night vision.

"Additionally, you can take photos using the app, which is a nice feature when your little one is sleeping in a funny position and you want to capture the moment."

Alex found the set up a little time-consuming as it had a software patch, but this was easily fixed. ‘I think this may have just been a user fault as friends who have the same camera didn’t have the same problem,’ she adds. ‘Once I set it up correctly it was very smooth to use. Although I got some noisy feedback when I turned the monitor on in the same room as the camera.'

Verdict: Overall, our tester feels the tilt, pan, and zoom functionality make this monitor stand out from others she has used. "I can imagine these features will be very useful as Oli gets older and moves around more," she says. "The vox function is also invaluable. The ability to turn down the sensitivity setting means you aren’t disturbed every time your child moves or if they are a noisy sleeper - which Oli most definitely is."

• Read our full Kodak Cherish C525 Video Baby Monitor review

The best wearable monitor

Tested by: Naomi, mum to three-month-old Jonah.

Our baby gear expert says: We have previously tested the Owlet Smart Sock but the newer Owlet Baby Monitor Duo model has added camera functionality, so we decided to put it to the test. It means you can see and hear your baby as well as track their heart rate and oxygen levels using this baby monitoring system.

Setting up the Owlet Baby Monitor Duo was relatively straightforward. Firstly, your baby needs to wear the sock provided, which comes in a choice of colours - mint, deep sea green, or dusty rose. The camera then needs to be positioned at the optimum height so you can see your baby clearly. Finally, you need to download the Owlet Care app and link your smartphone to the camera.

Our tester, Naomi, says: "At first, I found the numerous boxes to open rather overwhelming, but once I downloaded the app and followed the clear set-up instructions things fell into place," she says.

"I would recommend it if you're looking for something to track baby's wellbeing as well as keep an eye on them from your smartphone when they sleep," says Naomi. "While it doesn't give the ability to play lullabies or white noise, the app provides a lot of useful information," adds our tester. "I like the wide-angle view and night vision features that the camera provides. You can also track sleep habits and get room temperature readings. That means I don't have to buy a secondary room temperature gadget."

Verdict: If you want more from your standard smart baby monitor, then the Owlet Baby Monitor Duo is a great contender. For the price, it comes with a smart sock and camera that can be linked to your smartphone, so you can keep on top of updates on your baby's movements and waking calls. But the best thing yet? It gives you oxygen level stats and monitors heart rate. So can be good for newborns if you want to stay on top of their vitals.

• Read our full Owlet Duo Smart Sock + Cam review 

The best baby monitor for 360 degree view

Tested by: Alex, who is mum to five-month-old Oli.

Our baby gear expert says: The digital feed on the Babymoov YOO Moov baby monitor goes straight to the 4.3-inch parent unit. While it doesn't have an accompanying app or smartphone control, we found the picture quality sharp with a good view of your child.

Our tester, Alex, says: She found the monitor easy to plug in and use compared to other baby monitors she has tried out previously.  The camera picked up noise very quickly. Alex also liked the extra VOX feature. "This is activated by baby's voice, so you can switch to this mode if you don't want to disturbed unnecessarily by your child's every move," she says.

Alex also liked the two-way talk function, which lets you talk to your child through the parent unit. "The nightlight is a useful extra and the monitor has the ability to play up to five lullabies, which Oli seemed to like," adds Alex. "It's worth bearing in mind that you will have to listen to them too as the monitor doesn't have a feature that lets you ignore the music. But if it's 3 am, you may just want a lullaby to send you back off to sleep too!"

She thinks it's an ideal buy if you have a second child in the room and want to keep tabs on two children at the same time. "The CCTV camera gives you a 360-degree motorised view of your baby."

"This good range makes it easy to see them wriggling around in their cot or, hopefully, sleeping soundly. The camera moves easily and almost silently so I didn't have to worry about it waking Oli up. I think this is particularly reassuring if you have a baby that wakes easily at the slightest noise."

Verdict: Usually this monitor retails for £199.99 but you can pick it up for cheaper. While this is a premium price point, it's far from the most expensive baby monitor on the market or in this guide.

Given the number of features packed into this device - from the VOX and music modes and the ability to monitor the whole room - we think this brilliant baby monitor is well worth the price tag. 

• Read our full Babymoov YOO Moov Video Baby Monitor review

The best baby monitor for analytics

Tested by: Daniel who is dad to two-year-old Arlo.

Our baby gear expert says: The Cubo Ai Smart baby monitor is designed for children up to five years old and features a host of nifty technology to safeguard your tot. The camera provides a 1080p High Definition video stream of your child directly to the dedicated smart app on your phone or tablet, and will alert you if they move or make a sound. Should your child’s face become covered or if they roll over in their sleep, clever A.I. tech provides alerts directly to your smartphone.

In addition, the app provides sleep analytics so you can track your baby's every move throughout the night and get to know their sleep routine. When they are a bit older, you can use the camera as a toddler cam and the app will alert you if your child has moved from a certain ‘safe’ zone in your home. For instance, if your child was about to enter the kitchen, you would get an instant notification on your smartphone.

Our tester, Daniel, says: He was a little overwhelmed by all the parts needed in setup. "You can choose to attach the camera to the cot or place it on the floor stand, and while you don’t need tools to set up the camera, it did take a little while to put it together," he says.

Moreover, the camera was quick to pair to the app on Daniel's smartphone, giving him a clear picture and informative alerts on Arlo’s sounds and movement. "But the first night we used it, the camera disconnected and wouldn’t reconnect and this was frustrating," he says.

'However, I think it was something to do with our WiFi connection. Once it was paired up again I was able to access all the features on the app, which gave me a live video stream that I could access as and when I wanted, with a chronological display of auto-captured photos and videos as Arlo moved around throughout the night.’

Verdict: This monitor comes with sleep-tracking analytics and alerts to tell you if your baby's mouth or nose is covered. So it's fair to say that the Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor has some excellent features that first-time parents might find particularly reassuring. 

• Read our full Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor review

The best baby monitor for versatility

Tested by: Hannah, who is mum to five-month-old baby Noah

Our baby gear expert says: The Hubble Connected Nursery Pal Premium allows you to monitor your child and get high-definition footage direct to your smartphone. You can also use the handy parent unit that comes with a 300m wireless connectivity range. The remote pan, tilt and zoom feature means you can control the angle of the camera from your smartphone or the parent unit, while infrared night vision gives you a clear view of your child when night falls.

Our parent tester Hannah enjoyed using the wide range of features on this baby monitor. ‘I like the flexibility of this model as you can access the camera footage on both a smartphone and parent unit,’ she says. ‘This means I don't have to worry about downloading the app on the babysitter's or my mum's phone when they are looking after Noah. I also think it has a good range of lullabies, white noise, and stories you can play to soothe baby".

The parent unit is unique in that it also doubles up as an ‘interactive baby tablet’. "Noah is a little young to appreciate this now," says Hannah. "However, I think it will be useful when he's a bit older to keep him occupied while I change his nappy or just need a few hands-free moments."

Verdict: This monitor comes with a smart app, 5" touch screen parent unit and HD a camera, along with lots of useful design features, including the ‘privacy protector’ on the camera. This means you can flip down a shutter on the camera so that the live stream footage is temporarily blocked. A protective bumper on the parent monitor means it will be resistance to bumps and knocks. Finally, a flashlight on the back of the parent unit is a nice touch and gives instant light when it’s dark. We think this makes the Hubble Connected Nursery Pal Premium worth considering. 

• Read our full Hubble Connected Nursery Pal Premium review

The best non smart baby monitor

Tested by: Jenny who is mum to two-year-old Logan

Our baby gear expert says: Like the Angelcare AC327, the Tommee Tippee Dreamee Sound, Motion and Video Baby Monitor features a movement sensor pad. It also has the functionality to play lullabies and sounds to soothe your baby. The camera has tilt, pan, and zoom functionality. This means you can get a wide view of your baby and enjoy a full picture of the nursery. Additionally, the night light works automatically when the light level falls.

Our tester, Jenny, says: She feels that the parent unit is a decent size at 4.3 inches and gave her a good view of Logan’s cot. She found the sensor easy to install and was impressed at how accurate the technology is.

"The movement sensor mat features a lovely star and moon design on it, but this seems wasted as the mat is meant to be hidden under the mattress," she says. "I like the reassurance the sensor mat provides and the fact that the camera isn’t too noisy and only transmits when the baby makes a sound."

Jenny found the settings on the parent unit intuitive to use. She could customise how she viewed all the information and choose easily between the six lullabies and nature sounds. "It even has a feeding reminder, which would be particularly useful during the newborn stage of parenthood," she says. "The only thing this monitor lacks is smart capability, so you could get information directly to a smartphone as well as the parent unit."

Verdict: Keen on detecting your child's every move in their cot? Want to get video footage to a great-quality handset? Then the Tommee Tippee Dreamee Sound, Motion and Video Baby Monitor is an excellent choice. Yes, its price tag is on the premium end, but it's packed full of useful features.

• Read our full Tommee Tippee Dreamee Sound, Motion & Video Baby Monitor review

Best baby monitor: what to consider

• Sound and image quality - If you’re investing in a video monitor, go for one with the best quality camera you can afford and make sure it has night vision for dark, wintry nights. Tilt, pan, and zoom functionality is a useful extra if you’re likely to have two children sleeping in one room as you can scan the room rather than view just one fixed point. 
• Wall mount - Baby monitor wires must be kept out of your baby’s reach as they are a safety hazard. A wall-mounted monitor is a good solution but you’ll need the DIY skills to affix the mount to the wall. If you choose a free-standing baby monitor, make sure you place the baby unit out of reach - on a shelf or on a changing unit beside the cot is the ideal spot.
• Mains v batteries - Most baby monitors plug into the wall so consider where the power source is in your baby’s room. The parent unit is usually battery-operated so you can move freely between rooms with it, but check the battery life. If you’re the kind of person who forgets to charge your phone, avoid choosing a baby monitor that needs daily charging.
• Range - Most monitors have ample range but do check the maximum range for the signal to be sure that it will work reliably if you’re downstairs or in the garden when your baby is asleep or napping. The best baby monitor for a small flat might not be the most practical for a detached house, depending on the range. 
• WiFi connection - If you choose a monitor that needs to connect to your Wi-Fi, make sure your connection is secure and up to the task. The advantage of this type of monitor is that you can view the video footage from your phone even when you’re out and a babysitter is in charge - but on the other hand, not everyone wants to feel tied to their phone when they’re away from their baby.
• Extra features - From talkback - so you can soothe your baby via the parent unit from another room using your voice - to music, white noise, and nightlights, many baby monitors have lots of additional features built-in. These can be a real boon or a waste of money depending on whether you'll actually use them. Think about the features you need and don't spend money on extras that don't add real value. 

Which type of baby monitor is best for you?

There are three main types of baby monitors so take some to think about the functionality that is most important to you. For example, there's little point in buying a smart monitor if your phone is always out of battery because you'll need your phone to view the footage. Equally, a movement monitor offers peace of mind to parents who like the idea of being alerted if their baby stops breathing, while other parents find the risk of a false alarm just causes worry. Familiarise yourself with the different types of monitors before you choose which one is best for you.

• Wearable baby monitors - These hi-tech devices are attached to your baby, usually via an item of clothing such as a sock. They collect a range of data and send it to a dedicated app on your smartphone so that you can track all sorts of data from your baby's heart rate and breathing to their movement and sleep pattern. 
• Video monitors - As well as capturing audio, a video monitor captures live footage via an in-built camera and streams it to either a dedicated app on your smartphone or to a separate parent unit with a screen. Most parents choose video monitors over audio-only models as they like to be able to see their baby sleeping, rather than just hear when they wake. A video monitor is a handy way to peek at your baby without having to enter their room to check on them, which might startle them awake.
• Audio-only monitors - This is the most basic (and therefore affordable) baby monitor. It consists of a baby unit that you place beside your baby’s cot which picks up sound, such as your baby's cries, and transmits that sound to a separate parent unit that you keep near you. Audio-only monitors are handy if your baby naps or sleeps in a different room from you and you’re concerned that you might not hear them when they stir or cry out.

Our review process

Our Deputy Editor Heidi Scrimgeour came up with a shortlist of baby monitors based on her product knowledge and industry research. She looked at the latest offering from the market-leading brands - and as a mum of three and a parenting journalist for 17 years, what she doesn't know about baby products isn't worth knowing. 

Next, she selected the final product line-up from a broad range of price points so there's a best baby monitor recommendation here to suit all budgets and needs. Then, we called on our pool of reliable parent testers and assigned each of them a baby monitor to review with their baby. They tested the product rigorously for at least ten days.

We ask our parent testers to give each product a rating out of five for overall performance. We also ask for comprehensive feedback on key factors including design appeal, functionality (how easy is it to set up and start using), reliability, value for money, and how easy each baby monitor is to operate. We used our testers' feedback to create this buying guide and the accompanying in-depth product reviews to help you choose the best baby monitor for your needs and budget.

Read more about how we test and why you can rely on our guidance. 

If you’re kitting out the nursery and dreaming of sleep, check out our guide to the best Moses baskets, and the best bedside cribs once you've chosen the best baby monitor. We've also got expert advice on baby sleep training, and shopping guides on how to choose the best baby sleeping bags and the best baby sleep aids. Sweet dreams!

Trigger warning: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a hard subject to read about, but here at Goodto.com we are dedicated to arming you with factually correct information, so you can make informed decisions that are right for you and your family. 

Risk for SIDS by age is something most parents want to know about. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), sometimes known as ‘cot death’, is a rare but deeply distressing event that impacts families around the world. 

SIDS refers to the sudden and unexplained passing of an otherwise healthy baby who is under the age of one. Naturally, all parents are eager to know if SIDS can be prevented. Although there’s no way to completely prevent SIDS, there are lots of steps that you can take to reduce the risk - such as ensuring your baby sleeps on a firm and free-of-clutter cot mattress, and maintaining a consistent temperature with a safe baby sleeping bag. "The risk of SIDS is mainly in the first few months of life, and about 90% of the deaths occur before the baby is six months old," explains Dr. Anna Pease. "But, there is still a risk after that which is why the safer sleep advice applies to all babies under one year old."

In this article, we'll look at which babies are most at risk of SIDS, and how the risk changes with age. We’ll also share practical, evidence-based steps you can take to create a safer sleep environment for your baby and lower their risk of SIDS.

Risk for SIDS by age - when is the risk highest in the first year? 

Between the ages of 1 and 3 months old is the highest risk, according to The Lullaby Trust. While 90% of all SIDS deaths happen before a baby is 6 months old, as shown with his study by the National Institute of Health there is still some risk after this, but it's much lower. 

Despite the risk of SIDS remaining low, it continues to frighten parents due to its unpredictable nature and the lack of a clear understanding of its causes. It can occur without any warning signs or symptoms, adding to the fear experienced by parents. The fact that SIDS can happen during sleep, a time when parents may feel less vigilant, further contributes to their concerns. If you find yourself worrying constantly about SIDS, try to remember that you're not alone. However, following baby sleep guidance will mean the risk of it happening to your baby is low.

Parents of babies who are considered vulnerable, such as premature babies, can be particularly affected by the fear of SIDS. 

Gemma Flinders, a mother of a premature baby, shared her experience with us. "My son was born 6 weeks premature and spent the first week of his life in NICU. I was fortunate enough to stay with him in the hospital during this time and felt reassured by being surrounded by medical staff. The true anxiety didn't hit until he came home. SIDS, often having an unexplained cause, is something that as a parent you cannot stop and can only take steps to prevent as best as possible."

Gemma explained the measures she took to reduce her son's risk, 

• Ensuring his feet touched the bottom of his cot
• Maintaining a comfortable room temperature of 16°C-20°C
• Using appropriate bedding
• Using a sensor pad to detect his breathing
• Giving him a dummy, as some studies, like this one from the National Library of Medicine have found that this may reduce the risk of SIDS.

As her son grew older, Gemma noticed that her worry about SIDS gradually decreased. She said, "The level of anxiety experienced does level out. Of course, I still check on him before I go to bed, but at 6 years old now, I am more used to the anxiety of having a child, and he can tell me when he doesn't feel well. So it no longer feels as overwhelming."

 What are the causes of SIDS? 

 Dr Nauf AlBendar, Medical Scientist & founder of The Womb Effect tells us, "Although the cause is still unknown, evidence suggests that a combination of physical and environmental factors can make an infant more vulnerable to SIDS."

Physical or biological factors include:

• being premature
• being a baby boy
• having a low birth weight

A 2022 study by the University of Syndey has shed light on a potential biomarker for SIDS that could help in its early detection. Researchers have found that low levels of a specific enzyme called butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) may be linked to SIDS. BChE plays a role in breaking down acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is important for breathing and awakening. This means that babies who have lower levels of this enzyme might be at a higher risk for SIDS, although we need more research to fully understand this connection.

There are also certain environmental factors, as confirmed by a study from BMC Paediatrics, that can increase the risk of SIDS. These include:

1. Unsafe sleeping position: Don't put your baby to sleep on their stomach or side. The safest sleeping position for infants is on their back, with their feet at the foot of their cot. This stops them from wriggling down into their bedding. 
2. Maternal smoking: Don't expose your baby to cigarette smoke during pregnancy or after birth. 
3. Dangerous co-sleeping: Don't sleep on a sofa with your baby or share a bed with them if you have been smoking or drinking.
4. Overheating: Maintain a comfortable and safe temperature in the sleep environment (16 - 20C) and dress your baby appropriately for sleep. 
5. Soft bedding: Keep your baby's cot free of soft bedding materials such as pillows, blankets, cot bumpers, or stuffed toys 

Dr. Anna Pease, who has conducted multiple studies into SIDS and its risk factors, says it’s crucial for parents to be aware of the risks and take preventative measures to create a safe sleep environment. 

Speaking to Goodto.com she tells us; “Parents and carers need to understand why safer sleep is important and how to manage to do it, especially when they are very tired or when there's been a change of some kind. Safe sleep isn't something to do just most of the time. On those nights when things are different, on holiday or after a party, for example,  those are the nights to keep safety at the top of the list. Parents also need to know how to identify symptoms of illness and know what to do and who to contact if they are worried.” 

Dr Nilong Vyas, Pediatrician at Sleepless in NOLA and Medical Review Expert at SleepFoundation.org, agrees. "Babies that are at the highest risk of SIDS are those where there is not a designated safe sleep environment. Often parents don't intend to co-sleep but end up in that situation accidentally. For example, mum falls asleep with the baby while breastfeeding or after a bottle feed."

Dr Vyas has a good tip for parents who worry about falling asleep during feeds: "Set an alarm for 20 minutes at the start of a feeding session. This will help you wake up if you so doze off,  so you can pop your baby back into their cot or Moses basket."

Read on for more tips on following safe sleep practices.  

Is there anything parents can do to prevent SIDS?

While it's not possible to completely prevent SIDS from happening, you can significantly reduce the risks by following safer sleep advice. Here are some important tips and statistics from The Lullaby Trust:

1. Always place your baby on their back to sleep, both during the day and at night. This simple step can reduce the risk of SIDS by six times compared to placing them on their front. 
2. Share a room with your baby for the first six months. This means having their crib or Moses basket in the same room as you. This practice can cut the risk of SIDS in half. Remember to ensure their sleep space is clear and flat. 
3. Keep your baby away from smoke, both during pregnancy and after birth. This is one of the most protective measures you can take. If no babies were exposed to smoke, approximately 60% of sudden infant deaths could be prevented. 
4. Avoid sleeping on a sofa or armchair with your baby. This can increase the risk of SIDS by 50 times. It's safer to use a proper sleep surface, such as a crib or bed. 
5. Do not co-sleep with your baby if you or anyone in the bed has consumed alcohol, smokes, uses drugs, or taken medication that causes drowsiness. These factors greatly increase the risk of SIDS when co-sleeping. The risk of SIDS when co-sleeping is six times higher in smokers than non-smokers. 

These recommendations are particularly important for babies who were born premature or have a low birth weight, as they are at a higher risk of SIDS. By following these guidelines, you can create a safer sleep environment for your baby and help reduce the risk of SIDS. 

The Lullaby Trust has produced a short video for parents explaining safe sleep for babies. 

How common is SIDS in the UK?

According to the NHS, the chance of SIDS occurring is very low. The Office for National Statistics reports that in 2020, there were 0.25 deaths for every 1,000 babies born in 2020. That means 150 babies died as a result of SIDS in 202.

UK rates are slightly higher than the global rate in 2019, which was 0.21 deaths for every 1,000 births.

However, both the UK and global SIDS rates have been going down over the years. In the UK, the rate decreased from 0.30 deaths per 1,000 births in 2014 to 0.25 deaths per 1,000 births in 2020. Globally, the rate went down from 0.43 deaths per 1,000 births in 1990 to 0.21 deaths per 1,000 births in 2019.

One important factor is the global public health campaigns that promoted safe sleep practices for babies. These campaigns encouraged parents to place babies on their back to sleep and avoid soft bedding and overheating. 

Another possible reason for the decline is the improvement in prenatal and neonatal care. Measures like reducing maternal smoking, promoting breastfeeding, preventing premature births and low birth weight, and screening for heart defects may have made babies less vulnerable to SIDS.

Is it okay to swaddle my baby?

Swaddling, a traditional practice of tightly wrapping a baby in a blanket, is a potential risk factor for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), according to a study by Durham Infancy & Sleep Centre, Department of Anthropology . It is important to follow proper guidelines when swaddling to ensure the safety of your baby. Here is how to swaddle safely:

• Avoid placing a swaddled baby to sleep on their front or side: The risk of SIDS increases when swaddled infants are placed in these positions. Always position your baby on their back for sleep.
• Don't swaddle your baby if you are co-sleeping: Co-sleeping itself poses certain risks, and swaddling could further increase the chances of accidents.
• Stop swaddling if your baby shows signs of rolling: Most babies start to develop the ability to roll over between four to six months of age. If their arms are swaddled, they may roll onto their front and get stuck.

Dr. Anna Pease, who has conducted research on swaddling and SIDS, emphasises the importance of placing swaddled babies on their backs for sleep. She advises parents to consider when to stop swaddling as their babies grow older and become more mobile. 

"On a practical level what parents should take away from this is that if they choose to swaddle their babies for sleep, always place them on their back, and think about when to stop swaddling for sleep as their babies get older and more able to move."

Is it ok to use a dummy?

Yes, it's okay to use a dummy. According to research, including a dummy in your baby's sleep routine may lower the likelihood of SIDS. Dr Vyas agrees: "Using a dummy can help prevent SIDS because if a baby is sucking on it, their airway is open and protected." When it comes to using a dummy for your baby, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Timing: It's generally a good idea to wait until breastfeeding is well established, which usually happens around 4 weeks. This gives your baby a chance to get comfortable with breastfeeding before introducing the dummy.
• Choose the right dummy: Look for an orthodontic dummy that's designed to fit your baby's mouth shape. These types of dummies promote healthy oral development and are a great choice.
• Consistency is key: Make the dummy a regular part of your baby's sleep routine. By including it in their bedtime ritual, your little one will get used to having it around and find comfort in it.
• Gradual transition: As your baby gets older, you can start reducing and eventually eliminating the dummy during sleep times. It's a good idea to begin this process when they're around 6 to 12 months old. This way, they won't become overly dependent on it.

The Lullaby Trust also has a helpful guide called the Baby Check booklet which includes a checklist of symptoms to help you understand if your baby is ill.

If you are in any doubt about your child's health, be sure to book an appointment ASAP with your GP or local health practitioner.

Get more expert advice and information about safer baby sleep, from checking your baby’s bed is a safe sleeping environment to learning about the hidden dangers in cots. Plus, discover the risk and benefits of co-sleeping and how to do it safely.  

How to check if your baby's bed is safe is a normal worry to spend hours researching the safe baby bed options available. 

There are so many different types; everything from best cots to moses baskets and cradles to next-to-me - they all have their pros and cons. Even with all that research, worries about cot safety measures and whether babies could slip through the bars or as they get older, climb out of their cots still hang heavy.

This, on top of the regular how to get a baby to sleep concerns such as SIDS, makes it a stressful time for all. But as much as the ever-growing pool of answers around safe baby bed options often conflicts, there are tried and trusted measures that can reduce some of the major risks involved with sleeping babies.

And once you know that your child is safely in the land of nod, you're more likely to be able to sleep soundly too.

How to check if your baby's bed is safe

The main safety points to look for in a cot are;

• If you're in the UK, does it conform to BS EN 716? - Firstly, all cots currently sold in the UK should conform to BS EN 716. This means that the cot is deep enough to be safe for your baby, that the bars are a safe distance apart, and that the cot does not have cut-outs or steps.
• All corner posts are smooth - Corner posts should be flush with the end panels to avoid any trapped fingers. Sand down any rough edges, outside and far away from your baby's room, to ensure no dust is spread.
• Hardware is secure? - Try the two-finger test: If you can fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib, the mattress isn't a good fit. (The harder it is for you to make the bed, the better it is for your baby.) Dimensions to follow are a full-size crib mattress should be at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 1/4 inches and be no thicker than 6 inches.
• Is the paint non-toxic? It - Definitely one to bear in mind if you have a secondhand or hand-me-down cot. Cots made before 1978 may have lead in their finish, which poses a serious health risk to babies and young children. If you have a hunch that the paint on any of your baby furniture is lead-based, have it stripped outside your house while following best practice then start from scratch with a high-quality, lead-free enamel. 
• Does the mattress fit? - Try the two-finger test: If you can fit more than two fingers between the mattress and the crib, the mattress isn't a good fit. (The harder it is for you to make the bed, the better it is for your baby.) Dimensions to follow are; a full-size crib mattress should be at least 27 1/4 inches by 51 1/4 inches and be no thicker than 6 inches.

These are some of the safest bed options for babies to sleep in...

Cot 

Apart from the price and personal taste, there are a couple of other things to think about logistically when choosing the best cot. Does it have one or two sides that can be dropped using just one hand? Otherwise, it might be tricky to get down if you're holding your baby.

It's also important to look for a cot that has an adjustable base or mattress height as this will save you getting back pain from constantly bending over.

Moses basket

Loved by parents all around the world for one simple reason, they're easy to manage and move around when a baby isn't in them. Most suitable for those under 15lb (7kg) and in homes where there aren't any other children or animals who might be able to tip the basket, as they're quite light.

As the Lullaby Trust suggests, "The safest place for your baby to sleep is on their own sleep surface, in the same room as you, for at least the first six months. A Moses basket or cot is a safe place for a baby to sleep." So in many cases, other factors such as the bedding you put them down in, can have a bigger impact on babies' safety than whether you go for a cot or moses basket.

Cradle 

In the early weeks, cradles are ideal but again, they can be knocked or pushed by bigger children or pets. Cradles also don't always come with a stand or mattress, so be sure that you're getting what you pay for. As with all baby sleep products, it's important to check that the cradle you're looking to buy complies with British Standards. This means that it's passed certain tests, so does not break or catch fire easily.

Crib

Much like a cradle, a crib is essentially a moses basket with a rocking stand. They are ideal if you've not got a lot of space to work with but as they come up relatively small, you might need to buy another bed for your baby to sleep in soon after.

Cot-bed

For those little ones who have outgrown their first bed, but aren't quite ready to graduate to a proper bed, there's a cot bed. It's just like a cot but the sides often can be removed on one or both sides to give older toddlers and young children more space.

Travel cots

A travel cot is often a smaller, flimsier version of a cot that's perfect for travelling or if you've got limited space in your bedroom. While they are safe, it's important that if you're getting one second-hand, you consider the same safety standards as anything else.

As Gail Johnson, Education and Professional Development Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives says, "If you want to buy second-hand, that's fine, but check that it's clean and safe and also meets British safety standards and that it hasn't been damaged. Likewise, if you buy a second-hand mattress, check that it fits the cot properly and that there are no gaps that could trap your baby."

The Lullaby Trust also explains that as travel cot mattresses tend to be thinner and feel harder than those put in a permanent cot, "don't be tempted to place folded blankets or a quilt under the baby to make them 'more comfortable'.

"If you are very tight for space, you may have to consider re-arranging the furniture in the room to ensure that the travel cot isn’t against a radiator, in direct sunlight, and is out of reach of blind cords and hazards."

Things to look out for when buying a cot

Depending on the design, your baby may use their cot for up to three years. In that time, they'll acquire a range of skills, such as rolling, climbing, and jumping. To ensure these vital skills can be developed in safety, their cot should have:

• Lockable castors, if it has any
• A close-fitting mattress. No more than two finger widths between it and the cot side.
• A drop-side mechanism that can be locked when fully raised.
• No horizontal bars to climb.
• Bars must be smooth and securely fixed.
• A mattress adjustment level, if it has one, that leaves 50cm (20in) between the top of the mattress and top of the cot at its lowest level and 20cm (8in) at its highest.

How to choose the right mattress

There are so many choices of mattresses around: sometimes the mattress will come with the cot, other times it won't and you'll have to buy something new and they vary hugely in price.

As your baby will likely be spending around 70 per cent of their time in it, it's important to get one that will keep your baby safe in bed. Here what to look out for...

Make sure that it fits correctly

The most important thing to make sure of when buying a mattress for you baby is that it fits exactly with no gaps around the edges. This is so there's no risk of the baby getting stuck, as the Lullaby Trust says.

If you can put two fingers between the edge of the cot and the mattress then it doesn't fit properly and it could be a safety hazard.

Check what the mattress is made of

Mattresses can be made of foam, springs, or organic and natural fibres and be anti-allergenic and anti-dustmite. It's simply a matter of how much you want to spend and whether you want a basic mattress (foam cot mattresses start at about £20), or something a bit more advanced.

Look for the blue and white label that guarantees fire-safety standards.

The mattress should have a wipe-clean surface and washable cover. Keeping it well-aired and clean may not seem a safety issue, but think of the bugs! Apart from urine, there are dust mites. These are unavoidable, as they thrive in warm, moist conditions and feed off skin particles. Even children can lose half a pint of body moisture in a night and shed a pound of skin particles a year - much of it while sleeping - so there's no avoiding them. But they're really only an issue if your child is prone to respiratory problems such as asthma.

Buying secondhand? 

Bugs in the bed are, in part, why parents are often advised to buy a new mattress. But untold numbers of babies and children have slept on second-hand mattresses and thrived. 

Do you need special lighting for a baby?

It's a myth that you need special lighting in a baby's nursery, normal lighting is fine and doesn't make your baby bed any more or less safe. Gail from the Royal College of Midwives says, "As long as you have enough light to see what you're doing when you're looking after your baby, that's fine. Obviously don't have the light shining directly into the baby's face."

Nightlights are nice, but they're not necessary for babies, they don't get scared of the dark and won't need them to help them sleep. Also, blackout blinds aren't a necessity either as babies can sleep through many things, even daylight.

Do you have to have a baby monitor?

While not essential to keep a baby safe in their bed, a baby monitor often makes parents and caregivers feel reassured as they'll instantly know if the baby is crying or needs help.

There are lots of varieties on the market. You can get video versions for about £80, good quality sound ones for under £30 and sensors that relay a baby's breathing as extra for £40. A basic monitor that means you can hear your baby cry is a great idea but make sure the batteries are working and it's somewhere that you can hear the baby. Costs aside, the best way to choose a baby monitor is to decide how much reassurance you need that your baby is okay and pick the one that will make you feel the most secure.

Sleep is a rare commodity for parents, which is why we pour so much of our expertise and resource into guiding and helping where we can, we have information on baby sleep training, sleep regression of all ages, and how to turn your iPhone into a white noise machine.

A baby sleep aid is one of those items that parents eye suspiciously - will it really help your little one drift off more easily? We put some to the test to find out.

You might have already discovered the best cot bed or best bedside cribs for your little sleeping (or not sleeping) beauty but have you considered investing in a baby sleep aid? Whether you choose a white noise machine or a cuddly sleep soother, these clever little devices can help little ones drift off to sleep more easily. 

Of course, it's important to note that a baby sleep aid that works for one baby might not necessarily work for another. That's why we asked a panel of our parent testers to put a selection of baby sleep aid gadgets to the test, assessing each product on things like design quality, how useful its features are, and — most importantly — how effective they are at helping the babies in question settle to sleep. 

To help you choose the best baby sleep aid for you and your baby, here's our pick of the ones worth buying, based on real reviews from our panel of parents. 

Best baby sleep aids 2024 - our top pick

The best baby sleep aid, based on our independent parent reviews and Consumer Editor's assessment, is the myHummy White Noise Teddy Bear. As well as being soft, cuddly, and shaped like a teddy bear, it plays five different types of white and pink noise to help soothe little ones to sleep, and possibly help babies sleep through the night.

Best baby sleep aids 2024 - tried and tested

Tried and tested by: Aryana Lindley with her 10-month-old baby, Liberty

Most babies are obsessed with a comforter of some kind, and the myCuddly Sleep Aid is a comforter with a difference. This teddy bear-shaped sleep aid plays five different types of white and pink noise to help soothe little ones to sleep. 

The device can either play for an hour or for 12 hours. It also has a clever sleep sensor, so it restarts if your baby starts to stir or cry. Aryana Lindley, mum to Liberty, 10 months, tested the myCuddly Sleep Aid to see if it is as effective as it is cute. She instantly loved the product when she saw it for the first time, saying it looks 'really cute' and feels 'super soft'.

The myCuddly helped her daughter to fall asleep faster, and stay asleep longer. Aryana used the device when taking her daughter out and about in her pram, and also at her nursery, and found it helped Liberty stay asleep longer in a variety of locations. Aryana says the portability of the product is a top selling point. 

As well as the design, Aryana also appreciated the variety of sound options on the myCuddly. 'The five different sound features are great as you can choose one to best suit your baby and what they’re used to,' she says. 'I like the option of having it play non-stop for 12 hours, or for 60 minutes to a gradual fade out. There is also an inbuilt sleep sensor!'

• Read our full myCuddly Sleep Aid review

Tried and tested by: Eugenie and her four-and-a-half-month-old daughter Darcey

If you’re looking for an affordable noise machine that’s simple to use, incredibly portable and that offers numerous sound and volume options, the MyBaby SoundSpa On-The-Go Portable Baby White Noise Machine is brilliant value for money. The device offers four soothing sounds (heartbeat, white noise, ocean, and lullaby), and comes with a clip so you can attach it to your baby’s pram, cot, or car seat. It also has a flat base so you can leave it freestanding. The sound machine allows the user to select between 15, 30, or 45-minute noise sessions, or to choose continuous play for babies having a longer snooze. 

Our tester Eugenie Freeman found the machine worked a treat with her daughter Darcey, four and a half months. Having tried a variety of white noise machines in the past, she found that this one was particularly easy to use and more portable than the others she has used.

'The product is very simple and intuitive to use, which I like because I have used other white noise machines in the past and have found that finding the right setting can be a bit complicated,' Eugenie says. 'This one is nice and easy - clear buttons, obvious symbols, and no confusion. It’s also small enough to travel anywhere with.'

The MyBaby SoundSpa costs significantly less than other noise machines our tester has tried, but has better functionality such as volume options, more sounds, and buttons that are easier to use.

• Read our full MyBaby SoundSpa On-The-Go Portable Baby White Noise Machine review 

Tried and tested by: Suzy Selwyn, who is mum to Reuben, 25 weeks

Adorable to look at, playing an array of soothing sounds, and offering two light options too, the SnuzCloud Baby Sleep Aid is a fantastic all-rounder that your baby will love - and you will too. Its soft plush fabric and sweet cloud-shaped appearance will make it a staple of your nursery, while its lightweight design and handy velcro strap mean you can cart it around with you wherever you go.

We asked Suzy Selwyn, who is mum to Reuben, 25 weeks, to see how she got on with the SnuzCloud. Suzy praised the sleep aid’s aesthetics and soft feel and said it worked really well not just to put her son to sleep, but also to distract him during nappy changes or winding.

'I like the gentle lights and sometimes I use the cloud as a distraction if he has wind,' she tells us. 'I love that it has multiple functions with sound - the white noise soothes him when he’s crying and the rainforest distracts him when I am changing his nappy. It helps soothe the baby in multiple ways and he likes to play with it and use it as a teether.

Suzy also highlighted how easy the SnuzCloud is to carry around and affix to her baby’s car seat and pram, making it ideal for frazzled parents who need things to be fast, easy, and efficient.

• Read our full SnuzCloud Baby Sleep Aid review 

Tried and tested by: Jasmine Harris tried the device with her daughter Sophia, six months 

The Tommee Tippee Dreammaker™ Light and Sound Baby Sleep Aid has plenty of aces up its sleeve when it comes to inducing and prolonging baby sleep. It offers pink noise to mimic the familiar sound of the womb, produces red light to soothe the baby and make him or her sleepy, and also offers a rhythmic, pulsing glow to help your little one relax before bed. Most cleverly, it also boasts CrySensor technology, which will listen out for your baby’s cries and automatically switch on, meaning you don’t need to creep out of bed in the middle of the night to activate it. The device has been developed in conjunction with a renowned sleep laboratory and sleep scientists.

Our tester Jasmine Harris tried the device with her daughter Sophia, six months, who, she says, 'struggles with sleep'. Jasmine found the device instantly helpful when it came to prolonging Sophia’s naps, saying the Dreammaker allows her daughter to get into a 'much deeper sleep'. 

She also says that having tried other, more expensive sleep products on the market, the Dreammaker offers brilliant value for money: 'It is extremely affordable for the price compared to some other sleep aids.'

The CrySensor, pulsing glow, and light appealed to Jasmine, and she found this made it stand out from other similar devices. It provides ongoing pink noise unlike other sleep aids, and it doubles up as a night light that is calming rather than a distraction,' she adds. 

• Read our full Tommee Tippee Dreammaker™ Light and Sound Baby Sleep Aid review  

Tried and tested by: Mary Eleini with her son Lucian, seven months

If your baby loves movement and is happiest in the car, the Zed Vibration Sleep Soother By Rockit is the sleep aid for you. The Zed works by emitting gentle vibrations and mimicking the sensation of being in the car, a place where babies famously love to fall asleep. As well as offering six different calming vibration modes, the Zed also has three different night light options in the form of a relaxing red glow. It’s simple to operate, too, with large buttons and a big snooze button to press.

Our tester, Mary Eleini, found the Zed worked brilliantly with her son Lucian, seven months. She enjoyed how easy the device was to get the hang of, and also appreciated the night light’s gentle glow, which she found better than other harsher night lights she’d tried.

Mary said this product would work best for 'babies who are used to movement at nap times', as well as saying it would be a great tool to use from birth. 'It’s a really useful tool to keep a baby who is good at sleeping in the pram or in the car - basically, a baby who is used to movement - asleep in their crib,' she says.

She also found that the product wasn’t just useful at soothing Lucian to sleep and prolonging his sleep, but was also handy during nighttime nappy changes. 'I liked the multi-functionality of the night light, and the vibrations are useful when changing or feeding the baby in the middle of the night.' 

• Read our full Rockit Zed Vibration Sleep Soother review 

Tried and tested by: Tara Joseph with her daughter, Noa, three and a half,

Marketed at older children, the My Little Morphée is a non-digital, screen-free sleeping aid aimed at children between three and eight years old. It works differently from your typical white noise machine or night light, instead offering 192 'meditative journeys' to help children wind down before bed. 

Children can choose an animal and destination of their choice to hear visualisations, breathing and relaxation exercises, and guided meditations. The sessions have been created by sleep experts, and there are also soft music tracks and nature sounds if your child prefers this to a meditative journey. 

Our tester Tara Joseph tried out My Little Morphée alongside her daughter, Noa, three and a half, who loved playing with the device and carrying it around the house. Tara was impressed by the product’s elegant design, saying it 'looks great' and would fit in with modern nursery decor. She also praised how easy it was for Noa to get the hang of, and said it is really fun for children to use by themselves. 'Within a few days, my daughter was able to use it herself to choose an animal and setting to create different stories,' she adds.

Tara also appreciated the calm bedtime environment My Little Morphée helped to create in her home, praising the stories themselves and the narration too. 'There are multiple options to choose from - each animal can have a story based in a different environment,' she explains. 'The stories are calming and are read in a soft tone.'

• Read our full My Little Morphee review 

Tried and tested by: Gina Osen and her son Nathan, four months,

One of the best-known sleep aids on the market, Ewan Deluxe Baby Shushing Sleep Sheep is extremely popular - and for good reason. Not only is he incredibly cute to look at and cuddly for babies to hold, but he offers a red night glow to calm babies and a smart cry sensor that listens out for your baby stirring or crying and reactivates him so you don’t need to get out of bed.

Ewan offers five different sounds to put your baby to sleep, all accompanied by the sound of a genuine, not computer-generated heartbeat in the background: a vacuum cleaner and heartbeat sound, a rainfall and heartbeat sound, a harp melody and heartbeat sound, a womb and heartbeat sound and a shush and heartbeat sound.

Ewan was tested both by Gina Osen and her son Nathan, four months, and also by me and my daughter Mia, one year. Gina found Ewan’s noises and lights to be 'calming' and 'multifunctional' and appreciated Ewan’s 'cute' design. I found Ewan’s sounds to be incredibly relaxing both for myself and for Mia after months of testing different sleep aids to no avail. The sound of the heartbeat is really soothing and makes you feel grounded after stressful days or nights with a young baby. I also appreciated the wide variety of noises available, knowing that though one baby may enjoy the sound of rainfall, another may be soothed by shushing. 

The biggest selling point for me, other than Ewan’s adorable appearance, is his crying sensor, which means you can nod off without worrying about having to go in and turn on a white noise machine or night light in the middle of the night: if he hears your baby stir in the night, he simply switches back on and the trusty heartbeat resumes. 

• Read our full Ewan Deluxe Baby Shushing Sleep Sheep review

What sleep aid is safe for babies?

For newborn babies, a noisemaker (like a white noise machine) outside of their crib is your best bet for helping your baby get to sleep in a safe manner. While older babies may favour a blankie or stuffed toy, The Lullaby Trust says. 

All baby sleep aids listed in this guide are safe for your newborn and have been tested by manufactures to make sure they meet the correct standards. Plus, our parent-testers have tried and tested all products featured in this guide. 

How can I get my baby to sleep longer at night?

'Parents, especially those of newborns, can be so overwhelmed with choice when it comes to buying the right sleep aid for their child,' explains Daniella Lewis, co-founder of baby sleep consultancy Settled Sleepers.

'The truth is, whilst there is no magic sleep solution, the correct sleep aids can help to settle and calm a restless or overtired baby and soothe them to sleep. We love white noise machines that can play continuously throughout the night and that are durable as well as portable, and we also love a blackout canopy that’s breathable and easy to use.'

Sleep consultant Sarah Patel from Teach to Sleep is a big fan of sleep aids. 'Most infants find falling asleep difficult so if you can find something which makes this process easier for your little one, you are on for a win,' she says. 'If you are worried about your little one becoming reliant on something for sleep, know that it is normal to need support to fall asleep - and you can gently wean them off things like white noise if it becomes a problem for you.'

Our Family Editor, Stephanie Lowe, agrees. 'I remember feeling at a complete loss to get my newborn, Ted, to sleep,' she says. 'When I was there ‘shhhhing’ him he would drift off, but then he’d wake and freak out that I wasn’t there. So I turned to Ewan the Sleep Sheep. It would instantly settle him and stay on for 25 minutes at a time. Ewan fast became a firm favourite, always in the cot. Not all my mum-friends used sleep aides though. You know your baby and their needs and it’s your choice to make.'

How to choose the best baby sleep aid

Lynda Harding, the founder of Sweet Dreamers, says when doing your research about the best sleep aids, try to find products that combine multiple benefits, such as a white noise machine that also offers light. Some of the best baby monitors also come with baby sleep aid features like this so you can sometimes combine two and save money.

'When looking to purchase a sleep aid, parents should look for authentic features that will truly comfort their baby, so certainly look for a product that is based on lots of research,' she says. 'Something that has an integrated cry sensor is a must also, as this ensures that when your baby stirs, it automatically activates to soothe them and settle them back to sleep without parents having to get out of bed. It’s also important to look for a product that gives all the extras, so look for a sleep aid with light and sound options too.'

How we tested each baby sleep aid

To help you make this very important decision, we asked parents with babies aged between nine months and almost two years old to put a range of the top baby sleep aids to the test. As part of our testing process, they tried out the sleep aids with their babies for a number of weeks, and we used their in-depth feedback and insights to compile this buying guide to help you choose the best sleep aid for your baby.

While you're looking for the best baby sleep aids, you might also be interested in the best Moses baskets, the best baby sleeping bags and our expert-approved guide to baby sleep training. 

How to get a baby to sleep is all about the grownups. A baby's sleep cycle is less than an hour, so understanding how to get a baby to sleep is really about adjusting expectations of what newborn sleep looks like, there are no quick fixes. 

Babies don't come with an easy set-up manual, but luckily we have the information here to help you find your way. All babies are different; what works for one baby might not work for another. From shopping for the best baby monitor to searching for the best podcasts to listen to and sleep training books to read, the best swaddles to use. You've likely tried all kinds of tricks and tips to get your baby to drop off. And, all of this is okay. Sleep isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, after all. Founder of the sleep consulting team Calm and Bright Sleep Support and mother of four, Eve Spires tells us "The most important thing to remember is your baby, your choice." 

With that in mind, we've found the research and expert intel to empower you in making your own decisions in helping your baby fall asleep.

How to get a baby to sleep: by ages

From 0-3 months old

• Swaddle newborns
• Keep lighting low when feeding or changing
• Naps and feeds on demand

A study by Liverpool John Moores University showed that there is no newborn sleep schedule as they don’t know the difference between night and day, and will often easily sleep for long periods during the day, with little or no support needed. While this is great when you're meeting a friend for coffee, the flip side is that it feels like they're awake for hours at night. New babies often wake because they need a feed, as they only have little tummies.

However, if this isn't happening for you, and instead you're struggling to get them to sleep on their first couple of nights, then they could be experiencing a completely normal newborn baby condition called Second Night Syndrome. It affects some babies more than others and is characterised by complete sleep for the first 24 hours of life, and then crying and excessive feeding, amongst other symptoms, from then on. When your new baby does wake for a feed, keep everything quiet, low and with minimal movement. Try to think about how you act when you're woken in the night. When you need the loo you try to keep your eyes as closed as possible and avoid turning the light on. This is exactly what you need for your baby. Feed them and change them as quietly and gently as possible to try to keep them in that slightly sleepy state.

Mum of two Louise tells us: "With our firstborn the Lumie sunrise alarm clock was a godsend! It kept the room dim but light enough to get things done. For simple feeds and burping we set it to a dim light 3 setting, while for code brown situations it was a brighter light 8! But still less intense than turning the light on."

In addition, swaddling may help with getting newborn babies to sleep. Chireal Shallow, author of The Gentle Sleep Solution (Amazon, £12.65)says: “To help your baby feel secure, recreate the conditions of the womb. Swaddle them, just like they were snug inside you, and make sure their Moses basket is cosy and safe. If they’re warm and sleepy in your arms, being moved to a cool mattress can be a shock.

“To settle them, put a hand on their chest, lean down and put your cheek next to them, then make a ‘shh, shh’ sound. When they stop crying, stop all of these. They’ll learn you’re there for them when they’re upset, but that they can go to sleep on their own when they’re calm.”

In the early weeks, napping and feeding often happen on demand and no two days are the same. Eve Spires, one half of the sleep consulting team Calm and Bright Sleep Support and mother-of-four tells us, “And sleep can range from 20 minutes to 3 hours. Remember that 'contact' or 'motion' napping, such as on your chest in the sling, baby carrier, or in that pram you invested in, is entirely normal and often necessary (hello, school run!).  And, at this age, night sleep can be anything from 45 minutes to 3-hour stints."

From 3-5 months old

• Keep their room dark
• Keep lighting low when feeding or changing
• Track their day naps
• Understand baby's circadian rhythm
• Feel empowered to give your baby a minute to soothe themselves if they've woken

By 3 months old some babies can sleep up to 5 hours at night and by 5 months it could be as much as 8 hours. However, it is unusual for babies to sleep all night every night and it is normal for babies to wake frequently in the night, just like we as adults do. You may notice that at some stage your baby will wake at 5am to start their day. It's at this time, and in the first few months of a baby’s life, think about their sleep space. Both for their comfort; to lull into a peaceful sleep and their safety. Whether you are co-sleeping or prefer a next-to-me cot, The Lullaby Trust is a great go-to for guidance on safe sleeping. 

You might want to try keeping your baby's room dark. When it gets dark our brains release a hormone called melatonin, which makes us feel drowsy. Also, try to remember that your baby’s sleep is governed by the sleep cycle (circadian rhythm) which kicks in at 8 weeks and matures by 6 months. A baby's sleep cycle lasts for 45-60 minutes, at the end of which your baby will either start another sleep cycle or wake up.

The reason for waking up could be hunger, or they're uncomfortable or maybe they've just had a wee and need a bit of time to drift back off. If they're not crying give them the chance to fall back to sleep.

“Sleep needs are changing rapidly at this age. It may still feel a bit erratic with timings but longer stints of sleep can begin to form,” reassures Eve. “It’s good to know that naps can be 20 minutes to 3 hours long with night sleep ranging from 2-6 hour stints.”

And, while naps are imperative for a child’s growth, development, overall health, they also support better nighttime sleep, Dr Harvey Karp tells us. "When your little ones skip a nap, they’re primed to be overtired at bedtime, which triggers a fight-or-flight response that unleashes the cortisol, a hormone that keeps babies alert... which is not ideal for sleep."

Dr Harvey's top tip is to keep naps to 2.5 hours tops. "I know it sounds totally counterintuitive, I mean they say, 'Never wake a sleeping baby', but babies only sleep a certain amount in 24 hours and if they sleep too much during the day it really affects their nighttime sleep." This means you should wake your little one if they’re still snoozing at the two-hour mark, Dr Harvey assures us that this will help maintain longer stretches of sleep at night.

From 6-18 months old

• Keep room dark
• Keep lighting low when feeding or changing
• Track their day naps
• Know your baby's sleep cues
• Maybe introduce sleep training method

By now your baby's tummy is big enough to enable them to sleep for around 11 hours at night without waking to feed. Your baby's old enough now for you to be able to introduce sleep training should you want to, to get them into better habits. The aim is to teach them how to get back to sleep on their own.

Eve tells us how sleep can even out and become more predictable at this age; “naps can be 45 minutes to 3 hours long and nights can be solid with 11-12 hours unbroken.” 

This age group is hitting lots of developmental milestones, from sitting up and crawling to learning to walk. Though Eve still assures us that there is no need for sleep to be broken beyond this point for any length of time; “You can get 11-12 hours sleep and naps from 1 to 3 hours.”

From 6 months old you can try sleep training if that's something you'd like to do. Sleep training may help you and your baby get into better sleep habits. The aim is to teach babies how to get back to sleep on their own. And to teach you, the adult, that babies can do more than we give them credit for.

Some methods include the E.A.S.Y. Method (A three hour routine that starts with babies being fed until they are full (Eat), play (Activity) and then nap (Sleep) with time for yourself following (You).) and controlled crying (leaving them for gradually increased periods of time before going in to reassure them). In addition, it helps to know your baby's sleep cues. 

How much can a baby sleep?

Up to 17 hours a day depending on their age. The National Library of Medicine shows that these are usual sleep needs (including naps and nighttime sleep) per 24 hours:

• Newborns to first few months: 16 to 17 hours
• Four to One year: 12 to 16 hours
• One to two years: 11 to 14 hours

While newborns sleep much of the time, it tends to be in very short stints. As your baby grows the total amount of sleep slowly decreases, but the length of nighttime sleep increases.

If you want to check that your baby is hitting the suggested amount of sleep at night, you might try tracking day naps. The saying; 'Sleep begets sleep' is a saying for a reason. The more sleep a baby has the more likely they are to sleep better. An overtired baby struggles to settle and to say in a sleep cycle.

Babies don’t tend to have regular sleep cycles until they are about 6 months old. They typically sleep a total of about eight to nine hours in the daytime and a total of about eight hours at night. But because they have small stomachs, they tend to wake when they're hungry eat. In most cases, a baby will wake up to eat at least every three hours.

How often a baby eats depends on what they are being fed and their age. If you're tempted to wake your baby for a feed, talk to your Health Visitor or GP for guidance.

How babies sleep may look different depending on their age. Some babies won’t start sleeping through the night (meaning six to eight hours) until at least 3 months of age. Others won’t sleep through the night until closer to 1 year. All babies are different. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, if your baby doesn’t sleep through the night at 6 months, or even at 12 months, it’s perfectly normal.

It's also worth remembering that when it comes to how well a baby can sleep, there are 'no shoulds', according to Eve. She tells us. “Rather than thinking what their babies ‘should’ be doing, parents might like to know what their babies are capable of doing so that they can make an informed decision about whether they want/need to enable that best sleep.”

The good news is, studies at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare show that a child's sleep can become noticeably more stable within the first two years of life.

Sleep cues: recognise the signs

Overtired babies are really hard to settle. Spotting the signs before your baby reaches overtired status is half the battle.

Sleep cues may look like;

• Staring into space
• Going still
• Rubbing their eyes
• Pulling at their ears
• Frowning
• Less engaged
• Less responsive
• Dropping eyes

Like adults, all babies are different; get to know yours. Recognise their signs of tiredness. Sleep cues can be super subtle and can also vary from baby to baby. Your firstborn may have shown completely different signs to your second or third born.

But you will begin to recognise your own baby’s cues over time. And, it's worth noting that these cues will also change as they grow. Remember, yawning, becoming irritable and starting to cry are late signs and can lead to your baby becoming overtired.

Tips to help get a baby to sleep

1. Get your baby used to day and night

Babies aren't born understanding night and day, according to a research from Liverpool John Moores University. Get your baby familiar with the change, it can help with their circadian rhythm. In addition, other studies from American Academy of Sleep Medicine show that the circadian rhythm develops at 8 weeks old - and works with the body to help drift off to sleep. Eve shares a few other ways to get your baby used to day and night;

• Exposure to daylight and fresh air
• Day sleep no longer than 3 hours at a time
• Naps in daylight
• Limit exposure to light at night, especially blue light (such as screens or mobile phones)
• Only change nappy when needed - i.e. baby is crying - overnight (most modern-day nappies can last 12 hours

Eve adds; "Getting a baby to sleep is ultimately about reassurance, consistency, and comfort to help your baby learn."

So, when you're dealing with them during nighttime, keep lights dim and talk to a minimum. Research from the Family Institute at Northwestern University shows that keeping the light low level helps promote positive sleep behaviour. Especially when changing their nappy; it isn't daytime, it isn't a fun time, it's sleep time so model that. Don't 'lose the tired'.

During the day maybe open the curtains, dress them and play games. Similarly at night, try dimming the lights, drawing the curtains, getting them into PJs (even if this means just switching them out from one onesie to another, it’s more about the act for baby).

2. Trust your baby to work it out

Looking after a baby can be so overwhelming and Googling everything seems the most sensible thing to do.

But resist that urge to search 'how to get a baby to sleep' each night. Information overload can throw you off, and leave you trying everything possible rather than trusting your instinct and being consistent. A parent's instinct is to be listened to, according to studies. You know your baby.

Also, give your baby a chance to show you what they're capable of. If baby is awake and just happy in their cot, leave them to it. They may find their own way to drop off to sleep.

When a baby cries it's human instinct to go to it straight away. But, if you rush immediately you take away baby's chance to sort it themselves - it might just be they had a wee and it woke them, give them time and they may drift straight back off.

Rushing in could create a cycle where they need you to fall back to sleep. As long as you know they're not hungry or ill, you can pause and allow a minute before going into them. If you do need to go in, follow your instincts and try to be as quiet, calm, and unobtrusive as possible. For instance, maybe think about keeping lights low/off, no talking etc.

Try to empower your baby. They are capable of more than we think. We just need to enable them, set strong sleep routines. A study by the Sleep Research Society claims that routines are a great way to help teach your baby to sleep. It gives them something they know to expect. Also, try to keep consistent and calm. 

With all this in mind, we got the low down on baby sleep from Eve; “Trust your baby to work it out. When a baby is given the opportunity to fall peacefully asleep by themselves, they are able to sleep longer and wake refreshed.”

“At the beginning, it’s really normal for babies to need help with sleep. Beyond 6 months, however, the way a baby gets to sleep (feeding, rocking, patting, co-sleeping) can become ingrained. This means that both parent and baby believe that there is no other way to get to sleep."

For instance, if you feed your baby to sleep - and there's nothing wrong with - but you then decide to stop, it can be difficult. As your baby now associates a feed with sleep, and you think your baby can't sleep without a feed, it becomes a never-ending circle."

Author of The Sleep Whisperer, Tracy Hogg calls this 'accidental parenting'. And it's usually the culprit for sleep issues with a baby. We have spoken to many sleep consultants and they all say the same; ‘we work with the parents not the baby’.

And Eve agrees; “The very first port of call for any sleep problems night or day is to consider whether you might like to enable self-settle in your baby. Once that is enabled, everything falls into place.”

The mum-of-four goes on to reassure all parents reading this; “If sleep is working for you and your baby, and you’re feeling rested and healthy, - no matter ‘the method’ then don’t change a thing. Don’t let anyone tell you you should or shouldn’t sleep teach. Your baby, your choice.”

3. Swaddling might help settle your newborn

A 2017 review of studies shows that swaddling helps babies sleep. Swaddling is when you wrap a baby in a blanket to make them feel secure, like when they were in the womb. Here’s how to swaddle a newborn:

1. Fold one corner down on a thin cotton cot sheet. Lie your baby on their back, in the middle of the sheet and with their head resting above the fold 2. Take the left corner and wrap it over your baby’s body then tuck it under their right arm 3. Fold the tail upwards then wrap the right corner over their body and around their back, making sure their head is uncovered and your baby has enough space to wriggle their hips and knees 4. Avoid using extra or thick blankets to stop your baby overheating 5. It's not safe to swaddle babies over 1 month old.

4. Check baby's room temperature

To enable your baby's best sleep, make sure they aren't too cold or hot. Invest in a room thermometer to check that their room is between 16°C and 20°C. 

Studies from The Lullaby Trust recommend that babies sleep in a baby sleeping bag.  Here are the guidelines Gro Company supply on what the baby should wear with which tog, in which room temperature.

• Under 16°C: Put them in a 2.5 tog sleeping bag and long-sleeved vest, plus long-sleeved sleepsuit
• 16°C-19°C: Put them in a 2-2.5 tog sleeping bag and long-sleeved sleepsuit or long-sleeved vest
• 20°C-24°C: Put them in a 1-1.5 tog sleeping bag and long-sleeved vest or short-sleeved vest
• 25°C plus: Put them in a 0.5 tog sleeping bag and vest or vest alone

Feeling their tummy is the best way to tell how hot or cold your baby is and don't worry if their feet and hands are cold as it doesn't necessarily mean they feel cold.

5. Check baby isn't hungry

Like adults, when babies are in a light sleep a hunger pang can wake them. Making sure your baby goes to bed with a full tummy may help with the longer stints of shut-eye. Though, for full transparency, a study by Swansea University shows that even a full tummy won't stop night waking altogether. It just means you know baby isn't waking for food.

Breastfeeding? It's suggested that newborns are are fed every hour or two in the first couple of weeks. If bottle-feeding, it's suggested that it's every two to three hours. Other studies from 2012 claim that breastfed babies don't tend to wake as often, though reasons for this could be the additional skin on skin comfort during breastfeeding.

When your baby weighs around 10lbs they might sleep for longer and go for four to five hours between feeds. From 14lbs they could even go five to six hours without needing milk. Getting your baby to sleep through the night really depends on your baby’s weight and how quickly they digest their milk, so listen to your baby and don’t be in a hurry to get them sleeping through the night and worry about how to get a baby to sleep.

It’s good to know that your little one may also feed more often and for longer during a growth spurt, however, if their constant waking up for milk doesn’t seem normal, it might be worth checking your milk supply with your health visitor.

Try feeding your baby before you read them a bedtime story. When they start showing their usual signs of tiredness e.g touching their ears and yawning, put them down in their cot awake.

Some parents swear by a dream feed to keep their little ones asleep a bit longer; anticipating the problem before they wake up.

6. Winding could help longer sleep

Trapped air in baby's diaphragm can be so uncomfortable and even painful and can prevent baby from settling. Mum-of-one Jolene says, “My son Huxley normally sleeps for an extra hour if he’s been properly winded, but it took me seven weeks to figure that out. I sit him up on my lap with his spine against my chest. I then put my arm under his arms and sit up as straight as I can. After a few seconds, it usually brings up a stubborn burp.”

Some mums also swear by Infacol, which can be used from birth and is available from pharmacies. It helps your baby burp easily after a feed.

Mummy blogger Sophie Cachia took Instagram to share a video of her burping technique in a bid to help other mums that are struggling. In the video, she can be seen sitting her baby on her lap as she begins to move her little ones limbs to open up her airway.

Sophie describes what she can be seen doing in a helpful caption alongside the video, ‘Simply [so it’s definitely not always SIMPLE, sometimes they arch their back and you need to use some gentle-but-firm mummy/daddy love to hold them in place) sit them on your lap and bring their knees bent in like so, and lift their arms up to about 90 degree angle.’

The Australian mum continues to reveal that she used this technique successfully on both of her children but warned that it’s essential that your baby’s body is relaxed, so if they're already crying and stressed it's not the best time to try this.

7. Set a consistent sleep routine

You might want to try introducing a sleep routine. If you need one, around 6 to 8 weeks old is a good age to start, though it's never too late.

A baby lives for the predictable, they like knowing what's coming next. Set a routine and trust them to show you their capabilities, they might surprise you. Consider making it very short at first — maybe just a cuddly feed and a brief book.

Dr Harvey Karp tells us; "Having a soothing and predictable bedtime routine calms babies, makes them feel safe, and it eases them into a good night’s sleep. As your baby gets better and better at remembering patterns, their bedtime routine becomes almost Pavlovian. An infant’s bedtime routine is pretty simple since they all crave the same thing: A cozy atmosphere that reminds them of the womb, dim the lights, and turn on rough and rumbly white noise. Next, swaddle your baby and offer them a breast or bottle to suck on, and then rock your baby into the sleepy zone."

A consistent bedtime routine reinforces babies’ natural circadian rhythms, helping teach them the difference between day and night. Later on, a bedtime routine helps little ones to slow down and prepare mentally for bedtime. Plus, a regular bedtime ritual creates a sense of comfort that can be helpful during tricky sleep periods for you and your baby.

Sleep routine: how you might create one

Sleep routines signal that it's time to sleep, with studies showing that babies like knowing what to expect. In addition, as this study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows, babies don't sleep through the night. So helping them to know what to do when they wake in the night is in the best interests of everyone in the house who likes to sleep.

You can start a routine as soon as the health visitor makes their first visit when your baby is about 6 – 8 weeks old. It might be useful to pick a time that you feel you could stick to, then do the same thing every night before putting your little one in their cot so they understand it’s time to sleep.

Mum-of-one, Louise M tells us: "We went with the Four B routine, but tweaked it a little to the Three B. We noticed that baths woke my daughter up rather than calmed her down. So we just went with bottle, book and bed. Keeping baths to a morning ritual when she was younger. And that - along with singing Mary Poppins 'go to sleep' - was what became our sleep routine."

Ideas for a successful bedtime routine

• Create a calm room: Try muted coloured mobiles for babies, a favourite fluffy toy that only comes out at night, or soothing music, and blackout blinds might also help. You might want to avoid bright colours or mobiles with flashing lights.
• Sleep associations: Children and babies sleep better if they have recognisable cues to remind them that it’s time to go to sleep. A lot of parents like the 4 B routine. Bath, bottle, book, bed. Remember, if your baby falls asleep in your arms, then when they wake in the night, they may need you and your arms to return to sleep.
• No fuss: If your little one is sick in the night, or wees the bed, you might want to deal with the problem with minimal fuss. Focus all attention on the importance of getting back to sleep -so lights as dim as you can, no talking, and leaving any unnecessary clean-ups to later etc.
• Calm and quiet: By all means play with your little ones, but when bedtime approaches, try to wind it down. Any over-stimulation before bed just makes it harder for them to get to sleep. So think, dimmer lights, no noisy toys etc.
• Keep track: When you change your child’s bedtime routine, you might like to try and keep a diary. This could even be one-liners texted to your partner. You might find it helpful to track your progress. As it can sometimes be hard to believe things are changing. Especially if you've been into your baby 20 times, but if your notes tell you that two nights ago you were having to do it 25 times, it can spur you on.
• Find support: Breaking habitual behaviour is hard. If your baby has learned to fall asleep on your breast and now you feel the time has come to break this pattern, it will take strength for you to see it through. Likewise, if he’s always fallen asleep with dad on the living room sofa, changing this will be tough. Don’t underestimate how hard it will be, and make sure you talk about it to your partner, family or friends – you’ll need support too.
• Stick to it: As a parent, you set the boundaries. Consistency is key. Once you’ve decided on a course of action, try to be strong and be clear. Setting and holding boundaries is helpful.

Why do babies fight sleep?

Eve, Founder of Calm and Bright sleep support tells us; “There can be many reasons why a baby might refuse or fight sleep but the most common is because they are overtired. Just like adults if a baby doesn’t get the required sleep, they become delirious and too tired to fall asleep. Babies and young children have a specific ‘sleep window’ where they naturally become drowsy and if they miss this window or a nap interferes with their routine, they will struggle to fall asleep.”

Other reasons could be;

• Not tired enough: “On the flip side, a baby may fight sleep if they have had sufficient naps and simply aren’t tired. Getting this balance right can be hard for parents as it requires a strict routine and a lot of persistence," says Jumaimah. Though this could be an isolated event, caused by something like today’s nap running longer than usual, or it could be a sign that they’re growing and developing, and their sleep needs are changing.
• Overstimulated: It's already well-known for children and adults to avoid screens for an hour before bed in order to fall asleep faster and to ensure a better quality of sleep. The same is true for your little one, but it goes beyond screens. Too many new people, a new place, noisy toys, loud music, exciting play, or simply a day of new and exciting things happening can leave them feeling overwhelmed and unable to calm down for sleep.
• Separation anxiety: Jumaimah explains that; “As a baby approaches the eight-month mark, they often adopt separation anxiety which can also lead to them fighting sleep. The need for parental contact usually peaks around 18 months.” Has your little one been like a shadow, always wanting to be held and never more than a few steps away all day? It’s likely that they’re feeling some separation anxiety, which can show up at bedtime as well. Often seen anywhere from 8 to 18 months, your baby may fight sleep because they don’t want you to leave.
• Circadian rhythm: Infants start to develop their circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycle that regulates our bodies, at around 6 weeks old. These circadian rhythms mature enough into a true sleep schedule around 3 to 6 months old. And of course, every baby is different, so some may not establish a real sleep schedule until after that.
• Hunger: Your baby is doing some serious growing in the first few years — babies usually triple their birth weight by their first birthday. All that growth demands plenty of nourishment. You might want to ensure that your baby is getting an appropriate number of feeds a day for an easier bedtime. Hungry tummy will keep them awake - much like it would for adults.
• Illness: Sometimes discomfort from an illness that's already arrived or one that's on its way can affect your baby’s sleep. Keep an eye out for other symptoms of illnesses like ear infections or colds.

How can you help stop babies fighting sleep?

It all depends on the cause for the baby fighting sleep, but it might be worth moving your baby’s bedtime to adjust their routine slightly. Jumaimah says, “If you suspect they are overtired, put them down earlier, encouraging them to feel relaxed and drowsy with a bedtime story. However, if they do not seem sleepy in the evening, then try extending their wind-down routine.

“Likewise, introduce naps accordingly; for example, if they have been used to taking two naps a day then try dropping this down to one to help tire them out. For separation anxiety, find a balance between providing comfort and reassurance but also giving the baby space. You might try holding back a little during periods of unrest will teach them to self-soothe and in turn, reduce the need for parental attention.”

Naps can help too. Even if they're going through a sleep regression, a well-rested baby will always sleep better than an overtired one. Scientists show that skipping a nap in the hope baby will be tired enough to sleep longer at night, is a myth that won't work. When infants get overtired the stress hormone rises. Regular naps help to keep baby hormone levels consistent. If your baby has fallen asleep in between 'scheduled naps', let it happen. It means they're tired. Though be careful it's not too close to bedtime.

Sarah Patel, Sleep Expert and founder of Teach to Sleep, tells us; "The last nap of the day is the one that can have the biggest effect on nighttime sleep. If, however they show signs that they need that nap, keep it short. A cat nap can really help them bridge the gap to bedtime and manage to keep them to a roughly consistent bedtime. This helps keep the body clock regulated."

In addition, Louenna Hood, Norland nanny and maternity nurse, says that every baby is different. She tells us, “I've looked after babies who sleep through the night from eight weeks old but others not until four or five months old. If your baby follows a regular eating and sleeping pattern through the daytime and finishes full feeds, they are capable of sleeping through from four months.”

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that their sleeping through the night is the same as yours, so there may still be a midnight or 7am wake-up call. As much as we all wish that babies could just nod off at 7pm, we know that it doesn’t always work that way…

To help you see the light at the end of the tunnel, mum-of-three and founder of Mas and Pas, Sophia Nomicos has given us some of her tried and tested advice.

“How much sleep is lost varies from family to family,” Sophia tells us, “But long-term sleep deprivation can have a real effect on our mental and physical well-being. If your child is old enough to sleep through the night but is still waking up several times before morning, the chances are they are probably exhausted too.

"If you can do something to help them sleep for longer stretches, or through the night, it’s likely to help you and the whole family. Which method you use to sleep train your child is a deeply personal choice for every parent, and it’s important to find a technique that you’re comfortable with and believe in.”

At the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with co-sleeping, rocking, patting or feeding your baby to sleep if it works for you and your family. And, if you get to a point where you or your child aren't sleeping, it’s okay to recognise that and make changes. 

Sleep is a rare commodity for parents, which is why we pour so much of our expertise and resource into guiding and helping where we can, we have information on baby sleep training, sleep regression of all ages, and how to turn your iPhone into a white noise machine.

We asked parent reviewer Eugenie Freeman, mum to Darcey, four months, to test out the MyBaby SoundSpa On-The-Go Portable Baby White Noise Machine to see if it helped her little one nod off. Read our in-depth review to find out if it's right for you.

Fuss-free, lightweight, and functional, the affordable MyBaby SoundSpa On-The-Go Portable Baby White Noise Machine offers four different sounds to help soothe your baby, with a volume control that you can easily adjust. It gets our vote as the best baby sleep aid on the market.

The large readable buttons and handy clip make it simple to turn on and attach to cots, buggies, or slings on the go - and when feeling flustered. 

“This is a great option for someone who appreciates value for money and likes to be on the go,” Eugenie says. 

VIEW AT AMAZON | £19.99

Design 

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Weighs: 0.27kg | Age: From birth

The Mybaby SoundSpa White Noise Machine is super lightweight and portable, which Eugenie appreciated while out and about with Darcey. She also enjoyed how easy it was to use, especially compared to other white noise machines she had bought previously.

“The product is very simple and intuitive to use, which I like because I have used other white noise machines in the past and I have found that finding the right setting can be a bit complicated,” Eugenie says. 

“The Mybaby SoundSpa White Noise Machine is nice and easy - clear buttons, obvious symbols, no confusion. It’s a useful product when on the go as it has a clip which you can put on a buggy and it’s small enough to travel anywhere with.”

Comfort and features

A particularly appealing feature about the MyBaby SoundSpa is the fact it offers four different sounds: heartbeat, white noise, ocean, and a lullaby, so you can tailor the noises to suit your baby.

It also has a 15, 30, and 45-minute auto shut-off function, or you can choose to keep it playing continuously, meaning you don’t need to constantly creep into your baby’s nursery to turn it back on. 

“I like that there are quite a few volume settings,” Eugenie adds. “The other products I’ve tried only have one to three volume options and sometimes it’s hard to find the right balance for the environment. But this has quite a few levels.”

VIEW AT AMAZON | £19.99

Value for money

Having tested multiple similar products on the market before, Eugenie was impressed by the value for money that the Mybaby SoundSpa White Noise Machine offered, citing its affordability compared to pricier sound machines with fewer features. 

“I think it’s good value for money compared to other sound machines,” she says.

“I have used two other popular sound machines previously and I think that this offers more sound options so you can find the one that suits your baby. It’s more lightweight; it has better volume settings to work for different environments and it’s great value for money.”

Baby sleep training, also known as sleep teaching, is a hot topic discussed at length among many tired parents and carers. 

There’s so much advice and guidance out there that it’s hard to cut through the noise - whether it's conflicting opinions around best baby monitors or the risks and benefits of co-sleeping. But only you know what’s best for yourself, your baby, and your family when it comes to teaching your new baby how to sleep. And if your child is going through one of the sleep regression ages then sleep training may help you through it. Failing that, in the first few weeks of a newborn life a lot of parents choose from the best swaddles and then learn how to swaddle their baby.

We've asked both sleep-deprived parents and the experts everything there is to know about ‘baby sleep training’, so that you can have the information to hand to make your own decision for you and your baby.

Baby sleep training - what is it?

Baby sleep training, also known as baby sleep teaching, is a way to enable and support your baby to learn the skills they need to fall asleep. If sleep teaching is something you want to try, studies say that 6 months is the best age to start. Take a look through one of our expert-approved baby sleep books for more info too.

And certified baby sleep consultant Sarah Patel, who is the founder of Teach to Sleep, a former teacher and mom of two, agrees. She tells us; "It's less about 'training', they're not dogs. It's about teaching your baby. You are taking the first of many steps to teach your baby how to do something new."

Teaching your baby how to wind down for the night, to self-regulate and soothe helps them to relax, according to science. Which will hopefully send them into a sleepy slumber, meaning you can too. And, while a newborn sleep schedule sounds ridiculous it's a good habit to get into, the main thing to remember is that sleep is so important for parents during these first years of a baby's life. Research shows that lack of sleep can lead to depression and low moments; both of which can greatly affect your mental health and quality of life. 

It's important to know that babies - like adults - are not meant to sleep through the night. Read that again; Babies are not meant to sleep through the night. Experts and their reports say so too.

Mom-of-one and Goodto.com Family Editor, Stephanie Lowe was surprised by this as a first-time mom. “Before Ted was even a year old I was asked ‘is he sleeping through yet?’ so many times, and by Health Visitors too. So I always just assumed that was what he was supposed to be doing.”

When in reality, that bar is unrealistic. Babies wake for many different reasons and the process of baby sleep training and teaching will help your little one learn to fall back to sleep after they’ve woken in the night. 

Baby sleep training and teaching isn’t for everyone. If you’re co-sleeping with your baby and it’s working for you then that’s great. It’s also okay to take a step back if, for any reason, co-sleeping no longer works for you and you need to find a new way. 

Learning how to sleep is not a one off event. It’s an ongoing ever-evolving process which will ebb and flow as your baby and their circadian rhythm - so important according to research - grows. Learning to be flexible around this will help to enable solid hours of sleep.

Before trying any baby sleep training

A new baby can be a bit overwhelming- it can feel like everything is a guessing game - it’s always worth remembering that they are little humans. And, just like humans, they may be waking up - like adults - because they’re too hot or too cold, still hungry or just need the toilet. So, before you try any baby sleep-training and teaching make a note of the below - these points may help set you and your baby up for sleep success.

• Your baby is at least 6 months of age 
• Make sure baby isn’t teething, ill or unwell in any way
• Double check that baby is eating enough during the day. Hunger pangs can prevent them from settling or they may wake up with hunger during the night.
• Is a consistent bedtime routine in place? This could be as simple as playing the same lullaby as you get them ready for bed, just a signal each night so they know bedtime and sleep is next

Sleep training a newborn

You might hear a lot of 'no you shouldn't' around sleep training a newborn. But, all newborns are different, and all family circumstances are different too. You are free to make the decision that is right for you and your baby. Baby sleep training isn't just about cry it out. There are many methods to try such as Pick up Put Down, E.A.S.Y and the Responsive Plan, all detailed below.

With a newborn it's worth noting that if you're sleep training to reduce crying, this isn't always the outcome. Studies show that parents of newborns (i.e. the first 3 months) are more concerned with crying than sleep. Sleep interventions in the first 3 months may improve sleep but have no effect on crying. The crying, feeding and sleep problems co-evolve, particularly in the first neurodevelopmentally sensitive 4 months. 

Research shows that a newborn infant starts to develop a rhythm of cortisol at 8 weeks of age, with melatonin and sleep efficiency developing at 9 weeks. But, babies don't fully develop their internal circadian rhythm until around 4-6 months. Which is why many studies suggest waiting until 6 months before trying to baby sleep train.

So, if you do want to try and sleep train your baby it maybe worth understanding that they may not be biologically developed enough to sleep as long as you want or need them too. Sleep expert and founder of Little Sleep Stars Lauren Peacock believes 'it's never too early'. "I would suggest starting a bedtime routine as young as 2-3 weeks of age."

Sleep training a 4-month old

While experts say 6 months is the best time, for a family that needs big chunks of sleep right now, sleep coaching at 4-months may be a good option.

Some parents may feel pressured by sleep advice books who say to start sleep training now (some say even earlier) or experts who warn that if you don’t do it now, it will be much harder — maybe even impossible — later.

Sleep is difficult at 4 months old due to brain growth and development. The biggest culprit could be the 4 month sleep regression — a massive jump in both physical growth and brain development that can result in feeding disruptions or bursts, and more disrupted sleep. For many babies, sleep isn’t always something that stays fixed. It can be full of ups and downs as little ones mature across those first two years.

But, at 4 months is the time your baby's circadian rhythm starts to kick in and you may start to notice that your baby is sleeping for longer and my be waking less for fewer night feeds. Around 4 months is when you may also see your baby's sleep patterns emerge. Remember, all baby's are different. Even siblings, just because your first would only co-sleep, doesn't mean your second will be the same.

While many experts advise waiting until 6 months to sleep train, if you need or want to now, that is your call. Below are more details on the more popular baby sleep training methods.

Sleep training a 6-month old

Many expert studies claim that 6 months old is the perfect time to start sleep training.  Sleep training begins at bedtime as this is when your little one is most likely to be snoozy. Trying to sleep train both naps and nighttime together will just lead to a cranky baby.

A bedtime routine might be a good place to start. If you don't have one, don't worry it's never too late to set one up. The main purpose of this routine is to calm your baby in the evening. And this can look different from baby to baby.

Goodto.com Family Editor and mom-of-one Stephanie Lowe says: "We chose not to do a bath at bed time to soothe Ted, as so many experts said to. It only seemed to wake him up. He would go to town on squealing and splashing and would be buzzing before bed. So we took the lead from him and instead went for gentle lullabies on my Spotify while changing him in a dim room. Followed by a book then bottle."

Once you have a nighttime routine in place, you may like to look at reducing waking at night. By 6 months, if not teething or unwell, your baby is capable of sleeping for 4-8 hour stints. A baby sleep training method, see below, can help with this.

Sleep training a 1-year old

If your toddler calls out at night for hugs or is in your bed by daybreak and you're happy with this, then you do what works for you.

If, however, this sleep behavior is taking its toll and you and your toddler are exhausted it may be time to look into sleep training. It's never too late, sleep training is not a finite 6-months-old-or-not-at-all deal. Sleep regression ages go from 4 weeks to 18 months, and sleep training may help you through it.

Sleep training with a toddler is different as they are more developed and can communicate easier and also, push boundaries. With that in mind, Lauren Peacock, sleep expert and founder of Little Stars Sleep says: "consistency, setting boundaries and being clear with your toddler is what will help."

Goodto.com's Family Editor and mom-of-one Stephanie Lowe says: "I also found giving my toddler some of the "power" to make decisions himself around bedtime really help. Choice of language helps here. Saying things like 'It's time for bed, do you want to walk upstairs or do you want a carry?'. That way he felt he was in control of it, when ultimately the outcome was what I, the parent wanted. How he got there was how he, the toddler wanted."

Be ready for some pushback at this age, as parents, it's our job as parents to set boundaries and as a toddler, it's their job to push them. It's part of development.

Ultimately, how you deal with your toddler fighting back at bedtime is up to you, and every family has a different comfort level. You could let him cry it out, you could periodically check in on him or you could stay in his bedroom—sitting somewhere away from the crib—until he falls asleep. It's your choice.

Below we detail some of the most popular baby sleep-training methods which may work for your 1-year old.

Baby sleep training methods

1. The Ferber Method

The Ferber method of sleep training is periodically checking in on your crying baby at timed intervals increasing steadily, soothing the baby verbally with no feeding and no picking up, according to studies.It claims to help babies learn to self-sooth; to ultimately fall asleep on their own. And to fall back to sleep with minimal interaction when they wake in the night. 

Sarah says; ‘When it comes to any form of cry it out methods, remember that it’s not something you have to do. There is a growing number of gentle sleep consultants like myself who use responsive methods and get the same results."

She adds; "I don’t judge any parent for baby sleep training. I did it with my daughter in pure desperation, parenting is hard enough without judgment. My advice, do what feels right to you, research shows that a parent’s instinct is usually the most accurate.”

As sleep training methods go, the Ferber method is divisive among baby sleep experts. 

How does the Ferber method work?

Similar to the Ferber method, the NHS also recommends that you establish a baby bedtime routine, such as dimmed lights and reading a story. Add some helpful Baby sleep aids to a good routine and you might be on your way to getting some shut-eye. (You could even try turning your iPhone into a white noise machine to soothe your baby to sleep.)

Here’s what the Ferber method looks like in six steps;

1. Ensure your bedtime routine ends with a consistent phrase or song i.e. ‘It’s time for sleep’ or ‘I love you and will see you in the morning’
2. Lay your baby or toddler down drowsy but awake
3. Leave the room (or sit in a chair if you prefer to try to stay in the room)
4. If your child starts to cry, start your timer. If your child is not crying, no need to start the timer
5. Once the timer goes off, go check-in and offer comfort. Be sure to stop soothing and/or leave while your child is still awake
6. Repeat the check-in and comfort process with the different intervals (shown below) until your they fall asleep

2. Controlled crying

Another well-known divisive method involves strategically leaving your baby to cry for progressively longer periods of time. So they eventually learn to sleep without needing you for comfort.

Sophia Nomicos, founder of Mas and Pas, says that the method is reported to work for many parents. She tells us, “This doesn’t only benefit baby at bedtime, but when they come out of sleep cycles during the night, they are often able to settle themselves to sleep again without waking their parents. It also seems to be one of the quickest ways to sleep train a child with a number of parents reporting their children were sleeping through the night after just 3-5 nights of starting the method.”

Reports show that understanding a baby’s sleep cycle is important for parents. Because babies are not born with a strong circadian rhythm, which is why sleep teaching is only recommended for 6 months and older. Parents who want to sleep train have to work with their baby’s unique development timeline.

How does the controlled crying method work?

Sophia tells us, “The controlled crying method involves parents or caregivers putting their child to sleep in their crib at bedtime and leaving the room. When the child cries it’s for a short period of time, usually between 2 and 10 minutes, before the parent goes in and comforts them.

“When [parents do go in and comfort them] it’s important that they do not make eye contact or lift the baby out of the crib. They can stroke or soothe them while they’re in their bed until they are calm.”“The parent then leaves the room again and if the baby cries they repeat the process until the baby falls asleep.”

“Most parents report the first night to be the hardest.” Sophia says, “The key is consistency and doing the same technique in the same way, every night for five nights.”

3. The responsive plan

Fairly new to main stream parenting, and sits under the Gentle Parenting remit with consistency at the center. Research shows consistency is key in empowering and enabling your baby to sleep. While not a ‘one-method-fits-all’ approach - it’s different and tailored for every parent and baby, this plan teaches parents to get out of their own way; to support their baby as they teach them to sleep. 

It’s about parents not being afraid of their child crying or of any resistance or protesting they might give. As it is always lovingly attended to, they're not 'left to cry'. They are simply being given the opportunity to practice what they are capable of.

We as parents might like to think about giving our baby what they need to learn to sleep, over what they want. Eve, one half of Calm & Bright Sleep Support tells us; "One of the reasons people don't sleep train is they want to be 'need meeting' parents. But it's hard to be a need-meeting parent without sleep. There's a reason we spend a third of our lives in that state, because sleep really matters. And it's not just us that feels rubbish on no sleep, so do babies."

‘Solid sleep with love’ is the motto of Calm & Bright Sleep Support. A family run business with two sisters at the helm and backed by an NHS superteam of paediatric nurses and psychologists. They encourage lovingly responding through actions, to show your baby that you will always come back.

How does the responsive plan work?

Similar to baby-led weaning, you follow your baby's pattern. In a responsive and attachment conscious approach. If there's a chance that what might be standing between your baby and solid sleep is you and your responses to your baby it might be time to move on and try something else.

4. The E.A.S.Y method

It stands for eat, activity, sleep, you-time. This method was developed by Tracy Hogg, author of the book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. It’s positioned as a ‘structured routine’ not a schedule. E.A.S.Y is about keeping up the same daily pattern and repeating it every day.If you’re too busy watching the clock and not your baby you’ll miss important signals (like the first signs of tiredness). 

Our sleep expert Lauren Peacock says, “The E.A.S.Y routine creates a consistent flow to the day and provides opportunities for babies to experience falling asleep in different ways, rather than only on the breast or bottle.

“Parents often find their baby feeds well immediately on waking. I recommend feeding babies on demand, which will sometimes take a family outside of the E.A.S.Y routine – and that’s okay too!”

How does the E.A.S.Y method work?

The EASY method is essentially a three hour routine that starts with babies being fed until they are full (Eat), play (Activity) and then a nap (Sleep). The you-time begins when your little one is having a sleep.

For example:

E - 7am wake up and feed A - 7.30am activity S - 8.30am 90 min nap Y - Your time

E - 10am Wake and feed A - 10.30am activity S - 11.30am 90min nap Y - You time

E - 1pm feed A - 1.30pm activity S - 2.30pm 90min nap Y - You time

E - 4pm feed S - 5pm bed

To be sure that this routine works, baby will need to eat before bedtime and around the time of 5pm to 7pm and then again between 6pm to 8pm, which should fill them up for the night.

A feed at about 10pm, known as the dream feed, is the last one of the night.

Although this routine is structured it encourages you to be baby-led too, if your  baby is showing tired signs but they’re not due a nap for another 30 minutes, follow their lead and put them down. 

5. The Pick up Put Down method

As a baby sleep-training tool, this is ideal for use from 4 months old to a year. It’s also a problem-solving method. With this method your child is neither dependent on you to go to sleep nor do they feel abandoned. It's magic, it's hard consistent work.  As with all new approaches you need to give your baby time to adapt. 

How does the Pick Put Down method work?

The pick up put down, or PU/PD, method involves you going through your baby's normal bedtime routine, then putting her down to bed drowsy but awake. When and if she cries, pick her up and soothe her. Put her back down in the crib as soon as she stops crying. 

Repeat the process until your baby falls asleep. Just be aware that this sleep training method can take a long time. And requires a good deal of patience. Get the support where you can, even if it’s just your partner/mom/friend sitting outside counting how many times you’ve gone in. 

Related features:

• 8-month sleep regression causes, signs - and how I survived it with my son
• How to get a baby to sleep - Your ultimate guide
• Three clever expert tricks to help your baby's sleep routine when the clocks go back
• 5 easy switches to help kids stay fast asleep until the morning

Video of the Week

Co-sleeping can mean different things to different people. For some, it's sharing a room with your baby in a next-to-me cot. For others, it's having your baby in bed with you.

It can be a little confusing, so we chatted to Kate Holmes, Head of Support and Information at The Lullaby Trust who told us; 'The NICE guidance co-sleeping is referred to as sharing any surface with a baby. Bed-sharing is used specifically to refer to when a baby shares a bed with a parent/carer.' Which clears that up, nicely.

The co-sleeping method can be seen as a great way to lull your baby to sleep. And it can help you both to navigate the sleep regression ages. Deciding whether or not to co-sleep is a big decision. This is why it's important to gather all the knowledge, to empower you before deciding.

In this article, we talk to other mums and industry experts to get the information you need.

What is co-sleeping? Co-sleeping safely Co-sleeping with a newborn What are the benefits of co-sleeping? What are the risks of co-sleeping? When should you not co-sleep?

What is co-sleeping?

It’s when a parent/carer is sleeping on a shared surface – such as a bed – with their baby, according to the NICE guidance. It means that baby is in the same bed as an adult for most of the night, and not just short times for comfort or feeding, but throughout until morning.

While more parents around the world co-sleep with their baby than not, it doesn't mean that it's the right thing for you and your family. Research shows that for many mothers who breastfeed 'co-sleeping' is their chosen method. For some, it's a clear and researched choice, while for others it starts happening accidentally.

Lucy Shrimpton, mum-of-two, sleep expert, and Founder of The Sleep Nanny, told us; "You do what's right for you. Half of my battle as a sleep expert is to empower parents to know their own mind and make the right decision for their baby, and their family. Sleep is not one size fits all approach."

And, while many parents may claim co-sleeping is natural and a comforting way to get your baby to sleep, others believe this method to be unsafe and not worth the SID risks.

"Parents choose co-sleeping with their baby for all sorts of reasons", says Melanie Every of The Royal College of Midwives. "Whether it's cultural, historical or for comfort in the middle of the night, particularly if breastfeeding."

She adds, "The sensible approach is to advise parents of the safest way and explain which conditions really are a total no-go." Either way the NHS guidelines are clear: for the first six months of your baby’s life, the safest place for him to sleep is in a cot, crib, or a Moses basket in the same room as you.

"I didn't choose the co-sleeping life, it chose me. I was just exhausted and my son would only settle if I was there. So I brought him in with me. It definitely worked for us, especially when sleep deprivation kicked in." - Mum-of-one, Anna J

Co-sleeping safely

The best way to co-sleep safely is to plan and prepare to do it. The most dangerous thing is to - in a fit of sleep deprivation at 2am - bring baby into your bed with nothing removed or no knowledge of the safest sleep pointers. Also, avoid co-sleeping on a sofa or in a chair with a baby as it increases the risks of SIDS by 50 times, according to the Lullaby Trust.

Our medical expert, NHS GP and lifestyle medicine expert, Sonal Shah shares the following tips if you're looking to try co-sleeping with your baby...

• Keep your baby away from the pillows.
• Make sure your baby can’t fall out of bed or become trapped between the mattress and wall.
• Pull sheets and blankets away from your baby to avoid them over-heating or covering their face and obstructing their breathing.
• A good tip is to try sleeping bags as an alternative to a blanket.
• Avoid letting pets or other children into the bed at the same time.
• Always put your baby to sleep on their back.
• Never sleep with your baby on a sofa.

The La Leche League, an American breastfeeding organisation, share a sing-along tune of helpful reminders if you choose to co-sleep - also known as bed share - with your baby.

(to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”) No smoke, sober mum Baby at your breast Healthy baby on his back Keep him lightly dressed. Not too soft a bed Watch the cords and gaps Keep the covers off his head For your nights and naps.

In addition, if you choose to co-sleep or bed share with your child, Kate Holmes, Head of Support and Information at The Lullaby Trust warns, "Avoid letting pets or other children sleep in the bed alongside yourself and the baby. And always make sure that baby can’t fall out of bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall. Also, make sure to follow all of the standard safer sleep advice such as sleeping baby on their back."

Lucy Shrimpton also told us; "There are lots of things to consider with safety and bed-sharing. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation - a common symptom for the average parent - means that if you drive it's like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. So it does make you wonder how safe bed-sharing with your child is when you're that tired. As it's something you can't really measure."

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https://youtu.be/YFNTGXY8fCA

Co-sleeping with a newborn

The NHS recommends that for the first 6 months your baby sleeps in the same room as you when they're asleep, both day and night. Particularly in the early weeks. But of the (roughly) 700,000 babies born each year in England and Wales, half will have slept in their parents’ bed – with either one or both of their parents – by the time they’re three months old.

Reports show that many parents room share with their infant. In the early weeks, your baby should definitely be near you when they sleep. If you choose to bed share your baby should be in a clear sleep space. This looks like;

• Removing pillows, sheets, blankets - anything that could obstruct your baby’s breathing or cause them to overheat - from your baby's sleep area.
• Following The Lullaby Trust safer sleep advice to reduce the risk of SIDS such as sleeping baby on their back
• Not allowing pets or other children in the bed
• Ensuring baby won’t fall out of bed or get trapped between the mattress and the wall

Kate says, "Some parents choose to bed share with their babies. We know however that families also bed share accidentally, and so recommend making the bed a safer place for baby whether they doze off accidentally, or choose to bed share.

It is very much a personal choice. The Lullaby Trust advises parents/carers to read all the information on safer co-sleeping so they can make an informed decision. That way even if they decide not to co-sleep they can make their bed a safer place for their baby if they doze off accidentally.

No matter how tired I was I couldn't bring myself to have my daughter in bed with us. What if we rolled over?! - mum-of-two, Louise

What are the benefits of co-sleeping?

According to James McKenna, director of the Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, co-sleeping is biologically appropriate. And the following are all benefits of co-sleeping;

• Can help with feeding
• Creates a strong bond between parent and baby
• Helps baby's body temperature to stabilise
• Close contact helps baby's to breathe more regularly

Author of The Science of Parenting, Margot Sunderland says, “When human babies are separated from their mum’s body, they cry. If they don’t get a response from her, they’ll be quiet. But this reaction is a survival technique, which is accompanied by fluctuations in breathing, temperature and heart rate.

Margot notes that the immune system is also lowered and the digestive tract doesn’t work properly. “As soon as we put the baby back in skin-to-skin contact with the mother, all those things stabilise and wonderful feel-good chemicals are activated.

“I’m trying to tell parents that they can make up their own minds about co-sleeping. They have a right to know what they’re doing to a child’s brain, that they’re either activating feel-good or stress chemicals.”

Margot believes that co-sleeping should take place from birth as long as all the safety measures are followed properly. “Some babies may require less co-sleeping, and others may need more, depending on their temperament and sensitivity.

“In the first five years of life, the separation distress system is very sensitive. But as children develop, some may feel secure aged 3, while others can still be in a state of alarm and screaming in distress at that age. This isn’t attention seeking; we know this is activating the pain system and separation distress alarm.

“If we keep alarming the baby, the brain becomes over-sensitive and hard-wired and this is linked to stress, anxiety and depression.”

Margot says that the emotional benefits for the mum mean the physical contact will activate oxytocin and opioids in her body and produce more breast milk. “She doesn’t have to get up every time her baby screams in the middle of the night; the baby reaches out and says, “Mum’s next to me. Phew, I’m safe.” The mother breastfeeds and the sleep cycle isn’t interrupted.

“We do need to think about logistics such as private space and a couple’s sex life. It’s a good idea to set up a romantic place to make love, but not in the bed. And if you don’t like your child kicking next to you, buy a king-size bed. You wouldn’t deprive children of nourishing fruit and veg, so why deprive them of this natural feel-good activating sleep?”

Margot has been a child psychotherapist for 20 years, as well as Director of Education and Training at London’s Centre for Child Mental Health and the author of several books on child mental health. Along with many others, she believes that putting a baby in bed with their parents from birth will help them grow into a calm, healthy adult. She says that separation from the parents is harmful, increasing stress hormones such as cortisol, which could cause depression later on.

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What are the risks of co-sleeping?

Baby overheating, accidental smothering and studies an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS). Lucy warns, "Many studies show that driving with sleep deprivation from caring for a newborn baby has worse response rates compared to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. With that in mind, is bed sharing really safe at all?"

She goes on to add; "You might feel like you're okay like you're surviving. But in reality, where you're so tired, you don't really know what's going on. Sort of beneath the surface within the brain and body, it's hard to tell. I think it's really important that parents consider those factors too, the underlying ones, beyond the obvious factors of safety before making the decision to bed share."

Co-sleeping is very much a personal choice, says our medical expert Sonal Shah. "For some parents, it's a natural way to connect with their baby and get to know them better. It allows parents to easily reassure a baby, and for some make feeding easier." But Sonal warns that it can causes issues. As she says, "Having a baby sleeping in the same bed can impact on their ability to get a good night's sleep. It can also impact on relationships as well."

So, it's totally down to the parents' choice and whether they feel comfortable. Your health visitor or GP is the best person to talk to when it comes to weighing up the factors involved.

When should you not do co-sleeping?

Never co-sleep with baby if;

• Parents/carers have been drinking or taking drugs (including medication that might make you drowsy)
• Either parent smokes (even if it's not in the bedroom)
• Parent/carer feels excessively tired.
• Your baby has a fever or are otherwise unwell
• Your baby was born before 37 weeks OR was a low weight (less that 5.5lbs/2.5kg)

As tempting as it is to have your baby close to you, co-sleeping under these conditions can be seriously harmful. This is especially the case if your baby is sleeping in the same bed or space as you, rather than in a co-sleeping cot that is attached to the bed.

What age is co-sleeping safe?

While there is much debate over whether co-sleeping is actually safe, our experts says that as long as you provide the right environment, co-sleeping can be safe from birth.

But Sonal says there are some conditions to this. “It may not be safe however to sleep with premature babies (i.e those babies born before 37 weeks) or babies who were born with a low birth weight. It is also not safe to co-sleep with a baby if either parent smokes (even if they smoke outside of the bedroom) or if parents have consumed alcohol or drugs (even if this is prescription medication that makes them drowsy).”

If you are unsure whether co-sleeping is safe for you discuss this with your GP, midwife or health visitor.

How long should you co-sleep for?

Much like co-sleeping itself, there is no agreed guidelines for how long parents should co-sleep for. "It is very much dependent on an individual's circumstances." Sonal advises, "Generally after 6-12 months, many parents move their child to their own cot, and even into their own room."

Does co-sleeping cause sleep problems?

For the most part, co-sleeping won't cause too many sleeping problems for the baby as they'll (hopefully) be sound asleep. But Sonal says, it might be a different situation for the parents. "For some parents having a child next time can impact on the quantity and quality of their sleep and cause increased daytime sleepiness."

Lucy agrees, "I don't tend to hear much from parents who co-sleep as they're doing that works for them and their child is usually sleeping... it's when they want to start weaning their child off of the co-sleeping that I step in to help."

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What about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is a risk factor in co-sleeping. Kate explains, "Unfortunately, we don’t know what causes SIDS. For many babies it is likely that a combination of factors affecting them at a vulnerable stage of their development, which leads them to die suddenly and unexpectedly.

"However, we do know you can significantly reduce the chance of SIDS occurring by following safer sleep advice. This includes always placing baby on their back to sleep on a firm, flat and waterproof mattress."

For a while it's been known that co-sleeping can lead to many of the conditions linked with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Such as over-heating, suffocation from duvets and pillows, and being close to parents who drink and smoke.

Kate adds that this is why removing blankets from your baby's sleep area is especially important. "A high proportion of infants who die as a result of SIDS are found with their head covered by loose bedding."

What about using a co-sleeping cot?

There are a number of co-sleeping cots on the market, which attach to your existing bed, so you can sleep side-by-side with the baby. However, some current advice on what are also called bed nests or pods seems to caution against their use.

The Lullaby Trust – which raises awareness of SIDS – brings the importance of baby bed safety to our attention. The Trust does not recommend 'that babies sleep on soft surfaces such as pods or nests'. And instead if parents do choose to co-sleep 'the safest place is a clear space on a firm flat mattress the same as we would advise with a cot'. As with any other cot, it's important to ensure that your cot meets the British Standards.

Video of the Week

The myCuddly sleep aid from myHummy is a comforter with a difference.

We asked parent reviewer Aryana Lindley to put the myCuddly sleep aid to the test with her 10-month-old baby, Liberty. Read our in-depth review to find out if it’s the best baby sleep aid for you.

It looks just like a soft toy your baby will want to cuddle, but it has a trick up its sleep: five different noises (white noise, pink noise, sea waves, falling rain, and amniotic waters) that will soothe your baby to sleep.

The myCuddly sleep aid also offers technology that allows it to restart if your baby starts to stir or cry, and it offers up to 12 hours of sound. There’s also a tie on the corner so you can easily attach a favourite dummy or teether.

“The myCuddly offers five types of sound, a sleep sensor, and no light for better sleep,” says Aryana.

VIEW AT AMAZON | £45.23 

Design

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐| Weighs: 800g | Age: From birth

You can’t help but find the myCuddly sweet to look at, and Aryana immediately fell in love with the product.

“When first seeing the myCuddly sleep aid I loved it,” she says. “It looks really cute and feels super soft. I also like the fact it comes with a hook and removable attachment ring on its back so you can hang it from the side of the crib."

Aryana also liked the portability of the myCuddly and felt that it enabled Liberty to sleep for longer on the go.

“My daughter has always been used to white noise when sleeping and napping but as her white noise is built into our baby monitor, I wanted to try something I could transport around with us easily,” she explains. 

“I tried using this to help my daughter at naps times when out and about and also gave it to her when she went to nursery as she has never been a great sleeper there. “Her nursery mentioned that since having it there, she has been able to sleep longer and more soundly!”

Comfort and features 

Aryana appreciated the different sounds available in the myCuddly sleep aid, and the options around how long they can be played for, which offers flexibility based on your needs and environment. 

“The five different sound features are great as you can choose one to best suit your baby and what they’re used to,” she adds. 

“I like the option of having it play non-stop for 12 hours, or for 60 minutes to a gradual fade out. There’s also an inbuilt sleep sensor that will enter a standby mode - the sound will come back on again if the baby begins to stir. I had to play around with it a few times before I really got the hang of changing the settings, volume and being able to turn it off.”

Value for money 

The myCuddly sleep aid is on the more expensive end of the spectrum, and Aryana feels that reflects the fact that its premium product compared to other sleep aids.

She appreciated the product’s “stylish design” and says she feels it will appeal to parents of young babies who are always on the move. 

“It was really handy being able to take this out and about and when on the loudest setting I felt it did help my daughter stay sleeping when there was lots of background noise,” she adds. 

“I would recommend this product to other parents as an introduction to a sleeping aid.”

The 10 month sleep regression is a phase in your baby's development where they may experience disruptions in their sleep patterns. It usually happens when your baby is making a developmental leap. This can cause shorter naps, or no naps, extreme fussiness at bedtime, and frequent waking throughout the night. 

Around this age there's a lot going on cognitively - the mental process of thinking and understanding. And all of these changes can affect babies' sleep. It can be frustrating, especially if you bought the best baby monitor, read all the books, and listened to all the podcasts, and yet your baby is still struggling to sleep. You're not alone - many parents wonder when do babies sleep through the night.

Sleep expert Sarah Patel tells us, "The crux of all this is that as a mum, you have to trust yourself and your instincts. You know their baby better than anyone else." 

Early years expert Sophie Pickles is also quick to reassure sleep-deprived parents, "Sleep regressions are tough for both babies and parents alike. However, the good news is that they don’t last forever!"

Here writer and mum-of-one, Carla shares her experience of dealing with the 10-month sleep regression.

10 month sleep regression - what is it?

It's a progression in your baby's development. During this phase, your baby is learning and practising lots of new skills. The 10-month sleep regression means they are learning, growing and developing. We know it's exhausting, but it's a good thing, we promise. And it's temporary, lasting from two to six weeks.

The 10-month sleep regression is also down to physical changes. Firstly, your baby is becoming increasingly more mobile, maybe pulling themselves up or trying to walk.

Secondly, they are now able to hold things and reach for things. So they’re spending a lot more energy practising this new skill. In addition, studies show that your baby is grasping the concept of object permanence. They understand that if an object (i.e. you) is out of their sight, the object is still there, even if they can’t see it.  Understanding object permanence means separation anxiety, which in turn can mean that they can't sleep if you're not there.

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, a parenting expert, trained psychologist, and author of The Gentle Sleep Book, told us, “New parents assume that their baby’s sleep starts off really bad then gets progressively better. Until at some point, it becomes ‘good’ like that of an adult. The trouble is, life doesn’t work like that.” If only. Below we share the three primary causes:

• Physical milestones - such as sitting up or crawling
• Mental development - noticing that certain objects, sensations, animals, and people belong together in categories
• The 3 to 2 nap transition - dropping that third nap 

10 month sleep regression signs

• More nighttime waking
• Difficulty getting off to sleep at bedtime or after a nighttime waking
• More fussiness, crying, or agitation around bedtime
• Longer daytime naps and less nighttime sleep

"The tell-tale sign with Vivi was that she was taking so long to sleep and was sounding frustrated with herself that she was still awake. And when she was in her cot she kept trying to pull herself up all the time. I have read so much on baby sleep and many studies back what we as parents have always thought rubbing eyes, stillness, yawning, are all obvious signs of tiredness but signs of a sleep regression?"

How long does the 10 month sleep regression last?

Like the other sleep regression phases (there are a few), it lasts around two to six weeks. It's temporary, and if you're in the grip of one now, know that you will come out the other end.

How I dealt with the 10-month sleep regression

 "This sleep regression is so hard, as she keeps hurting herself trying to stand in her cot. I haven’t had a break all day, I am so tired. I'm literally at my wits' end with no clue what to do. so I Google and I learn....”

1) Know your baby’s ‘awake times’: Most babies need between 3 - 3.75 hours of awake time in between naps at this age. And this will continue to change as they grow and learn new things, so always check back.

2) This too shall pass: Remember and focus on the fact that this isn’t forever, and it’s a good thing. There are several sleep regression ages, and they all mean your baby is progressing. 

3) Try not to compare: If you know that mum-friend who has a ‘good sleeper’ and hearing about it stresses you out, change the subject. Try not to engage in that conversation. It will help, trust me. 

4) Catnaps aren’t enough: I discovered that a 10-month-old’s nap schedule should allow for 2 - 3 hours of day sleep. Ideally, research shows that each should be 60 - 120 minutes long. Even when Vivi was napping, she wasn’t getting anywhere near that! I keep the two naps in but start to extend them. I don’t go straight in when she wakes. 

The main changes I introduced were a white noise machine and a ‘pick up put down’ method. I would go in whenever she cried and comfort her without taking her out of the cot. In addition, I read that taking her out of the cot confuses her, and she needs to know that once she’s in there, that’s it. So I’d comfort her by kneeling down and hugging her, then laying her down and saying, ‘It’s sleep time now, I love you’. 

At one point, I had to do this 12 times before she settled, but when she did, she stayed asleep for over an hour! Her new two-nap schedule is now 6 am wake up, 1st nap is 9-10.15 am (1 hour 25), then 3 hours of awake time before the second nap at 1.45 pm until 3 pm (1 hour 25), which gives 3.75 hours of awake time before bed at 6.45 pm. It's like a maths formula. And I wasn't great at maths.

5) Be okay with it all working out... eventually: Remember, this is all new to you and your baby. You’re figuring it out together. Once I started to look at it as me and Vivi versus sleep instead of me versus Vivi, it helped. 

6) Consistency is key: Your baby has learned something new and will be desperate to try it out despite being tired. You may have to repeatedly lie them down or go back in before they decide to do it. It will get worse before it gets better.

The 10-month sleep regression - here's how we survived it

Writer and mum-of-one Carla Challis shares how she, and her little one Vivienne, survived the 10-month sleep regression. 

Name: Vivenne
Age: 10 months
Sleep set up: In her own room, cot, baby sleep aides like blackout blinds
Naps: 30 minute morning nap, 45 minute afternoon nap
Bedtime: 6.30 pm

"Vivi started crawling at 10 months since then, naps and bedtime have been horrendous. Before this, she was napping happily in her cot twice a day and having around 3 hours total nap time, and going to bed was smooth. 

At bedtime, Vivi would drink her milk, we’d have a quick cuddle, she’d go down in her cot, and I’d say goodnight, leave the room, and within 15 minutes, she’d be asleep after babbling to herself for a bit. She was sleeping through the night with the occasional early waking but usually awake at 6.30 a.m.

Suddenly I couldn’t put her down in her cot without a screaming meltdown. If she went down in her cot without a fuss, it took her seconds to roll over onto her tummy, attempt to crawl, or sit up, then cry because she was stuck and wanted to lie down.

I was pulling my hair out! When I go back in to lay her back down, she’s hysterical. She didn’t want me to touch her, but when I left, she also screamed. I ended up rocking her - which I’ve never done before - in an attempt to calm her down.

She would then drift into a light sleep, and when I put her down, she just went to sleep like nothing happened. I had no idea what was happening or what I could do to stop it. I was beside myself, in tears daily and feeling like an utter failure."

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The 10-month sleep regression: Sleep schedule before regression

Morning

6-6.30 am - wakes up, nappy change bottle
7.30 am - breakfast and play
9.30 am - nap in cot, 30 mins
10.15 am - wakes, nappy change
10.30 am - 12.30 pm - we try to go out for play

Afternoon

12.30 pm - lunch time
1 pm - half bottle and nap, usually 45 mins
1.45 pm - wakes, nappy change
2 pm - 4.30 pm - play and nappy change

Evening

5 pm - dinner
5.40 pm - bath and teeth brushing
6.30 pm - into her room for a bottle, book and bed
7 pm - she’s asleep, after much babbling to herself

Night time

11 pm - wakes for nappy change and bottle goes back down
3 am - cries for half bottle, goes back down until 06.30 am wake up

The 10-month sleep regression: Sleep schedule during regression

Morning

6-6.30 am - wakes up, nappy change bottle
7.30 am - breakfast and play
9.30 am - refuses to nap in cot. I am in and out of her room for about an hour trying to convince her to nap
10.45 am - she falls against her cot bars and cries out so we decide to give up on the morning nap
11 am - we’ve both calmed down and are out of the house for a walk and some air - I’m praying she conks out in the pram (spoiler: she does for 15 mins). Today has already been too hard. All she’s done is cling to me and whinge

Afternoon

Noon - lunch with plenty of protein to make sure she has a full tummy
1 pm - attempt the second. Vivi just cries and won’t be left. I am at my wits end
2.30 pm - I admit defeat. Another nap didn’t happen, she’s overtired, and I’m angry with life and everything because I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

Evening

5 pm - dinner
5.40 pm - bath. Teeth brushing didn’t happen; she was in no mood
6.30 pm - into her room for a bottle, book and bed. She is beyond overtired and crying at everything. I can feel her exasperation at everything we’re doing as we get ready
6.40 pm - put her down to sleep; starts crying before she touches the mattress
6.30 pm - 7.45 pm - Vivi is not settling; I’m trying to comfort her but feel I’m making it worse. She’s attempting to stand while in her sleep sack and is getting so frustrated with her tired self.
7.45 pm -  I take her out of the cot and rock her to sleep. Something I’ve never done before but I just need her to sleep.
8 pm - she’s asleep in my arms. I put her in the cot and tiptoe out

Nighttime

9.30 pm - Vivi wakes screaming, I feed her a bottle she falls back to sleep in my arms again
10.45 pm - wakes, remains wide awake for an hour we’re just sat in her room together
11.30 pm - falls asleep on me, but settles ok in cot, I sneak out 

12.15.am - wakes, I try to settle her

Morning

1 am - she sleeps with me in the room ‘shhh-ing’
4 am - wakes, bottle and refuses to settle for 30 minutes (I’m so tired everything hurts)
7 am - day starts again

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What I learned about the 10-month sleep regression

"To summarise, parenting is the hardest job I have ever done, with no handover notes and a boss who has no clue what they’re doing and looking at me to sort everything out. When it came to this sleep regression extending the naps to what they should be helped a lot.

But where she wasn’t settling for naps really stressed me out. So the main thing to know is that when it comes to sleep regressions, there is no fixing it. Whether it's baby weaning or potty training, you just have to survive it. And you're not alone; even the mum-friend with the ‘good sleeper’ is going through something similar. I promise."

• Teething: Teething can be uncomfortable and painful for babies, leading to disrupted sleep and shorter naptimes.
• Separation anxiety: Around this age, babies often develop separation anxiety as their sense of object permanence develops. They become more attached to you and may wake up when they realise you're not nearby. Sarah suggests playing games such as peekaboo or hide-the-toy during the day "to help your baby understand that people or objects still exist even they can't see them".
• Changes in routine: Any changes in your baby's daily routine or sleep schedule, such as travelling, moving to a new room, or starting daycare, can affect their sleep patterns.
• Illness or discomfort: If your baby feels unwell, has an ear infection, a stuffy nose, or any other discomfort, it can make it harder for them to sleep soundly.
• Hunger: As your baby grows and becomes more active, their nutritional needs may change. They may need more food during the night or go through growth spurts requiring extra night feeds.

• Gently rock or pat them: Hold your baby close and gently sway, rock, or pat their back to help soothe them without fully waking them up.
• Avoid stimulation: Keep the lights dim and voices or sounds low. Too much stimulation can make it harder for your baby to fall back asleep, so keep your expression neutral and don't make too much eye contact with them.  
• Let them self-soothe: If your baby is just fussing a bit, give them 5-10 minutes to try falling back asleep on their own before intervening.
• Use white noise: Soft background noise like a fan or a white noise machine can help soothe a baby back to sleep. You can buy white noise toys or download an app on your phone.
• Re-create bedtime: If needed, do your full bedtime routine again - swaddle, read a story, sing a lullaby. This can help your baby to drift off.

Sarah Pickles acknowledges it's common to feel frustrated or fed up during these challenging times. "If you can, try to share the load with a partner so that you aren’t the only one waking up at night."

Above all else, try to stay patient and be as consistent as you can. If nothing you do seems to help your baby settle, ask your health visitor or GP for more advice and tips. 

Our panel of experts

Baby sleep is a hot topic among parents, whether it's about the 4-month sleep regression, the best baby monitors, or the best sleep training books. If you're considering getting some expert support, take a look at the experience of one parent who hired a baby sleep consultant for their 20-month-old.

The Ferber method of sleep training is periodically checking in on your crying baby at timed intervals increasing steadily, and soothing baby verbally with no feeding and no picking up.

Alongside the best baby monitors, a knowledge of baby sleep training is one of the ways to make sure you're prepared for teaching your baby to wind down for the night, self-regulate, and eventually fall asleep - meaning hopefully you can get some much-deserved shut-eye too, sometimes choosing from one of the best swaddles can help. The Ferber Method is one of the popular sleep training techniques, and claims to help babies learn to self-sooth; to ultimately fall asleep on their own, and to fall back to sleep with minimal interaction when they wake in the night. 

When your baby goes through one of the sleep regression ages, sleep training can help with this too. Sleep consultant Sarah Patel tells us; "I don't judge any parent for sleep training. I did it with my daughter in pure desperation, parenting is hard enough without judgment. My advice, do what feels right to you, research shows that a parent’s instinct is usually the most accurate." And the best thing a parent can have in their arsenal is knowledge. So, here’s how the Ferber Method works and exactly how it can help your baby get the hang of falling asleep solo, sooner.

What is the Ferber Method?

The Ferber Method involves periodically checking in on your baby when they're in their crib and crying, as a way of getting your baby to sleep. And studies show that sleep training actually improves baby sleep. 

According to this range of reports, some parents who sleep train with the cry it out method can find it stressful as they don't go back into their baby’s room at all, even if the baby cries for a long time. The Ferber method is considered to be a gentler option. And it aims to teach your child to enjoy the bedtime routine, fall asleep quickly and easily, self-soothe when they wake in the night, sleep peacefully through the night and embrace daytime naps.

The periodic check-ins mean that you’ll go to your baby at timed intervals. These intervals gradually get longer until they fall asleep. The check-ins also get longer on subsequent nights. Dr Richard Ferber, who has been researching infant sleep for the past 30 years, calls it the "progressive waiting approach."

You can soothe your baby verbally or give her a gentle rub or pat. But you shouldn’t pick her up or feed her, and your visits should only last a minute or two. Before you embark on 'Ferberizing' it's important to be honest about your comfort level with crying. Some babies fuss a little while others scream a lot. 

The Ferber method, or 'Ferberizing' your child is, in basic terms, to reassure them that you are always there, but it’s time to sleep. Many studies show that night time or sleep training works. producing reliable and durable changes in a child's sleeping habits.

While many think they are one and the same, the Ferber method of sleep training differs from the controlled crying method. While it seems to be similar, controlled crying requires leaving your baby to cry for short periods of time before offering them comfort.  

As sleep training methods go, the Ferber method is divisive among the baby sleep experts. Sarah Patel, founder of Teach To Sleep, a certified baby and toddler sleep consultant, former teacher and mom of two little ones told us; 'When it comes to any form of cry it out methods, remember that it's not something you have to do. There is a growing number of gentle sleep consultants like myself who use responsive methods.

Ferber Method: The pros and cons

PROS

• It works fast, sometimes with visible improvements within a week
• Your baby will deal with separation better, for example, if they stay at a relative's house for the night.
• It's less extreme than the CIO method.

CONS

• There's no two ways round it, it really is emotionally tough to do as a parent. Hearing your baby crying, instinctively you want to hold them.
• Some research suggests crying for long periods could cause emotional distress to the child, although other studies disagree.

Your child's sleep is important, but so is yours. Don’t forget to look after yourself. Dr Dawn Harper, GP recommends napping when you can: “As a new mom, you are unlikely to get a full night’s sleep so you need to take sleep where you can. It’s the one time I think it’s appropriate to take a nap where possible! If you have a partner who is around, ask them to look after the baby. Even just for 20 or 30 minutes so that you can recharge your batteries.”

Studies show that bedtime problems and night wakings in children are common. And that a lot of parents choose to sleep train as sleep is so important for development. In addition recent reports show that many children aren't sleeping the recommended amount.

Ferber Method: How does it work?

By leaving your child - even when crying - so they have the time to learn self-soothing. The Ferber method is long-standing, it claims to support your child as they learn this new self-soothing skill. Just like they will stumble before walking on their own. By allowing your baby time to self-soothe, Dr Robert Ferber claims, that this method breaks your baby of their habit of needing you to sleep.

Similar to the Ferber method, the NHS also recommends that you establish a baby bedtime routine, such as dimmed lights and reading a story. Add some helpful Baby sleep aides to a good routine and you might be on your way to getting some shut-eye.

Here's what the Ferber method looks like in six steps;

1. Ensure your bedtime routine ends with a consistent phrase or song i.e. 'It's time for sleep' or 'I love you and will see you in the morning'
2. Lay your baby or toddler down drowsy but awake
3. Leave the room (or sit in a chair if you prefer to try to stay in the room)
4. If your child starts to cry, start your timer. If your child is not crying, no need to start the timer
5. Once the timer goes off, go check-in and offer comfort. Be sure to stop soothing and/or leave while your child is still awake
6. Repeat the check-in and comfort process with the different intervals (shown below) until your they fall asleep

While this sleep training method is divisive, Lucy Shrimpton, Sleep Nanny and expert panellist at The Baby Show says:  "[choosing sleep training] depends on the individual set of circumstances. It also depends on the interpretation of it. There's no good or bad methods, it's about how they are customized to meet the unique needs of each family.  The Ferber method could be ideal for one family and atrocious for another family. That's why having a professional sleep expert to assess case by case is so important.'

What is the Ferber Method chart?

The Ferber method chart is a helpful medium which shows the intervals to  use when Ferberizing your baby. The book suggests starting with intervals at 3 minutes, 5 minutes, then 10 minutes. And, each day/night you are supposed to increase each of those intervals by 3-5 minutes as shown below.

Day 1

First check-in: 3 minutes Second check-in: 5 minutes Third check-in: 10 minutes Subsequent check-ins: 10 minutes

Day 2

First check-in: 5 minutes Second check-in: 10 minutes Third check-in: 12 minutes Subsequent check-ins: 12 minutes

Day 3

First check-in: 10 minutes Second check-in: 12 minutes Third check-in: 15 minutes Subsequent check-ins: 15 minutes

Day 4

First check-in: 12 minutes Second check-in: 15 minutes Third check-in: 17 minutes Subsequent check-ins: 17 minutes

Day 5

First check-in: 15 minutes Second check-in: 17 minutes Third check-in: 20 minutes Subsequent check-in after: 20 minutes

Day 6

First check-in: 17 minutes Second check-in: 20 minutes Third check-in: 25 minutes Subsequent check-ins: 25 minutes

Day 7

First check-in: 20 minutes Second check-in: 25 minutes Third check-in: 30 minutes Subsequent check-ins: 30 minutes

What age is appropriate for the Ferber Method?

Ideally over 6 months old. Younger babies need to feed, sometimes in the middle of the night, and their sleep-wake patterns are yet to develop. Though, studies show that it's in your baby’s best interests to sleep through the night without interruptions. As soon as they are going longer without feeds is when you can implement sleep training. Since all babies are different, this is usually around 5-6 months of age.

Things to do before you try the Ferber method;

1. Ensure your baby isn't sick or teething
2. Optimize your baby’s schedule
3. Develop consistent bedtime and naptime routines
4. Set the stage to Ferberize
5. Get support during Ferberization

How long does the Ferber Method take?

On average about four nights. Though, know that there will be a lot of crying. Most babies will cry for an hour or less but some might cry for longer periods (1-2 hours) for the first two to three nights. Many people will start to see progress within 3-4 nights though that doesn’t mean you will be “done.” Dr Robert Ferber recommends implementing this method for at least 1-2 weeks. It can take time create new habits and there are many external variables to affect baby's sleep.

If you’ve been sleep training for more than two weeks, that would be cause for us to look into other reasons your baby is crying for long periods of time. Keep in mind that some babies will continue to cry for a few minutes (5-10 at the most) long-term. Anything more than that, and I’d say it isn’t working.

Is the Ferber Method cruel?

The answer to this is subjective. When exposing your baby to the Ferber method you may notice that they become much more distressed during training than they may gave been before. Pediatric sleep expert Dr Richard Ferber, author of Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems refers to these as “extinction bursts” - which include more frequent and intense crying and tantrums - can persuade some parents to give up.

While considered quite divisive, many parents rave about the Ferber method of sleep training. Hence they 'ferberize' their babies, celebrating its life-changing impact and how effective it is at teaching children how to sleep by themselves. 

Like it’s similar counterpart controlled crying, the Ferber method of sleep training is sometimes frowned upon and seen as creating emotional distance between parent and child. 

When to stop the Ferber Method

If after one week your baby hasn't made progress or it seems like they're still crying a lot, it might be time to take a break. You could try the Ferber method again a little later on, or research and try another sleep training approach. It's all to play for. At the end of the day it's your baby and while it might not feel like it, you do know best.

Is the Ferber method different to Cry It Out?

Essentially, yes. The Cry It Out method - also sometimes referred to as the CIO or the Extinction method - is considered more extreme than the Ferber method.

With the Ferber method you periodically go and check on your child at specific times. Whereas the Cry It Out method sees you putting your baby to bed and leaving them to cry it out until they go to sleep. It is considered a controversial method, however, there are those who find it a great success.

Related features:

•  4 month sleep regression - signs, solutions and how long it lasts
• 8-month sleep regression causes, signs - and how I survived it with my son
• 10-month sleep regression causes, signs - and how I survived it

Video of the Week 

The 8-month sleep regression is progression, which can result in shorter naps, or no naps, extreme fussiness at bedtime, and frequent waking at night.

Until now, you might have used some of the best baby monitors, baby sleep aids, and various other kit to help your child get a better night's sleep. But we know that - similar to the other sleep regression ages - in the first three years of your baby's life the 8-month sleep regression is where your previously OK/good/fantastic sleeper now won't settle for naps or bed. And, if they DO settle they wake, throughout the night, for no apparent reason. Sarah Patel, a sleep consultant knows this is a tricky time and tells us; "My advice is to stop, take a breath and try to let go. Step back and watch, look for what kind of support your baby needs at this time. Follow our instinct."

Sleep is a commodity, one coveted the most by tired parents, especially if they are in the grips of an 8-month sleep regression, left wondering when babies sleep through the night.

Here our Family Editor and mom-of-one Stephanie Lowe shares how she survived the 8-month sleep regression, and part of it was reading the best baby sleep books.

8-month sleep regression: Causes and signs 

The 8-month sleep regression is primarily a progression, causing shorter naps, or no naps according to various resources. Signs it's happening would be your baby being extra fussy at nap or bedtime, and fighting sleep, and frequent waking at night. 

Many parents report sleep issues with their babies. Around 8 months old, babies are busy. They learn to sit up or crawl, and are babbling away making new sounds every day. With all that activity, reports show that it’s not surprising that their afternoon nap is losing its appeal or that they’d rather stay up with you at night. Below we share the three primary causes:

• Physical milestones - such as sitting up
• Mental development - Notice that certain objects, sensations, animals, and people belong together in categories
• The 3 to 2 nap transition - dropping that third nap

And here are four primary signs your little one is going through a the 8-month sleep regression:

• More nighttime waking
• Difficulty getting to sleep initially or after a nighttime waking
• Heightened fussiness, crying, or agitation around bedtime
• Longer daytime naps and less nighttime sleep

The main sign for me, with Ted, was that he was waking way more at nighttime and taking longer to settle, so he would need me in the room more.

How long does the 8-month sleep regression last?

Usually between two to six weeks. For Ted, it was more like four weeks, and I felt like a zombie. A frustrated zombie who was dreading the nights, and fast losing the will to live. It’s a total myth that sleep is linear. In reality, it's often all over the place for the first 3-ish years, with better and worse periods because of different reasons.

Before the sleep regression hit, we were in a rhythm, I knew what was coming each time.

Sarah Patel, sleep consultant, tells us; 'Your baby's sleep is always changing, and that can be hard to deal with. I've found that when baby's change in any way parents tend to panic and immediately try to "fix it".

This was definitely me, as a new mom I felt I needed to stop him crying and have all the answers already. I felt like I was constantly failing, when in reality I was new to a job, with a little boss who also have no clue what he was doing. We both needed time. Time to get used to each other and all these new feelings and lessons.

"How I survived the 8-month sleep regression"

Our Family Editor Stephanie Lowe shares tips on how she, and her little one Ted, survived the 8-month sleep regression. 

Name: Ted Age: 8 months Sleep set up: In his own room, crib, semi-dark, (blackout blind in place but some light comes in around the sides) Naps: 1.5-hour morning nap, 1.5-hour early afternoon nap Bedtime: 6pm(ish)

"The 8-month sleep regression almost beat me. I was in tears. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. And at a total loss. Frequently Googling 'Will I ever sleep again?'. Ted is my first child and no one really told me much about sleep regressions or awake windows, or just how much tracking your baby’s cues can help in this confusing world of parenting. As a newborn Ted slept 16/17 hours a day, it was bliss.

Recent resources show that during the first month, babies will spend around 16 hours a day sleeping. This will usually happen in the form of three - or four - hour naps between feedings. After a newborn has been awake for one to two hours, they'll need to sleep again.

Up until about 7.5 months old Ted was sleeping really well. And, even though he was teething he was napping in the day and going down at night with minimal fuss, waking in the night for one feed and going straight back down. Or, if he woke in pain, he'd take Calpol a five-minute cuddle and go back down. 

However, Ted suddenly started waking more throughout the night, some nights it reached four times. I was at a loss and not sure what to do. Or why his sleep had fallen off a cliff - some nights he was wide awake showing no signs of sleep - not what you want at 2 am.

1. I tracked my baby's sleep

Tracking Ted really helped. His ‘awake windows’ at 8 months should be a maximum of 3.5 hours, but I had him awake for a lot longer in the afternoon, so much so that I was missing his ‘sleep window’ and he was becoming overtired. This made settling him a long and drawn out nightmare. I didn't use a fancy app to track, I just text my husband with ‘awake’ so I could keep a diary of times, see if there was a pattern. Getting him to sleep within his ‘sleep window’ made settling much better and easier. Though he was still waking every 45 mins, as this was his sleep cycle. 

2. I looked out for his sleep signs

On the advice of Tracy Hogg, author of The Sleep Whisperer I pause Friends Episode 9 and really pay attention to Ted. I work out that he’s been awake for over 2 hours, so I start looking for his sleep signs. Recent studies show that sleep patterns are often learned in babies, and that embedding good sleep habits can be useful for your baby, to do this you need to watch out for your baby's sleep signs. 

Ted's top tell-tale signs are;

• Rubs his eyes
• Looks away when I try to engage him
• Stares into space
• Goes still - his arms his legs everything is still

That last one is a great tell, as normally every limb is jiggling, but when he’s just lying there, and I know he’s been awake for a while, it’s a clear sign he's ready for sleep. 

3. I put a clock in his room

Sounds simple, right? Yet so effective. I put up a clock in Ted's room that ticked aloud, this helped me realize that when Ted woke, lets say at 2 am, I never gave him enough time. I would fly in and expect him to go back to sleep within a minute, not really fair given how new he is to all this.

Hearing the seconds tick away made me slow down. Five minutes at 2 am feels like a lifetime, but it's really not, it's just five minutes. Sitting with Ted for longer than the 22.4 seconds I was giving him previously really helped to settle him and counting the ticking seconds calmed me.

4. I reminded myself it was part of his development

I also realize, from the Sleep Whisperer book, that all the tummy time, rolling over, and sitting up he’s been doing all play a huge part in how tired he is. There's a lot going on in his little brain. All of this is directly linked to his struggle to sleep. While we can't change that, as it's development, understanding what causes this waking helped me stay calm.There is nothing I can do but be here for my baby as he goes through it. 

5. I researched sleep cycles

Adults, children and babies 3 months+ wake every 45 minutes we just don’t tend to notice it, or we do briefly but doze back off - this is what we need to help our brand new baby to do. 

The Sleep Whisperer book advises that if you use a certain way to settle your baby and you're not happy doing that at 3am (i.e. driving in the car/walking the stroller) then rethink it. When your baby wakes at their 45 minute sleep cycle they will need the same setting to drop off. So if you were there shhh'ing them to sleep that's what they will need again in 45 minutes. If you're happy doing that then great.

We would put Ted in his crib dozy but awake, set up his Ewan Sleep Sheep, for the longest period and say 'it's time for sleep'. When he woke again at 45 minutes we'd do the same. 

Sarah shares her top parenting advice with us; 'When sleep progressions hit it's all about survival - you do enough to get through it. You know your baby better than anyone. You're a team and they need you to support them. 

'If that's laying with them then so be it. The old adage "your making a rod for your own back" needs to retire now, it's judgmental and unhelpful. As parents we need to be there for our baby when they are struggling. There is no rod, it's all about love and support.’

What I learned about the 8-month sleep regression

There is no quick fix. You just have to get through it, as best you can without introducing any new sleep routines you don't want to keep after the sleep regression. The NHS recommends routines, these worked wonders for us. There are so many things out there to help us parents get as much sleep as possible! From the best Moses baskets, to the best sleep aids to help babies sleep through the night. Don't overlook them. A well-placed Ewan Sheep could work wonders.

Also, knowledge is power. Firstly, building up the knowledge of your baby's cues, secondly tracking his awake time, and thirdly noting what skills he was mastering and understanding what he's going through helped.

Most of the stress I felt was because I had no idea what to do, or what was happening. When I started understanding why my baby was going through this, it helped immensely.

The 8-month sleep regression: Sleep schedule

Morning sleep schedule

Before: 

6-6.30 am - wakes up, we have cuddles 7 am - nappy change, bottle 8 am - breakfast (baby-led weaning, cut up bananas, toast fingers) dressed and play 9.30 am - nap in the crib, pull blinds down, has a bottle, “read a book” and Ted is put down. Usually has 1.5 hours. 11 am - wakes or I gently wake him, nappy change. 11 am-noon - play then lunch with plenty of protein to make sure he has a full tummy (doesn’t usually “eat” much though)

After: 

6-6.30 am - Wakes up crying 7 am - Nappy change, bottle 8 am - Breakfast (baby-led weaning, cut up bananas, toast fingers) dressed and play 9.30ish - Take Ted up to his crib, where he cries whenever I leave the room. 11.45 pm - I SCREAM INTO A PILLOW as I have spent the last 1.5 hours trying to settle my child only for him to have a 12-minute nap - that’s literally a long blink. 11.45 pm- 12 pm - Play/mommy makes another coffee/and turns the Netflix off she was going to binge during the usual 1.5-hour nap.

Afternoon sleep schedule

Before: 

12.45 pm - bottle and nap for 1.5 hours 2.15 pm - if not already awake then gently wake him up, nappy change

After: 

Noonish - lunch with plenty of protein to make sure he has a full tummy (doesn’t usually “eat” much though) 12.45 - bottle and a fun game of will-he-won’t-he-sleep for the next hour as he just isn’t settling. 2.15 pm - Furiously sighing on loop as yet another nap didn’t happen. Ted’s irritable, and I'm hating today as I have no clue what to do or how to ‘fix’ this. HE USED TO SLEEP!

Evening sleep schedule

Before: 

4.45 pm - dinner, again plenty of protein, carbs and veg plus fruit and yoghurt for pudding and a ½ bottle. 5.45 pm - bath 6.15 pm - into his room for a bottle and book. Play the same calm music while dressing in a sleeping bag 6.30 pm - put him down to sleep and he sleeps

After: 

5 pm - dinner and a ½ bottle. Google ‘why is my baby broken’. 5.45 pm - bath 6.15 pm - HOLD MY BREATH IN HOPE as we start his bedtime routine, praying this is unaffected. Settle Ted with a 1/2 bottle and book. Play the same calm music while dressing in sleeping bag 6.30 pm - put him down to sleep, starts crying before he touches the mattress. 6.30 pm - 745pm - attempt to settle an irritable and overtired Ted. 7.45 pm - Drifts off, I sneak out 7.49 pm - Wakes crying

Nighttime sleep schedule

Before: 

10.30 pm - wakes for bottle goes back down 4 am - cries for a bottle, goes back down

After: 

8.30 pm - Ted sleeps 8.45 pm - I fall asleep in my bowl of spaghetti hoops 10.30 pm - Wakes for bottle remains wide awake for an hour 11.30 pm - Falls asleep on me, but settles ok in crib, I sneak out 12.15 am - Wakes, I try to settle him

2 am - Ted sleeps with me in the room ‘shhh-ing 4 am - Wakes, bottle and refuses to settle for 30 minutes (I’m so tired I could cry) 7 am - IT ALL STARTS AGAIN. 

"Just three days into the 8 month sleep regression and I am literally at my wit's end, I have no idea what to do so I start Googling and come across The Baby Whisperer book.

I learn about sleep regressions, awake windows, and also how much sleep needs to change as your baby grows. I also read all about tracking and Paying attention to his sleep cues. This is all brand new information for me! Information I am hoping will help!"

Related features:

• Baby sleep training - what is it, when to start and the best teaching methods
• Ferber Method of sleep training, what is it?
• 4 month sleep regression - signs, solutions and how long it lasts
• 10-month sleep regression causes, signs - and how I survived it
• How to get a baby to sleep - Your ultimate guide

Video of the Week

The 4-month sleep regression is very real, and an important progression in your baby's development. It's a stage when your baby's sleep pattern shifts, seemingly out of the blue, and they start to wake more frequently at night. It can be difficult to deal with because any established sleep schedule that you had in place can suddenly go to pot.

Picture the scene. You've done everything 'right' to establish your baby's sleep routine. You bought the best baby monitor, read everything you could about how to get a baby to sleep, and even tried out baby sleep training. Finally, it all comes together and your baby is sleeping through the night. Then all of a sudden, without explanation, it all seems to fall apart. Welcome to the 4-month sleep regression. 

There are several common sleep regression ages, but the 4-month sleep regression is usually the first time you'll notice a definitive shift in your baby’s sleep patterns. These shifts can include your baby waking up frequently during the night or battling their daytime naps. You may also have more difficulty getting your baby back to sleep, you're not alone in this, many parents wonder when do babies sleep through the night.

It can be difficult and exhausting but - most importantly - it's temporary. 

Sleep regression is progression. Your baby’s brain is constantly growing as it adapts to its new environment and learns new skills. Mastering new developmental milestones, such as rolling over or sitting up, cause this  4-month sleep regression. Sleep consultant Sarah Patel tells us, "Try to remember that your baby is struggling to fall asleep because of new and exciting circumstances, such as brain developments."

This article will cover the following elements of the 4 month sleep regression:

• 4-month sleep regression signs
• 4-month sleep regression solutions
• Why do babies have a 4-month sleep regression?
• Do all babies have a 4-month sleep regression?
• How long does a 4-month sleep regression last?
• When to contact your doctor or health visitor

4-month sleep regression signs

• New-found difficulty falling asleep, especially if there doesn’t seem to be an obvious reason behind it, like illness
• More frequent nighttime wakings
• During the daytime, you notice that your baby is working on practising a new skill, like rolling over
• Increased crying or fussiness upon waking
• Reduced overall sleep time

A night or two of unusual wake-ups probably doesn’t count as a regression. This can sometimes be down to teething or just not feeling 100%. We all have the odd night of poor sleep even as adults, and babies are no different.

"If a baby doesn’t sleep well for a couple of nights, parents panic and start to drop the R-word almost every month for various reasons," Sarah Patel tells us. "But the 4-month regression is the real deal, and its fallout is permanent. This sleep regression is a progression. It's hard but I see this difficulty in falling asleep as a time that your baby needs your strong support."

Sleep problems among infants are common and normally improve by the time your baby reaches the age of two, according to one recent study. But if you spot the signs above it may well be the four-month sleep regression.

The top three things to remember through the sleepless haze of the 4-month sleep regression are:

• This is totally normal and you're not alone
• You're not to blame - it's progression, not regression
• Sleep is a rollercoaster, not a straight line

The 4-month sleep regression is a normal part of those first few months of life with a newborn. The key to surviving sleep regression is to help your baby to stick with the usual sleep habits. Within three to six weeks, you should both be back to more solid snooze times.

Back to top

Why do babies have a 4-month sleep regression?

Babies go through the 4-month sleep regression because they are mastering new skills, such as rolling over or finding their hand with their mouth. They process a lot of their day during sleep so their brains are buzzing (this is more theory and not research-based). Evidence supports brain development and a change in sleep patterns - such as when we have busy days at work and struggle to switch off before bed. Babies have sleep problems around this time because their sleep patterns are maturing and their circadian rhythm is forming.

Babies may wake more overnight and have a hard time settling down during the 4-month sleep regression, simply because they are becoming more aware of their surroundings at the same time as developing new skills. A newborn baby needs more deep sleep as they are rapidly growing and developing. At four months this reduces and they take more REM/light sleep and they naturally wake as they transition between these sleep cycles. 

Learning to sleep around their own (and very new) sleep cycles create a big impact at four months old. "Younger babies drift relatively easily through sleep cycles," says Beauchamp. "But at four months they have conscious awake time between cycles. This means your baby will have distinct stages of sleep and will go through light sleep before entering deep sleep. [The light sleep] causes tears and grizzling while they learn how to drift back off and sleep through these cycles."

Remember - as with every other tough phase - this will pass. Load up on coffee and energising food and power through, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. - Mum of one, Steph J

Four months is the most well-known sleep regression. Paediatric Sleep Consultant, Francesca Beauchamp told us: "Parents have usually heard of it before they even have their baby. It's when most new clients get in touch with me!"

Sarah Patel agrees, "I hear the term "regression" used frequently when really it's progression. Your baby is learning and growing, definitely not regressing. It just might feel like that."

4-month sleep regression solutions

There are many solutions to surviving a 4-month sleep regression in the short term, such as knowing your baby's sleep cues, keeping a regular sleep routine, calmness and consistency (and maybe extra caffeine for you). Implementing these can help you get through this without developing any unwanted sleep habits.

Sarah Patel, sleep consultant tells us: "As a parent, you need to trust your own instincts. You know your baby better than anyone else. If your baby needs rocking to sleep during this difficult time then do it, you can always peel back the support after the sleep progression is over."

This unfailing support - and showing your baby you are there for them when they need you - will help to build a future framework for healthier sleep as your baby grows. And, while you can’t control whether your little one wakes up during the night, you can do everything in your sleep-deprived power to help her sleep as well as possible.

Follow these tips for dealing with the four-month sleep regression:

• Know your baby’s sleep cues The window of ‘tired’ is a small one, after which babies get overtired and settling them becomes even harder. Get to know your baby’s sleep cues. which can include: rubbing eyes, fussiness, staring into space and looking away from anything stimulating. If you spot any of these get them to bed before they’re overtired. If they’re yawning you may already be too late. When you spot the cues, act fast and get them down to sleep.
• Give your baby time to practice skills in the day Your baby is trying to master new skills, such rolling over. If you see your baby trying to do this in the day give them the time and attention they need, and also help to do it, so that they don't practice at night when they should be getting their rest.
• Stick with your regular bedtime routine Studies show that a consistent routine helps reinforce the message that nighttime is for sleeping. Saying the same line before you leave their room helps, such as 'It's time for sleep'. If you aren’t already, get into the good habit of putting your baby down while drowsy but awake. When your baby is used to falling asleep on her own this will help when she next wakes. Sticking with your usual routine will help to avoid new 'bad' habits.
• Help your baby stay rested Babies aged around 4 months generally need 12 to 17 hours of total sleep, including nighttime and naps. That amounts to between 10 and 12 hours at night, but if she seems tired during the day increase her naps. Settling your baby to sleep at night will be easier if she’s not overtired.
• Keep calm Sleep regressions are exhausting, but they're not forever so try not to worry too much. Stay calm as babies are aware of your energy - you are their world. If your baby requires help to fall asleep - feeding/rocking/cuddling etc - they will look for this help when they naturally wake. Try to work towards your baby falling asleep independently so they are better equipped to do it throughout the night.

Do all babies have a 4-month sleep regression?

No, not all babies have a 4-month sleep regression. Studies show every baby is different and has their own sleep challenges and habits. There really is no 'one size fits all' rule when it comes to sleep. However because the 4-month sleep regression is so infamous, it can be at the forefront of parents' minds.

Tag in your partner whenever you can, even if it's just to sit outside the room and count how many times you've gone in to soothe the baby.  - Dad of two, Jake W 

Your baby might just have an occasional bad night's sleep at four months; try to avoid immediately worrying that it's a serious sleep regression when it could just be a blip in their routine.

How long does the 4-month sleep regression last

Sleep regression typically lasts anywhere from three to six weeks. (Not for four months, as a new-mum friend once thought.) As sleep regressions go, the four-month sleep regression can be the hardest.

When to contact your doctor or health visitor

A stretch of sleepless nights by themselves aren't usually cause for concern, but you should contact your doctor or health visitor about night wakings if your baby:

• is eating less than normal during the day
• having fewer than four wet nappies and three bowel movements per day
• doesn’t seem to be gaining weight

Once the 4-month sleep regression has passed sleep training can be helpful to help your baby learn how to sleep. At three or four months babies are old enough to learn new sleep techniques. Controlled crying or spaced soothing are sometimes used by parents. Or safe co-sleeping could help; read our guide which explains some of the most popular sleep training techniques.

Related features:

• Sleep regression ages
• 8 month sleep regression
• 10 month sleep regression
• Best baby sleep aid

Sleep regression ages don't fit into neat boxes - they can happen at 4 months, 10 months, and even at two years old. But while it may not feel like it, sleep regression is actually progression - your baby's sleep pattern is shifting as they reach new stages of development. 

This could mean that your formerly OK-ish/good/perfect sleeper suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night or won't settle at nap time. You may have invested in the best baby monitor to track your baby's sleep patterns and done all the 'right' things to establish a pattern for getting your baby to sleep maybe a swaddling method, making sure to choose one of our tried and tested best swaddles. Then, out of nowhere, along comes a sleep regression. The good news? It's perfectly normal. And it's not forever.

The most common age for sleep regression in the first year is between eight and ten months. Author and experienced parenting coach Sarah Ockwell-Smith tells us: "Scientific research has found that the best sleep in the first year happens at around three to four months."

It’s exhausting just thinking about it, and that's before you even think about a newborn sleep schedule. But we're here to help parents left wondering when do babies sleep through the night with tips and expert guidance on how to deal with sleep regression.

Sleep regression ages

This feature covers the following aspects of sleep regression:

• Sleep regression ages 
• Why does sleep regression happen at different ages? 
• What is sleep regression - what are the signs and what causes it? 
• How to deal with sleep regression

Sleep regression happens most often at a time of change or upheaval. While this can happen, due to outside influences, at any time in a baby's short life, it tends to happen at one of the following four sleep regression ages:

4-week sleep regression

After four weeks, babies have begun to adjust to life outside of the womb, new feeding patterns, and the difference between day and night. A slight sleep regression can therefore happen at four weeks. Babies usually sleep well in the first few days after birth, which lulls parents into a false sense of security," says Ockwell-Smith. "But the huge transition babies make from being inside the womb is a crazy difference and understandably impacts their sleep."

"Babies are born needing a lot of sleep,'" explains sleep consultant Francesca Beauchamp. "They develop rapidly. It's all about feed, sleep, repeat! At two or three weeks babies also have a growth spurt. This can rouse them from sleep due to hunger, which is a normal phase in baby development." At four weeks you might feel like you're just getting the hang of it, so don't be disheartened if you feel like you then take two steps back with the four-week sleep regression.

How long will it last? Around 3-6 weeks

4-month sleep regression

The 4-month sleep regression is the most renowned. While the other sleep regressions are temporary, the 4-month one sees a permanent change in how your little one sleeps as they are now more aware of the world around them than ever before.

"The only sleep regression based on a real physiological change is this one, the four-month sleep regression," explains Heidi Skudder, The Parent & Baby Coach. "This regression occurs because the baby’s brain becomes more aware. They become more wakeful at the end of one sleep cycle and look for the same conditions that they had to fall asleep to move back into another sleep cycle. This can cause short naps and lots of nighttime waking too."

How long will it last? Around 3-6 weeks

6-month sleep regression

Most people don’t tend to experience a 6-month sleep regression with their baby. However, if you do it's likely to happen as early as 5 months and as late as 8 months. It can last anywhere between 2 to 6 weeks.

Why? Well, it's all down to baby development and milestones. It's at around 6 months old that teething kicks in. Maybe your little one is also flexing his core and trying to sit up? And some babies begin crawling around this age.

This is also the age your baby begins to understand 'object permanence' - meaning he now knows that when you leave him, you still exist. This realisation may cause separation anxiety and some very tearful night times.

How long will it last? Around 3-6 weeks

8-month sleep regression

One of the main issues is that there’s an enduring belief that by eight months babies should be sleeping through the night. In fact, teething can just start taking hold at this age and with newly introduced solid food, eight-month-old babies often have quite disturbed sleep patterns.

Then there’s the issue of separation anxiety. Babies don’t have any concept of time. Ockwell-Smith explains that every time you leave the room they may feel abandoned and scared that you’ll never return. An additional problem is that eight months can often coincide with the end of maternity leave, so your baby may have new routines or a new environment such as a nursery or childminder. 'Basically, if you have an eight, nine, or ten-month-old don't expect much sleep,' says Ockwell-Smith.

How long will it last? Around 3-6 weeks

10-month sleep regression

Sleep problems are common in the second half of a baby's first year. The changes are due to a baby's brain development. There is a lot that goes on cognitively at this age, and all of these changes can affect a baby's sleep - whether that means they start waking more at night and/or start resisting/refusing naps. In addition, some babies may cry out in the middle of the night, then calm down when you enter the room. This is separation anxiety - a normal stage of development that happens during this time.

How long will it last? Around 3-6 weeks

2-year sleep regression

While sleep regression is to be expected in 4 and 8-month-old babies, there are three specific stages that can cause toddler sleep regression. Mainly potty training, when they start nursery, or when a new sibling arrives. All of these disturb the status quo, which can leave your child feeling anxious and upset, disrupting their sleep routines.

Sleep consultant Francesca Beauchamp agrees: "Regressions in older children are often a result of big changes in little lives that can come on suddenly and out of nowhere. When this happens it’s really important to validate your child’s feelings. Offer lots of love, cuddles, and praise during waking hours and keep bedtime straightforward and calm."

How long will it last? Around 3-6 weeks

How long does a sleep regression last?

No matter the age, a sleep regression will usually last 3-6 weeks, so hold on! And, while it may be hard to do when you're hanging by an exhausted thread, focus on the fact that regression means a return to a former state. This lack of sleep is not permanent, it's a blip and your child will sleep again.

Consistency is key! We tried our best to stay on track with our sleep schedule even if that meant going back into soothe our baby 32 times in one evening. (We did, we counted!) - Mum of one, Carla C 

You do what you need to do to get through these nights, but try not to return to old habits or create any new ones. Consistency is key or else you'll be in for a whole lot of different sleep challenges once the regression is over.

"If you can, be patient," says Sarah Ockwell-Smith. "Most sleep regressions will pass naturally without you doing anything." Every baby is different, so try to not hold onto expectations about how your baby 'should' be behaving. Just as babies go through phases to learn to crawl, talk or eat, learning to sleep is another process with lots of ups and downs.

Why does sleep regression happen at different ages?

Because each age comes with a developmental change in your baby. These changes can be learning to crawl or sit up and they can interfere with sleep.

 It usually lasts three to six weeks. These developmental processes can create 'sleep-wake' rhythms and inconsistent sleep patterns for your baby (and you!) according to sleep research. 

Even if you’ve invested in the best Moses basket or best cotbed, it's likely your little one will reach a point, the main one being around 4 months, where they struggle to sleep due to a period of development, a growth spurt, or changes in routine.

Sleep consultant Sarah Patelagrees: "Sleep is always moving forward. Not in a straight line, granted, but it is a progression. Parents should prepare, around the 4-6 month mark, for the fact that this disruption to their baby's sleep, if they notice it - some parents don't - is totally normal."

"While I know this time is really difficult it's not something that needs 'fixing'. Sleep progression is more about riding it out. Parent and baby getting through it together."

Newborn sleep, (first 3 months) and infant sleep (3 months +) are very different. Studies show in the first two months of life your baby needs between 14 and 17 hours of sleep per day, but that sleep comes in 1-3 hour segments throughout the day. Newborns often baffle people when they fall asleep almost instantly and stay sleeping through the loudest of things - a motorbike, dogs barking, or over-zealous siblings playing Paw Patrol near their head.

A recent study found that at birth infants lack an established circadian rhythm and as such can sleep across multiple intervals across the day. They immediately go into the deepest stage of sleep, hence the term; 'newborn bubble'. They sleep like dozy little angels.

In contrast, a 6-month-old starts out in a lighter sleep and makes their way through the three stages of NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep where the third stage is the deepest sleep. So as your baby is growing out of the newborn phase, they start to experience the lighter stages of sleep before getting into that deep sleep, and this is where they need help and support.

Sarah Ockwell-Smith, a parenting expert, trained psychologist, and author of The Gentle Sleep Book, told us: "New parents assume that their baby’s sleep starts off really bad then gets progressively better until at some point it becomes 'good' like that of an adult. The trouble is, life doesn't work like that."

Ockwell-Smith likens sleep to a roller coaster with peaks when you feel rested and then lots of big dips, just when you think you have the whole sleep thing sorted.

"What’s important to remember is that adults don't always sleep particularly well," adds Sarah Ockwell-Smith. "We often wake at night and our sleep gets disturbed by different things. So why would babies be any different?"

Different types of sleep regression

There are many types of sleep regression, and they're usually all linked to progression and new skills. The top three main skills that new babies are trying to master are standing up, walking, and talking.

1. Standing-up sleep regression

At around nine months your baby becomes stronger and more coordinated - enough to begin pulling himself into a standing position. So rather than chill out for naps or sleep in his cot, your baby may start to practise his wobbly stance.

This is a skill he needs to practise, so give him lots of chances during his ‘awake time’ to work on it. Either in the cot or with the help of other stable furniture such as the sofa. Also, remember to teach your baby how to sit back down. Show him how it feels - attach his hands to the cot railings and bend his knees. Babies can sometimes get stuck in their new standing position.

I remember when my son was around 9 months old, I was hearing bangs over the monitor. When I checked it was him crawling into the end of his cot while asleep - practising his moves! - Mum-of-two, Jasmine C

2. Walking sleep regression

Babies tend to start walking around 12 months, which can often lead to difficulties in going to sleep and issues with your youngster waking up restless in the middle of the night. This is the time you need to start letting them move and burn off their excess energy, which will help with more settled sleep too.

I noticed that, as he grew, my son's mainstays were his muslin 'Muzzy' and chatting. He would just babble away to himself while playing with the corner of his muzzy as a way of self-soothing. It was a hard slog but we got there eventually. - Mum-of-one, Steph J

3. Talking sleep regression

Of the three types of sleep regression, this is the easiest one. Instead of hearing bangs or worrying about your little one falling over in his cot, this is more chatting and making noises in general. The early hours are a common time for babies to wake up and practise their talking or singing.

What is sleep regression - the signs and what causes it?

Sleep regression is actually progression - it's a shift in your baby's sleep patterns.  It's only temporary and you will come out the other side. Re-framing this as 'progress' can help you to deal with it.

Sleep regression ages vary throughout the first two years of your baby's life. Think of baby sleep as a wiggly line of a concept, full of progression and child development stages, ups, downs, and roundabouts. It’s not something that simply improves over time, and sleep regression ages are typically different for each baby.

It's a good sign that their sleep is disrupted as it means your child is developing. While you can't stop sleep regression entirely, you can help your baby through it.

Signs of a sleep regression

If your little one has generally been settling and sleeping well until now, the signs that your baby is experiencing a sleep regression are:

• Resisting bedtime
• Restlessness and more frequent night waking
• Struggling to get back to sleep after night time waking
• Sleeping for longer in the day

Sleep regression may be caused by any of the following:

• Developmental leaps, such as sitting up or rolling over
• Growth spurts
• Pain, such as teething
• Sickness, such as a cold or cough
• Changes in routine, including going on holiday, moving home, or the primary carer returning to work
• Eating solids for the first time

How to deal with a sleep regression

Surviving sleep regression is all about being patient and kind to yourself and your baby. It's a tough time for all involved, so don't be too hard on yourself and trust your instincts.

Sarah Patel, renowned sleep consultant speaking at The Baby Show, agrees and urges parents to think of sleep progression from your baby’s perspective. "Step back and calmly assess things," she advises. 

"Your baby has no clue what's happening either. Your baby's sleep needs have changed, so consider what you do to support them. Feed them to sleep or lay with them? You know your baby better than anyone else, so do what works for you both. In the meantime, take deep breaths and focus on the fact that this isn't forever."

With my youngest it was like clockwork - learning to roll, crawl or walk - all these milestones came with a sleep regression, then back to normal, just hold on in there. - Mum of three, Laura S

And, on the days when things really have gone to pot, get outside. Lots of daylight helps with circadian rhythm. And remember that while consistency is good, sometimes forgetting the schedule and just rolling with it is better. So, whether in the pram, sling, or car, when it comes to getting through a sleep progression all naps count.

Plus, try some of these simple techniques for dealing with a sleep regression:

1. Recognise your baby's sleep cues

The window of 'tired' is a small one - after that they're overtired and settling them to sleep becomes even harder. Get to know your baby's sleep cues;

• Rubbing eyes
• Fussiness
• Staring into space
• Looking away from anything stimulating

If you spot any of these tiredness signs, get them to bed before they're overtired. Catch them yawning and you may already be too late. When you spot the cues, act fast and get them down to sleep.

2. Give your baby full feeds during the day

Ensure your baby takes full feeds throughout the day, especially before bed and the all-important dream feed. If your baby is distracted or not feeding well, try a quieter room away from distractions. Allow yourself plenty of time and avoid multitasking whilst feeding to ensure your baby is calm and feeds well. Read our guide to the best nursing pillows to make bottle or breastfeeding more comfortable.

3. Keep calm and take rest when you can

Your rest is as important as the baby's. Ask for help: if a partner or trusted friend can watch the baby whilst you catch up on sleep during the day you will feel more able to deal with disruption at night. Go to sleep as early as you can after the baby is in bed, so you have undisturbed sleep before they wake. Also try to avoid making many social or work plans during this time, as you will need to conserve your energy to deal with a sleep regression.

4. Keep to a bedtime routine

If you aren't already, put your baby to bed at the same time each night. A four-month-old baby should be settled in their cot by 7 pm at the latest. A good bedtime routine might include singing the same gentle songs, closing the curtains, dimming the lights, giving the baby a gentle bath or massage, putting them in their pajamas, and giving them the evening feed at about 6.30 pm. You can use one of these 12 best sleep aids to create relaxing background white noise or music. Start the bedtime routine at about 6 pm or when they give you tired cues like grizzling or rubbing your eyes. Try some of these ideas for a successful bedtime routine in our baby sleep guide.

5. Avoid making sudden changes

Don't feel like you have to suddenly change everything you've been doing when sleep regression starts, as this will only create more unsettled feelings for you and the baby. In fact, sleep regression often happens because of physical, developmental, or environmental changes in the first place. If you'd like to start a nap or bedtime routine, start gradually so you both become more accustomed.

• This article was verified by Katie Palmer, a certified sleep practitioner under Solent NHS Trust. She is both NNEB and MNT trained and is a qualified professional working on expert site, Infant Sleep Consultants.

Related features:

• How to get a baby to sleep
• Sleep regression ages
• 4-month sleep regression
• 8-month sleep regression
• 10-month sleep regression
• Baby sleep training
• Ferber method

Controlled crying sleep training, or the spaced soothing approach, sets recognisable bedtime cues to help your baby get to sleep. It can be quite divisive, however, as it involves allowing your baby to cry for controlled, short periods of time.

Controlled crying has been criticised by parents and some practitioners for creating emotional distance or letting a child 'cry it out'. On the other hand, fans of the approach celebrate its life-changing impact and how effective it is at teaching children how to sleep healthily by themselves. Once you're past that tricky second night of baby sleep, many parents are willing to try anything - including choosing from the best swaddles - to get some rest.

In this article, we discuss how the controlled crying method works, how to do it, and tips for stress-free sleep training:

What is controlled crying?
What are the pros and cons of controlled crying?
How do I start controlled crying?
Top tips for controlled crying success
What is spaced soothing?
Is controlled crying cruel?
What age can you start controlled crying?
Does controlled crying help with sleep regression?
Is controlled crying right for your baby?
What real mums say about controlled crying

What is controlled crying and 'spaced soothing'?

Controlled crying requires leaving your baby to cry for set, short periods of time before offering them comfort. This is why it's also called 'the spaced soothing approach' which many parents prefer. Spaced soothing is basically the same as 'controlled crying' but focuses on soothing your baby, rather than crying. It was made popular in sleep expert Jo Tantum's book, Baby Secrets which includes seven different routines for babies of different ages.

Critics might say controlled crying forces your child to cry themselves to sleep, but this is not true if done correctly. Bear in mind, this method of helping your baby sleep may not be suitable for very young babies, if a baby is unwell, or for babies who suffer from separation anxiety.

What are the pros and cons of controlled crying?

How do I start controlled crying?

Sophia Nomicos, mum-of-three and founder of Mas and Pas, explains controlled crying in three easy steps:

Step one: The parent or caregivers puts their child to sleep in their crib at bedtime and leaves the room. Step two: If the child cries, the parent or caregiver allows them to cry for a short period of time, usually between two and 10 minutes, before they go in and comfort them. When they do it’s important that the parent or caregiver does not make eye contact or lift baby out of the crib. They can stroke or soothe the baby in their bed until they are calm. Step three: The parent leaves the room again and if baby cries they repeat the process until baby falls asleep.

The first time the baby cries you can soothe them after one minute, the next time soothe them after two, three, four minutes and so on until you reach 10 minutes. By which time your baby will most likely have soothed themself to sleep.

Implementing the routine is relatively simple, but you will need to steel yourself for a difficult first night. As Sophia tells us, "Most parents report the first night to be the hardest. The key is consistency and doing the same technique, in the same way, every night for five nights." If you decide to go down the controlled crying route to get your baby to sleep, experts say it should be effective within about two to five nights.

What age can you start controlled crying? You can start controlled crying from as young as a few months. Many parents start at about six months, as this is when the baby tends to stop waking for a nighttime feed, so you will know they're not hungry if they wake and cry during the night. You can implement controlled crying with older babies and toddlers, but it becomes more challenging.

Should you do controlled crying for naps? Yes, you can use controlled crying for naps. Use the same technique as you would for an evening sleep.

Top tips for controlled crying success

• Consistency is key. Both caregivers should be on board and follow the same routines and spaced soothing patterns so the baby does not get confused.
• Commit one week to implementing controlled crying without other distractions. Do not make other social arrangements and avoid a busy week at work.
• Put your baby into their cot while they're still awake.
• Repeat a regular routine or comforting rituals before each bedtime. A bath, singing the same songs, or repeating the same phrases when you close the curtains are often effective. As a result, your baby will pick up cues that it's bedtime and begin to relax.
• Make sure the room temperature is comfortable and there's nothing in the room they could harm themselves on.
• Comfort your baby using your voice, but don't pick them up or turn on the light.
• Gradually lengthen the amount of time you leave the room each time, but never leave for more than 10 minutes.
• If your baby is clearly very agitated, then go in before the allotted time is up. This technique is not about traumatising your baby
• Use a stopwatch (most phone have them) to help you count the minutes between soothing. Otherwise, it can be hard to resist their cry.
• Prepare to repeat the routine for up to a week before you start to see results.

Baby sleep expert Jo Tantum, who made the spaced soothing method popular, shares her top tips for baby bedtime routines in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWa2yjy7LAk

Is controlled crying cruel?

No, controlled crying is really spaced soothing. It is about reassuring your baby every few minutes that you're there, but that it is also time for sleep. You should not leave your baby to cry for long, uncontrolled lengths of time, or let them 'cry it out'. A recent study by the University of Melbourne, Australia and the University of Exeter in the UK was supportive of controlled crying. The report found that behavioral sleep techniques, including controlled crying, did not cause long-lasting harm to children, the mother, or damage the parent-child relationship.

Controlled crying can also feel tough on the parents. Heidi Skudder, from The Parent & Baby Coach, says that: "I don’t know any parent that hasn’t found controlled crying difficult. But if done in a safe way, taking into account little one's health, feeding and overall well-being, as well as emotions impacting its consistency, controlled crying can work really well. I often advise my clients to spend the two to five minutes they leave their baby doing something like putting a washing load on to take their mind off it. It can be even harder to listen to crying whilst standing outside the door crying yourself."

Does controlled crying help with sleep regression?

Yes, sleep training from an early age will instill good, independent sleeping habits in your baby. This can help reduce or avoid sleep regressions later on, and helps build consistency.

The Parent & Baby Coach, Heidi Skudder, advises that: "The only sleep regression based on a real physiological change is the four-month sleep regression. This occurs because baby’s brain becomes more aware of how they transition through sleep cycles. They become more wakeful at the end of one sleep cycle and look for the same conditions they had to fall asleep to move back into another sleep cycle. This can often cause short naps and lots of nighttime waking too. To avoid this, parents can work on helping their little one to fall asleep independently from an early age.

"Other sleep regressions such as the 8, 12 and 18 month sleep regression are just times that baby starts to learn new skills; crawling, standing, walking and talking. Sleep tends to stay consistent if the parents can be consistent too. They only really turn into full regressions if the parent starts to introduce new sleep habits – such as rocking or feeding baby back to sleep when previously they hadn’t done so.

"The most important thing to note about regressions is that it is a phase, and it will pass. In the meantime, try and stay as consistent as possible about how you are dealing with it."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amXr3dbz9rA

Is controlled crying right for your baby?

Only you will know if controlled crying is right for you and your family. Healthy sleep is essential for your baby's mental and physical health, so it's worth getting it right and feeling at peace with whichever path you take.

And don't forget to look after yourself. Dr Dawn Harper, the television personality, GP and Ambassador for SimplyMe health and wellbeing app, recommends napping when you can: "As a new mum, you are unlikely to get a full night’s sleep so you need to take sleep where you can. It’s the one time I think it’s appropriate to take a nap where possible! If you have a partner who is around, ask them to look after the baby. Even just for 20 or 30 minutes so that you can recharge your batteries."

What real mums say about controlled crying

GoodtoKnow user Laura tried controlled crying with her six-month-old son, Oliver.

She tols us, "At the first sign that he was tired I put him in the cot and gave him his dummy. I put his mobile on, stroked his head and said 'shhh'. Then I left the room. He would scream because he didn't want to go to sleep. I'd go back in and stroke his head and say 'shhh' again, then leave him for 10 minutes tops and then go back in and do the same again. I wish I'd known about it from the start. Now when he wakes up I give him his dummy, put his mobile on and he goes back to sleep."

Zoe from Mama.toama also explains why she chose the controlled crying method with her baby daughter - and why she felt she had no choice but to 'sleep train':

"Since using controlled crying she is able to settle herself to sleep and re-settle herself throughout the night. She still wakes twice to feed but I can manage that. Her daytime naps have also exceeded my expectations. She has gone from four catnaps to a two-hour nap in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon. A win all round in my eyes.

"Since my daughter was born she has never slept through the night. She woke anywhere between two to six times, took short naps throughout the day, and just seemed tired all of the time. Team that with my exhaustion and we had no choice but to 'sleep train'.

"As an avid Googler about most things I'd like to think I have done my fair share of research around the topic of how to get your baby to sleep, and we tried co-sleeping, putting down sleepy but awake, the shush-pat method, the pick-up/put-down method before landing on the most controversial sleep-training method of them all.

"Cry it out or controlled crying. Neither term I am a particular fan of, as it just seems so harsh. Before reading about controlled crying I was under the impression that you just left your child to cry and they eventually went to sleep. This is not the case.

"You can adapt this method in various ways to suit your comfort level but in every variation of this method, your baby will, inevitably, cry quite drastically. But eventually, they will learn to fall asleep on their own and stay asleep. Ideal!

"Before my daughter was born, and in the first few months of her life I told myself, and everyone who questioned her sleeping, that I would never let her cry it out but I was reaching breaking point and I knew the exhaustion was getting the better of me. I am also not afraid to admit that I wanted time off.

"She is almost 10 months old and I have never spent any time away from her. I strongly believe that mums should be able to spend some time away from their baby and should do whatever they need to for that to happen.

"Since using controlled crying she is able to settle herself to sleep and re-settle herself throughout the night. She still wakes twice to feed but I can manage that. Her daytime naps have also exceeded my expectations. She has gone from having three or four catnaps to having a solid one and a half to two-hour nap in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon. A win all around in my eyes.

"This method may be controversial and it may not work for every baby but I do believe that it's the best for our situation and has worked wonders for us. She wakes up refreshed and is so much happier in herself. And as for me, well I am like a new woman.

"Yes, this method may not be for everyone, and yes other mums may not think highly of my choices but that's ok - I made the best decision for my family and me."

If you're wondering how you can feed your baby later in the evening, without having to wake them up for a bottle or breastfeed, then you might be interested in trying dream feeding. 

Dream feeding allows any parent or caregiver to feed their baby while they're sleeping, instead of waking them up from their cosy cot or crib to do so and risking the little one not getting back to sleep again for hours, it can really help parents who are wondering when do babies sleep through the night.

Sounds somewhat perfect right? Well if it works for your baby, it might just be. So we're here to talk you through exactly what dream feeding is and how to (safely) try a dream feed yourself. Plus, we've spoken exclusively to a baby expert to get the scoop on whether dream feeding is something they'd recommend parents to try with their little one, to help them get the best night's sleep possible.

What is a dream feed?

A dream feed is the theory that if you gently rouse your sleeping baby just before you go to bed, ideally around 11.30pm, and encourage them to take more milk then they'll continue to sleep throughout the night. The trick is to not fully wake them up, but help their instincts kick in to latch on. Babies will usually be able to do this without even opening their eyes, staying nice and sleepy.

The idea is that the baby then has a full tummy and won't need to wake up at 2am for another feed - which, incredibly, could mean a proper night's sleep for you and the beginning of a good sleep training routine for your baby.

In theory this all sounds fantastic, and there are lots of mums that swear by the method, but it definitely doesn't work for every child so don't count on this as a sure thing, or be disappointed if it doesn't work with your baby.

Dream feeding schedule: How often should you dream feed?

Although what works for one baby may not work for another, a standard dream feeding night schedule might go a little something like this...

• 6:30 p.m: Feed your baby before they go down to sleep.
• 7 p.m: Your baby is put down to sleep.
• 10:30 p.m: Just before you go to bed yourself, do the dream feed.
• 11 p.m: You go to sleep.
• 4 a.m: Your baby wakes up for another feed, but the regularity of this depends on how old they are.
• 4:30 a.m: Your baby settles back down to sleep and so do you.
• 7 a.m: Your baby wakes up again for another feed, the day begins.

This is just a rough schedule, however. The timings will differ depending on what time you go to bed and how many hours your baby can sleep for, as the younger they are, the more times they tend to wake up in the night.

To help with this, our Norland Nanny and maternity nurse Louenna Hood advises, "Every baby is different and that really depends on how well they are feeding throughout the day. Make sure you keep regular three or four hourly feeds throughout the day so your baby doesn’t need to feed more during the night time."

Dream feeding method: How to dream feed safely

A dream feed requires a delicate balance between rousing your baby from their cot or crib enough that they can drink safely and not fully waking them up. The best way to do this is to trigger their rooting reflex by stroking their cheek with your nipple, or gently stroking their palms or soles of feet.

Once you're ready to feed them, ensure that their head is elevated and that you're holding them upright. It's dangerous to feed a baby while they're lying down or deeply asleep as they could choke. After the dream feed, take a few minutes to keep your baby resting upright so that any air can escape and their milk can go down properly.

Tips for a successful dream feed

While both our experts say that dream feeding works for some babies and not for others, there are some tips you can look at to improve your chances.

• Keep their bedroom quiet and dark: This will help babies fall back to sleep more easily.
• Do it as quickly as possible: For the same reasons, it's best to try and complete the dream feed as quickly as possible, to avoid waking the baby.
• Doing it with the bottle? Don't take the baby out of the crib, just prop their heads up on a pillow. If you haven't got a suitable sleep space for your baby yet and want to consider dream feeding, then perhaps a moses basket would be a better option for easier access.
• If your baby is solely breastfed and doesn't use formula, mum can pump before bed and store the milk in the fridge for later.
• Some experts recommend changing a baby's nappy just before the dream feed: This could help to wake them up a bit and mean that with the extra milk, there won't be any nappy leaks.

Does dream feeding work?

Dream feeding can be quite difficult to master and really depends on the temperament of each individual baby. It will take quite a few attempts before you start to get to grips with it, but once mastered your partner can even take over with a bottle which gives you an even better night's sleep.

An issue that you might encounter is that the deepest cycle of sleep is usually before midnight so it can be a struggle to wake your baby the suitable amount. Also, if you do manage to master the dream feed your baby could become reliant and struggle to sleep through the night in future.

We spoke exclusively to Jo Wiltshire, an expert for Childcare.co.uk, for her view on dream feeding. "With dream feeding, it's a tricky one." Jo says, "I'd say it can work as a short-term solution for newborns and younger babies, but can also create problems in the long term because it can inadvertently encourage night waking, and create a dependency that didn't need to be there.

"Often it doesn't work anyway, because the baby will wake for another feed even if they've had their 'dream feed'. After about four months, the baby sleep cycle changes and they can be hard to wake for your 'schedule', and won't take enough milk to count as a real 'feed' even if they do.

READ MORE: All the best baby sleep aids to help babies sleep through the night

"In the early days, by all means experiment with dream feeding - see how your baby's temperament and night-time patterns fit in with it, and if it works for you, there's nothing harmful about it. If it leads to a contented baby and a more rested baby, go with it.

"But in the long term, I'd say it's important for your baby to be able to settle and sleep at night without feeds - after about four months, begin to cut down night-time feeds, and by about 10 months, move away from them altogether.

"This will mean your baby becomes a settled sleeper, and you'll end up with a better night's sleep too, without the need for 'pre-loading' feeds your baby might not even want or need."

Is dream feeding a good idea or is it dangerous?

Largely, dream feeding is considered a good idea if your baby is having trouble sleeping because they are hungry. But it's important that you take your baby out of the crib and wake them up enough to eat (but not too), then try to avoid feeding them on their back if you're using a bottle. These are the other positives and negatives around dream feeding for you to consider...

Positives of dream feeding

• Dream feeding will make sure that you and your baby sleep longer during the night.
• Babies won't have such disrupted sleep with the feed.
• Yours and baby's sleep will be better matched up so if they do wake up, you're having similar amounts of sleep.
• Baby won't cry as much as they're not waiting to be fed.
• Your can anticipate your baby's need for food by getting into a dream feeding routine.
• Baby will be in a better mood during the day as they'll be waking up less during the night.
• Any babies struggling to feed during the day will be able to get their extra calories at night.

Negatives of dream feeding

• It may not be effective and your baby may still wake up to feed during the night.
• Your baby may not take the triggers to latch on, so dream feeding may not work.
• Parents or caregivers might have to stay up later in the night to get that last feed in.
• Baby may wake up and not be able to get back to sleep easily after eating at the late hour.
• It can be a difficult routine to drop if it does work - for both baby and parent or carer.
• Little ones may be fed when they don't need or want to be.
• Babies can experience stomach issues as the feed can make a baby overfull.

At what age can you dream feed a baby?

As newborn babies have smaller stomachs, they need feeding more often - around every two to four hours. So it's best to wait until they're are at least two months old and can sleep for slightly longer stretches before starting a dream feeding schedule.

This means that the best age range for a dream feeding schedule is between two to nine months old.

READ MORE: 'My baby won't sleep!' Your baby sleep problems solved

Experts suggest that the best time to drop the dream feed is when babies can sleep through the night until the morning with only their dream feed to keep them going. When the other nightly feeds have stopped, wait for two weeks and then try going without the dream feed for the night. Usually, babies adapt to this quite quickly.

Do babies burp during a dream feed?

"Yes absolutely, it's really important to wind your baby at every feed." Norland Nanny and maternity nurse, Louenna Hood tells GoodtoKnow. "If you don't spend time winding your baby, they won't be able to finish and feed and will be uncomfortable when you lay them down - resulting in an unsettled sleep."

This means that their sleep could become disrupted, even though you've done everything possible not to wake them up.

Is a dream feed a full feed?

For those anxious parents wondering if after a dream feed you'll be up again in a few hours for another one, you're in luck. A dream feed is definitely still a full feed, so they should sleep through the night following it. And Louenna says on the idea of waking babies up for their feed, "At the beginning I advise to wake your newborn, turn the lights on and encourage them to have a full and proper feed so that once they are tucked back in bed, they have their longest sleep of the day."

Does a dream feed disrupt sleep?

If dream feeding suits your baby and works for them, then their sleep shouldn't be disrupted by the feed. But as dream feeding often takes place in their first few hours of sleep, when they are likely sleeping the most deeply, if you accidentally wake them up then their sleep will be disrupted.

This is why Louenna says that newborns need a regular eating pattern to keep their sugar levels up. "So a dream feed should be built into a relaxed eating and sleeping routine. However, after a few months, you find you are offering a dream feed and your baby still wakes for another feed during the night, you might want to let them stretch from bedtime until they wake naturally in the night.

"Offer them a full feed and then you often find they drop the dream feed naturally and just wake for one feed a night."

If you want more help from our baby sleeping expert Louenna, the Nanny Louenna app is available to download from the App Store and Google Play with subscriptions starting from £4.99 a month.

Good luck!

While it's completely normal for parents to struggle to get kids their kids to sleep, the EASY baby routine offers an alternative way of getting newborns down so that they can also enjoy some 'me' time.

Many believe that getting babies to fall (and stay) asleep is a case of luck and just the right environment, but experts have been recommending the EASY sleep method for years now as another tried and tested sleeping routine to try. With the assistance of some classic baby sleep aids, parents have largely found that the routine is one of the most successful baby sleep training methods they've used, especially since it allows for valuable personal time for parents, so they can get things done or more likely, have a nap themselves.

So give  Secrets of The Baby Whisperer author, Tracy Hogg's simple baby sleep method and routine a try, and you might find that your baby finally nods off for the night.

Here's the guide on how to establish the EASY baby routine and make your life just that much easier.

What is the EASY baby routine?

Getting a newborn into any kind of routine may sound difficult, especially as new mothers are told to feed on demand, but the EASY baby routine for newborns simply means following a set order each day: Eat, Activity, Sleep, You-time.

How often you have to repeat the sequence in the EASY baby routine will depend on how long your baby takes to eat and sleep - and no two babies are the same!

That's it. Of course, each day will be a bit different, but this EASY baby routine is so simple that you'll be able to cope with it, even during those first few weeks when your brain feels like cotton wool and sleep is a distant memory.

The important thing is not to get stressed out if your baby is suddenly having longer gaps between feeds or sleeping less. As long as you follow the correct order for the EASY baby routine throughout the day - eat, activity, sleep, you - your baby will grow and, just as importantly, you will still feel as if you have a bit of you-time. Even if it is just a bit.

How to establish the EASY baby routine

E is for eat

In the first few months, babies tend to feed about 6 times a day. Once they are on to solids at around seven months, the number of feeds gets less because they are getting more food at each meal. When working out your EASY baby routine, think about whether your baby is a slow eater or a guzzler and allow more or less time for the feeds.

The EASY baby routine for the first few months also includes cluster feeds and the all-important dream feed when you feed your baby while he or she is asleep. This will help them to sleep through the night.

A is for activity

People used to think that a baby needs to eat and sleep - nothing else. But the A for activity bit makes a lot of sense. If your baby has been busy mentally or physically (in the early days this can just mean looking at a toy or listening to some songs), they are more likely to be tired enough for a nap.

READ MORE: The ultimate baby sleep guide

Just don't overdo it or your baby will be too wired to sleep! As they get older, activity can mean having another baby over to play, or going out to a local park. It's also a good idea to use bath time as the last activity before bed and make sure they have a safe and comfortable cot to sleep in, to avoid any other sleep problems that could arise.

S is for sleep

The EASY baby routine is designed to help your baby sleep through the night and to do this, he or she needs more feeds before bedtime.

Tracy Hogg calls these cluster feeds: what it means is that you give your baby two feeds close together before bedtime at 5-7pm and 6-8pm. She calls this 'tanking up' which should mean more sleep for baby - and you!

Then, while your baby is asleep, at 10-11pm, you give them a final feed for the night, called the dream feed. Obviously the idea here is that your baby doesn't wake up, so no nappy changing, burping and keep lights and noise down.

Baby sleep is hard to predict. Some babies may only sleep for 20 minutes at a time to start with, if that. But as they grow, the naps should get longer until they go down for 2 hours.

Although it's tempting to let your baby sleep for as long as possible, remember that lots of very long naps during the day may make it difficult for your baby to sleep at night.

Also, don't let your baby sleep for too long for the last two naps of the day or they may be wide awake at bedtime!

Y is for you-time

When you're a new mother it can feel as though life becomes one big baby slog. Of course, you love your little bundle of joy to bits, but it's really important that you try to keep up with the things you used to love too, before the baby arrived. Use this 'you time' to phone a friend, catch up with Facebook, read a magazine or have a soak in the bath.

What age should you start the EASY baby routine?

If your baby is around a month old, then it's a good time to begin the EASY baby routine. It will give you some time to work out your baby's natural feeding habits, so you know how much milk they need to be full without overdoing it.

What if it goes wrong?

Babies are not always predictable. Growth spurts, illness, reactions to vaccinations and teething can all temporarily affect a baby's routine, making them sleep less or more, eat nothing at all or suddenly seem as if they're starving all the time!

None of this matters.

Just make sure they've got a good bed, whether that's a traditional moses basket or a cot, and just try to go with the flow and relax.

As long as you follow the steps of the EASY order you're doing great!

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect and Communicate with your Baby by Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau, is available from Amazon.

When you've having a baby there's a mass of new information to take on board - but one term even the most experienced mums might not have heard of is the second night syndrome.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you've not heard of it,' says midwife Marie Louise of second night syndrome. "It's not talked about all that often." And, because the syndrome generally goes under the radar, Marie Louise often faces desperate questions from weary and tired parents when their baby just won't settle - questions like: 'Is it normal?', 'What's wrong?', 'Will my baby ever sleep?', 'Why won't my baby stop crying?', should I choose a swaddle? or even 'Am I doing a bad job?'.

No new parent should feel this way - so here's what you need to know about second night syndrome, and how you and your baby can get through it.

What is second night syndrome?

There is a theory that babies fall into a deep sleep for the first 24 hours of their life because of the the effort and stress of birth.

After they wake up - by the second night - is when they become aware that life as they knew it has gone.

This can be accentuated if you are breastfeeding as your milk hasn't come in yet (which is normal - that's usually on day three) and your baby may now be more hungry more often.

During your baby's second night in the outside world, they realise they're not in their familiar home-of-nine-months any more.

Their new environment has light, loud noises and touch, not to mention the cuddles from strangers.

It's also worth noting that this new home is about 15 degrees cooler and far away from the most comforting sound they've constantly heard, your heartbeat.

All in all, it's just a bit overwhelming and a little scary for the tiny tot, though Marie Louise is careful to point out that not every baby will go through this, and some will settle just fine.

"If you're prepared for and have an appreciation of the process they're going through then you may well cope better and be able to understand your baby better," she confirms.

How long does second night syndrome last?

As deep sleep takes over the baby's first 24 hours, it's thought that the so-called second night syndrome will begin on the second night of the baby's life and continue, as our child sleep specialist Lauren Peacock says, the term is "pathologising completely normal newborn behaviour."

READ MORE: What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) - and what causes it?

She says,  "Many babies sleep a lot in their first 24 hours, as they recover from the birth experience and slowly adjust to life “on the outside”. For some, this adjustment period is characterised by crying, wakefulness and extremely frequent feeding, often starting on the second night."

What should you expect on your second night with a newborn?

While it may be completely normal behaviour, it can be daunting if you don't know what to expect on your second night with your newborn.

As Lauren says, this is what you can expect on your second night...

• They're likely to sleep a lot.
• Crying.
• Wakefulness.
• Extremely frequent feeding

Lauren says, "Babies are biologically hardwired to survive and are safest in the arms of their caregivers. Additionally, frequent feeding stimulates a mother’s milk-supply, further ensuring baby’s survival."

And adds that it might be easier said than done, "But keeping visitors to a minimum in the first few days and prioritising rest, recovery and bonding, for both you and your baby, can help to ease the transition from womb to world."

"If baby continues to be very unsettled or doesn’t appear to be satisfied after feeding, this should always be checked out as it could indicate a struggle to latch and feed effectively."

Six tips for getting through second night syndrome

While it might be difficult, you and baby will get through the second night without any worries. But if you do want a little more help with getting your baby to sleep, either now or when they're a couple of weeks older, there are some great baby sleep aids out there to help make your baby's sleeping space better.

1. Don't worry

'This is a normal transition process that your baby may need to go through,' explains Marie Louise.

'If you are breastfeeding then your baby's need to feed is sending signals to your breasts to make more milk. As long as your baby is fed when s/he wants for as long as s/he wants then your body will produce the right amount of milk.'

The midwife adds that panicking and feeding them formula at this time may seem like the obvious answer but it will interfere with this process and less breastmilk will be made.

As long as your baby has a safe sleeping space, either a high-quality moses basket, a crib or suitable cot that follows all the UK cot bed safety guidelines, they should be absolutely fine.

2. Skin-to-skin is best

Newborn babies have an innate need for comfort, which can be fixed by closeness, food and responsive parents, which is where skin-to-skin really comes into its own.

Responding to your baby's needs makes them feel loved, safe and secure. This alone can help your baby grow into a confident toddler.

3. Enjoy alone time

While people are understandably excited by your new addition, try not to have too many visitors on the first day.

Marie Louise explains: 'All those different voices and smells can be an overwhelming form of external stimulation for a newborn.'

While they are adjusting to life outside the womb, being passed around can be stressful for newborns. Let him/her get used to their new surroundings gradually and receive comfort from the people and smells h/she already know.

This also allows you to settle into your new role and rest when you can, rather than worry about the visitors.

4. Stay familiar

During this transition process familiarities will help keep your newborn calm.

If you still have time then play music to your baby during pregnancy and then play this same music again, on the second day of your newborn's life. 'The music will be familiar to your baby as babies can hear as early as 16 weeks gestation,' says Marie Louise.

'They know your voice and they respond to sounds that they hear often. Play the same songs frequently to your baby throughout your pregnancy and when s/he is born this music triggers the blissful memories of life in the womb and is comforting and reassuring.'

5. Have a 'soapless' bath

Enjoying a bath with your newborn? Skin-on-skin will help calm them.

While it's best to keep the vernix - that's a white chalky type substance - on baby's skin for at least four weeks you can still take a bath, just don't use bubble bath or any soap.

Gently rub your wet hands over their head while they listen to your heartbeat. This comforts your baby and reinforces that you are still there responding to them.

6. Remember it will get better

Marie Louise says: 'Your baby will sleep and it will get better.'

On day two your baby's tummy is only the size of a marble, so your colostrum - that's your first milk - comes in small quantities to reflect that.

The small stomach is why your baby will want to feed frequently on the second night. 'It won't always be like this,' says Marie Louise. 'By day 5 your baby will be needing about 60-80 mls after you milk has come in and if breastfeeding has got off to the right start, your body will produce that.'

Getting your children into a healthy sleep routine isn't an easy task.

So a few tips on how to get your child to sleep never go amiss.

Kids will be kids and you've probably heard 'but mum, I'm not tired' or 'I want to sleep in your bed' a hundred times, but no more!

If you think getting a baby to sleep was difficult, with all the different ways to feed them, bathe them and keep them from waking up, wait until you try getting your toddler to wind down at night time!

It's a difficult job but don't worry, we're here to help. Once you've established how much sleep your child needs, you can use our guide for tips and tricks to getting them more (and better!) sleep. The more sleep they have, the more you will too, and that sounds pretty good to us! So here's everything you need to know about how to get your child to sleep better...

What can you do when your child won't sleep?

For parents, having a child that won't sleep can be equal parts concerning and difficult to handle as if they're not sleeping, you're unlikely to either. But as child sleep specialist, Lauren Peacock of Little Sleep Stars tells GoodtoKnow, bedtime resistance or sleep disturbance can be a manifestation of anxiety.

To help with this problem, Lauren suggests, "Creating time to discuss worries during the day and utilising tools such as worry-eaters, an age-appropriate comfort item or a nightlight with a red bulb can be effective."

But she also says, "Bedtime resistance can also be about boundary-testing. Having a clear and consistent pre-bed routine can help. Offering simple choices through the day and in the run-up to bedtime can help to reduce battles. Ultimately, boundary-testing will continue for as long as there is a chance the boundary moves, so setting and maintaining clear, empathetic and age-appropriate limits is key."

So once you've figured out why they might not be sleeping and what to do about it, have a look at ways to help encourage your child get a peaceful night's sleep...

How to get your child to sleep better

Daytime activities

Keeping kids active is essential for their sleep patterns - if they don't get out and about enough in the day, when it comes to night time they just won't be tired enough, plus it's recommended that kids get at least 15 minutes exercise a day.

Tip: Get moving as a whole family! It's easy to find things to do with the kids, especially at the weekends. Try heading out for walks or play football in your local park - it's great bonding time and you'll all be getting your daily exercise, too.

How to calm everything down after dinner

Most days are busy and exciting for toddlers and kids, so by the time they've had dinner they're likely to be low on energy. This is a great time to calm everything down, let the excitement of the day come to a lull and prepare them for bedtime.

You know your child best so if it's reading a book or watching half-an-hour of TV that chills them out, do whatever works for them. This will really help in the transition from day to night time and they'll start to understand that this time is a calm time before bed.

Try sleep-inducing snacks before bed

A warm glass of milk before bed is a great sleep-inducing drink, but did you know that bananas, turkey, peanuts and yogurt are also loaded with sleep-triggering tryptophan? Give your kids one of these snacks about 30 minutes before bed and it'll help them sleep right through the night.

Check out your child's bedroom

If they always complain about a noise or wake up at a certain time each night, go in their room and check it out. It could be the heating coming on, or a next door neighbour leaving for work, but it's worth checking out to see if there is anything that triggers them to wake up.

Creating a calm place that is perfect for your little one to sleep is key in making sure they sleep well. There's lots to think about when making sure that your child's room is a great sleeping environment, from temperature, to blinds and duvets.

First things first, make sure you invest in a blackout blind - you won't regret it. Throughout the winter months it might seem like the curtains are doing the job, but when summer comes and the days get longer a blackout blind will be perfect for creating a dark and sleepy place for your child.

Then, make sure the temperature is right in the room - like us, children generally sleep better if it's a bit cooler. The temperature of your child's room should be between 18°C and 21°C. However, if you're hot in the room the chances are your child will be too so leave the window slightly open, but locked. During the warmer months you can also use a fan to keep your child cool through the night, just make sure they aren't sleeping near to the draught.

And finally ensure they are sleeping with the right duvet - the last thing you want is them waking up as they're hot and irritable in the night. Unless their bedroom is really cold, it's best to have a lighter weight duvet (between 4.5 and 9 tog). A child's duvet will generally trap more air and be warmer, as they are smaller - so a heavier tog duvet (13.5) would probably be too warm. However, if they do get cold in the winter, make sure you swap to a heavier duvet or put a blanket on top of their usual one.

Try lavender in their bath

Lavender has been proven to help with sleep, so it's worth trying this natural approach when it comes to a child who has sleep troubles.

Each night when they have their bath add some lavender bubble bath and bathe them as normal letting them play with their bath toys. Lavender is said to lengthen sleep time, increase deep sleeps and help you feel refreshed - it's definitely worth a try!

Install a night light in their bedroom

This tried and tested sleep aid is not just a winner for babies, children can also seek comfort in small light in the corner of their room

Our sleep expert, Lauren Peacock says, "For anxious children, a comforter, sleep-spray or a night-light can sometimes help."

"If using a night-light, opt for a red bulb wherever possible as this colour is the most supportive of sleep. In extreme cases, where sleep-hygiene, timings and all behavioural aspects have been optimised but a child still cannot settle to sleep, it is worth discussing matters with your GP or paediatrician who may consider medication appropriate – this is most likely with children diagnosed with ADHD or ASD, where the condition is a significant driver in the sleep challenge(s)."

Set clear bedtime limits

At the weekend they might want to stay up a bit later and it's good to allow this every now and then, but remember to keep them in their routine during the week, especially in term times.

As good as it is to reward them with a later bedtime sometimes, make sure that you set clear limits and only give them an extra half-an-hour at the most - the last thing you want is them slipping out of a bedtime routine that works.

Try a sticker chart for little ones

You praise your kids for good behaviour in the day, right? So if they sleep well, they should be praised too. For younger children make a sticker reward chart and set goals for them to reach. For example, if they sleep the whole night through in their bed then they get a sticker and if they get a whole week's worth of stickers then they'll be rewarded with a treat. Giving them achievable targets and incentives like that will encourage them to try and sleep well.

Remove computers, phones and TVs from their room

Try and make their room a place that's about relaxing and going to sleep rather than getting wound up at a computer game or watching the TV. As hard as it is with all the pressure for them to have up-to-date toys, it's best to try and avoid this in their bedrooms. Without the distraction of a TV or Nintendo DS they are much more likely to have a sound night's sleep.

Tip: If your kids have phones make sure they're switching them off at night time too.

Cut down on fizzy drinks during the day

Studies have shown that fizzy drinks can have an affect on kids' sleep. Not only do the drinks disrupt their sleep at night time, but they also leave them feeling sluggish and tired in the day. So, try and cut back on the fizz you give your kids, we bet you'll notice the difference!

Tips for dealing with common sleep problems

My child wakes up thirsty in the night

If your child is still in nappies then leave a drink in a non-spillable cup by the side of their bed. It's best to just give them water through the night as they'll have brushed their teeth before they go to bed so they shouldn't have squash.

If your child is a bit older and out of nappies, then make sure they drink enough through the day and go to the toilet just before bed. If they wake up saying they're thirsty give them a drink of water, but don't let them guzzle it, or they might end up having an accident.

My child wakes up worrying

It's not unusual for primary school children to wake up worrying, after all they have lots of things on their mind, from friendship to their school work. If they wake up like this in the night, sit them down and explain that it's alright and they have nothing to stress about. Reassure them that you'll talk through all their concerns with them in the morning.

Tips:

• Be interested in everything they do. Kids will often hold back if something is bothering them, so make sure you talk through all the different things they do at school and then if they act differently when they are talking about something, like an upcoming test, you'll be more likely to pick up on it
• Offer to help - for example, if it's a maths test they're worried about, then give them some extra help with their homework
• Help them come to a solution. Support them in coming up with a way to solve their worries, rather than simply solving them for them
• Be a good role model! If they hear you fretting about things, then they are likely to pick up on that attitude, so try to stay calm around them and show them the best way to cope with stress

My child won't fall asleep alone

If getting your child to sleep on their own is proving to be the biggest problem for you, then don't panic. There are lots of ways you can make their room seem like a nice place to be on their own and soon they'll be happy falling asleep by themselves. It's unlikely that it'll be an overnight process, especially if you have been staying with your child until they fall asleep.

But, try things like music or audio books as they will take their mind off the fact they are being left alone. Also try putting softly glowing toys on the ceiling in their room to keep them entertained. And, if you have been sitting with them until they fall asleep, gradually decrease the amount of time you spend with them.

How do I know if my child has a sleep disorder?

Detecting a sleep disorder in a child can be quite challenging for a parent, says Dr Tim Ubhi, consultant paediatrician and founder of The Children’s e-Hospital, "but a child with an obstructive air way problem may present with snoring or increased work of  breathing.

"This together with other types of sleep disturbances (including sleep walking and similar conditions which we call parasomnias) result in a disturbed sleep cycle. This can result in a child who is tired through the day, irritable and who has poor concentration."

The most common types of child sleep disorders include:

• Snoring
• Obstructive sleep apnoea
• Bed wetting
• Poor sleep hygiene
• Parasomnias which include sleep walking, night terrors and nightmares

But luckily, unlike some other more serious child sleep disorders, there are indicators and ways to prevent this from affecting your child in the long term.

What are the warning signs?

While these could be the indicators of something else, Dr Ubhi says, "A poor sleep pattern will result in a child who is tired during the daytime, lacks concentration and who may be unusually irritable."

What can you do about it?

As with any serious worries you have about your child, our medical expert suggests that parents discuss concerns with their health visitor or GP, who can then arrange a referral to a paediatric specialist.

As consultant paediatrician, Dr Tim Ubhi tells GoodtoKnow,  "There are strategies that can be employed for conditions such as sleep walking but for conditions such as obstructive sleep apnoea or snoring we usually need to monitor the child’s oxygen levels overnight to ensure that they are not getting significant airway obstruction.

"This can be corrected if it is picked up and usually requires input from an ENT doctor. A simple measure that all parents can employ is to introduce good sleep hygiene for all their children. Remove any stressors from their environment and ensure that they are free from electronic devices for an hour or two before bedtime."

Although troubles with children's sleep can be worrying, it's important to remember that a child might be struggling to sleep because of external factors such as too much light in their bedroom, or too much sugar before bed. Panicking about their sleeping habits will only stress them out further, so it's best to stay calm.

As long as you think your child is getting enough sleep and they aren't over-tired during the day, then you don't need to worry - it'll probably all fall into place on its own.

One of the hardest things about having a baby is the host of sleep problems that come along with your newborn.

Baby sleep problems are a common and exhausting dilemma faced by lots of new mums, made all the more frustrating ironically by the lack of sleep you're getting yourself.

After overcoming their first night and going through something that has come to be known as second night syndrome, baby sleep problems can begin to develop on a long-term basis.

In a bid to answer the most frequently asked baby sleep questions, we spoke to Pampers sleep expert Wendy Dean and Kiddies' Kingdom parenting expert, Jumaimah Hussain, to give us some baby sleep advice and share her tips on how to get your baby to sleep.

From dealing with babies who need to be fed throughout the night, rocked to sleep, or who can only sleep sitting up, to whether or not to use a dummy, they've given us some great ideas and insight.

Because at the end of the day, you can have the best cot on the market and all of the baby mobiles and sleep aids in the world, but there could be a more serious problem as to why your baby isn't sleeping.

Your baby sleep problems solved

My baby won't sleep in a cot

Every time I put them in the cot they wake up and start crying again. How can I get them to sleep in their cot?

Pampers sleep expert, Wendy Dean says, "Each time your little one wakes and starts to cry, pick them up and soothe until they are quiet. Put them back in their cot again before they falls asleep in your arms.

"Keep repeating until they eventually fall asleep lying down on the mattress.

"It will be hard work and could take up to 3 hours on the first night, but with perseverance they will start to sleep on the mattress for a good length of time."

It's also good to note that a good-sized moses basket, kept in the same room as you sleep in, is the best way to make sure your baby is sleeping safe and sound.

My baby is waking early

My baby wakes really early in the morning, but how can I get them to sleep longer/later?

"Check that your baby really is waking too early. The 'normal' range for a baby to wake up is between 6am and 8am." Wendy advises, "Getting up at 6am may be a bit early for many of us, but you may have to live with it for a bit until your baby gets older.

"If your baby is waking before 6am, try and leave them in the cot to as close to 6am as you can. This is particularly important if they're not crying as they may well surprise you and go back to sleep.

"If your baby is crying, then go in and soothe, but keep the lights off and the mood quiet until 6am and if your baby is on solid food, try not to feed milk until after 6am."

I rock my baby to sleep but want to stop

My baby likes to be rocked to sleep, but how can I break this habit without upsetting them too much?

"Rock your baby as normal, but put them down before they actually fall asleep. If they cry when they go on the mattress, pick them up and rock again." Wendy says, "It will take some time, but eventually your baby will start to fall asleep on the mattress instead of in your arms. You can then start to reduce the length of the rocking sessions."

My baby won't nap during the day

Or when they do it's only for 20 minutes. Most of my friends' babies sleep three hours a day!

Some babies need less daytime sleep than others, Wendy tells GoodtoKnow. "So if your baby is happy and content throughout the day, then I wouldn't worry about it.

"However, if your little one is cranky and obviously over-tired then they may have an issue with settling off to sleep.

"A good way to check is to look at bedtime. Do they go down awake with no crying and fall asleep on their own with you out of the room?

"If not, then work on that and the naps should happen a lot easier."

My baby won't sleep at night

They keep nodding off during the day, but won't sleep properly at night. How can I swap them around?

This is usually a problem for newborns who have not worked out the difference between night and day, Wendy says.

"Wake them every 3-4 hours to feed through the day (but not at night). Make sure that the room is light when they sleep during the day and dark at night. Take them out for plenty of fresh air through the day and attend activities in the local area.

"These actions combined should mean that they are awake more during the day and then will sleep better at night."

My baby is sleeping with a dummy

They love it, but how can I get them to sleep without it?

"Dummies can be useful up to around 4 months, but after that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages." Wendy warns, "If a baby falls asleep with the dummy in, then when they wake through the night (which all babies do as part of their natural sleep cycle) they look for it again and can't get back to sleep without it.

"There is also good scientific evidence that babies who use dummies experience more coughs, colds, chest infections, ear infections and stomach upsets than babies who don't.

"The best way to get rid of a dummy is to just ditch it. Most babies have forgotten about it in around 3 days."

I sometimes feed my baby back to sleep

Is that a bad thing?

"Obviously very young babies need to feed through the night.

"However, if each time they fall asleep they do it on the breast or bottle, they lose the ability to fall asleep without milk which has implications when they get older and no longer need a night feed.

"If possible try and rouse your baby before you put them in bed, so that they then have to re-settle themselves to sleep."

My baby's nappy needs changing in the night

My baby's nappy leaks at night because it gets so full. I don't want to change them in the night because it wakes them up. Is there any other solution?

"If mums use a good quality nappy, like Pampers Baby Dry, it should not be necessary to change the nappy all night because of the advanced liquid-holding technology built into the nappy. If it does leak, it may be that mum is not using the right size.

"Babies come in all shapes and sizes which is why there is an overlap in the weight ranges on the Pampers products. If you are using a size 3, but your baby is also in the weight range for a size 4, consider trying that size."

I'm worried about my baby rolling over in their sleep

My baby rolls onto their front, gets stuck and screams until I go in as they doesn't know how to roll back yet. What can I do?

Wendy says, "This is a frustrating time and most babies and parents go through it. Each time your baby gets stuck, swiftly turn them over without making too much contact and then leave the room again or go back to bed if they're still in with you. Repeat as many times as necessary until they go back to sleep.

"Through the day include lots of tummy time so that they can practice rolling back the other way.

"It is a phase and as long as you don't introduce any 'props' such as feeding each time they get stuck or popping a dummy in, it will pass."

Also to keep them safe, be sure that their cot meets the safety standards issued in the UK.

Are cot bumpers safe?

My baby gets its legs stuck in the cot, but I don't want to get a bumper because I'm worried about their safety. What can I do?

Wendy advises, "Each time your baby gets stuck, move them back to a comfortable position, quietly and in the dark.

"When they get older this will no longer be a problem because they will be able to adjust and fall back to sleep on their own. It could take a few weeks.

"If your baby also bangs his/her head when stuck and you're worried, there are now several products on the market which wrap each individual cot bar and so prevent any suffocation risk. This sort of bumper also can't be used as a leg-up to climb out of the cot!"

My baby is fighting sleep

In the middle of the bedtime routine, I know my baby should be getting drowsy. But instead they are crying, trying to move around as much as possible and fighting sleep. 

Depending on the cause for fighting sleep, parents should move their baby’s bedtime to adjust their routine slightly, Jumaimah Hussain, parenting expert at Kiddies Kingdom says. "If you suspect they are overtired, put them down earlier, encouraging them to feel relaxed and drowsy with a bedtime story or lullaby.

"However if they do not seem sleepy in the evening, then try moving bedtime later or extending their wind-down routine. Likewise, introduce naps accordingly; for example, if they have been used to taking two naps a day then try dropping this down to one to help tire them out. 

"For separation anxiety, find a balance between providing comfort and reassurance but also giving the baby space. Holding back during periods of unrest will teach them to self-soothe and in turn reduce the need for parental attention."

But the idea of babies fighting sleep is by no means a rare issue, as our parenting expert explains.

Why do babies have difficulty sleeping?

There can be many reasons why a baby might refuse or fight sleep but the most common, according to Jumaimah, is because they are overtired.

"Just like adults, if a baby doesn’t get the required sleep, it becomes delirious and becomes too tired to fall asleep. Babies and young children have a specific ‘sleep window’ where they naturally become drowsy and if they miss this window or a nap interferes with their routine, they will struggle to fall asleep."

However, "on the flip side, a baby may fight sleep if they have had sufficient naps and simply aren’t tired. Getting this balance right can be hard for parents as it requires a strict routine and a lot of persistence. 

"As a baby approaches the eight-month mark, they often adopt separation anxiety which can also lead to them fighting sleep. The need for parental contact usually peaks around 18 months but if it’s not managed properly, it can cause sleep disruption right through to early years."

Medical reasons

But as well as being overtired or having too much sleep, there are some medical conditions that could be stopping your baby from sleeping. As Jumaimah says, "The majority of sleep issues are caused by temporary factors such as temperature, appetite or change in routine; these are often isolated incidents (not persistent) and are nothing to worry about." 

The most common medical condition that affects baby's sleeping habits, Jumaimah says, is infections. 

"This can range from well-known and easier to spot infections such as ear infections and yeast infections, to more unusual problems like parasitic infections, also known as pinworms."

Breathe and respiratory irregularities are also a common cause for disturbed sleep and something that should be monitored if persistent.

"If coupled with hiccupping, bringing up milk and not gaining weight, lack of sleep may be a sign of acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease, again, something that should be monitored and flagged to a paediatrician."

Signs of sleep disorders in babies

Much like the signs of sleep disorders in older children, if babies are really struggling to sleep when they reach over six months old then they might be suffering with a sleep disorder.

"If a baby requires a copious amount affection and physical contact in order to fall asleep, this is called separation anxiety." Jumaimah Hussain, parenting expert at Kiddies Kingdom tells GoodtoKnow. "This is where a child has not learnt to ‘self-soothe’ or calm themselves at night, but rather relies on someone else to do so.

"This can be taught over time by slowly reducing physical attention given during the night, a technique that is not to be confused with letting them ‘cry it out’."

Alternatively, it could be a condition called sleep apnea. "If a baby snores loudly or stops breathing for periods of 10 seconds or more whilst asleep, they are likely to be suffering with sleep apnea. Other indications of this include sleeping with an open mouth, excessive sleeping during the day, exhaustion and becoming less responsive.

"If parents spot one or more of these signs they should see a doctor as soon as possible as if left unmonitored, sleep apnea can lead to long term behavioural and health issues." 

As with anything concerning that relates to your baby, the best way to deal with it is to consult your GP or health practitioner.

As any parent who's had to deal with a grumpy child during the day will know, it's incredible important for kids to get a decent amount of sleep. But how much is enough?

The question of how much sleep children need is one that's been long debated over the years, with medical experts and parents weighing in...and kids just wanting to stay up for five more minutes.

If they're used to going to bed when they want, they aren't going to like you changing their bedtime. So stay firm and be prepared for a few tough nights.

READ MORE: What is baby sleep training? The most popular bedtime routines explained

And just think, you could soon have the TV (and the sofa) all to yourself!

Have you lot really little ones who are struggling to sleep? Our baby sleep guides cover everything from the moses baskets to buy and how to start dream feeding right to the ultimate baby sleep guide, ideal if you're at a loose end with a newborn.

Here's our guide to what time to get little (and big!) ones in bed, along with our recommendations for how to make a bedtime routine a little easier.

How much sleep do children need?

You might be wondering how much deep sleep your little ones need and therefore what time you should be sending them off to bed. It's important to agree a reasonable time with your child, and communicate to them properly when their bedtime is.

You can't expect a 10 year old to go to bed at 7pm, but they shouldn't be staying up until 11pm either. No matter what anyone tells you, especially your child, children need more sleep than you do.

Bedtimes according to age

This guide from the NHS shows how much sleep kids need in hours and minutes, looking at both day and night from birth to being a teenager.

One week Daytime hours: Eight hours Night time hours: Eight hours and 30 minutes

Four weeks Daytime hours: Six to seven hours Night time hours: Eight to nine hours

Three months Daytime hours: Six to seven hours Night time hours: Eight to nine hours

Six months Daytime hours: Three hours Night time hours: 11 hours

Nine months Daytime hours: Two hours and 30 minutes Night time hours: 11 hours

12 months Daytime hours: Two hours and 30 minutes Night time hours: 11 hours

Two years Daytime hours: One hour and 30 minute Night time hours: 11 hours and 30 minutes

Three years Daytime hours: 45 minutes Night time hours: 11 hours and 30 minutes

Four years Night time: 11 hours and 30 minutes

Five years Night time: 11 hours

Six years Night time: 10 hours and 45 minutes

Seven years Night time: 10 hours and 30 minutes

Eight years Night time: 10 hours and 15 minutes

Nine years Night time: 10 hours

10 years Night time: Nine hours and 45 minutes

11 years Night time: Nine hours and 30 minutes

12 years Night time: Nine hours and 45 minutes

13 years Night time: Nine hours and 15 minutes

14 - 16 years Night time: Nine hours

Why should you never wake a sleeping baby?

"New parents are often told to never wake a sleeping baby and, whilst this rings true in most cases, the repercussions are not as detrimental as some myths make out." Jumaimah Hussain, parenting expert at Kiddies Kingdom tells GoodtoKnow.

But during a baby's first months, it's important to prioritise their sleep and take advantage of the downtime it gives parents.

Jumaimah says, "As you would expect, stirring a sleeping baby will make them agitated and unsettled, so parents should only do so if it is really necessary.

"However, some exceptions do apply. If a baby is sleeping regularly throughout the day but struggles to settle at night, parents will need to wake them to protect their evening routine. Likewise, if they are due or have slept through a feed, they will need to be woken as to not disrupt their feeding pattern.

"This is more prevalent with new borns as they need to be fed around once every three hours in order for them to gain sufficient weight."

Should babies nap after 5pm?

As to whether babies should nap after 5pm, it's all about making sure that their natural biological response that makes them want to go to sleep is triggered.

Heather Darwall-Smith, London Sleep Centre sleep & insomnia therapist says, "Alongside light exposure, our sleep drive is a natural biological response that makes us want to go to sleep. Without enough of this drive, adults and babies alike aren’t able to settle easily or sleep for long.

"So, think about the timing and length of naps. Naps are important, but naps late in the day can reduce the sleep drive to send baby to sleep at bedtime."

To protect a baby's sleep drive, a baby sleep aid could be beneficial. This could be something as simple as baby black out blinds, which will block out any unwanted light exposure and help your baby (and perhaps, you too) sleep for longer.

Child sleep age chart

If you're looking to work out how much sleep your child needs, a sleep age chart or calculator is a good way to work it out.

This one from home specialists Hillary's is perfect, as it works out what time your child should go to bed based on their age and the time they need to wake up at. Ideal to get them wide awake and alert for school on time, it works for all children aged four and above.

How can lack of sleep affect children?

Getting the right amount of sleep for a child can be as important as healthy eating and regular exercise to ensure that they're developing properly.

When children don't sleep enough it can affect other parts of their lives like concentration at school or craving sugary foods in the day. It's important to get your little one off to bed at a decent time and in a good routine to ensure that they can make it through the day, cutting down on over-tired tantrums and difficult behaviour.

A new study has revealed that the earlier your child goes to bed, they are less likely to become obese later in life.

Sarah Anderson, an associate professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University said, 'Preschool-age children whose bedtimes are at 8 or before were half as likely to be obese 10 years later.'

Researchers tracked the sleep of children at the age of four-and-a-half-years-old, and compared this to the child's BMI at the age of 15.

There was a clear between healthier weights of teens, if they had grown up with earlier bedtimes.

Getting children into a bedtime routine

So now we know how much sleep kids need, how exactly do we get them off to sleep? It's important for babies to have a routine and there are many ways you can settle them down to sleep safely in a good quality cot. But older children also need to be lulled into sleep and given the opportunity to wind down and relax.

However, it has to be appropriate for their age and your lives. It should also involve things they like doing too. Reading stories together, or listening to audio books can calm them down very quickly. So can a hot drink and a cuddle, or chatting about their day.

You can negotiate a slightly later bedtime during school holidays or for special occasions, but make sure they understand these are occasional events, not a sign you're getting soft!

Warn them in advance

It's only fair to let little ones know what you're planning and why. Explain that you don't think they're getting enough sleep and from now on, bedtime will be at a fixed time, every single night. They can complain all they want, but you're in charge and you won't be changing your mind.

Make bedtime a pleasure not a punishment

Children love hearing about what you've been doing, especially if they've been at school or you've been at work and they haven't seen much of you. Putting aside a few minutes to chat about both your days could help make bedtimes something to look forward to.

Ignore the phone during this time if you can. It will distract you both too much.

Build in 30 minutes reading time if they complain they aren't tired. This can be a great way to encourage them to read the best books for kids, favourites old and new, and strengthen their love of reading. But make sure their light gets switched off at an agreed time.

Listen to their complaints

When they complain about going to bed , which they will - don't ignore them.

Be kind but firm in what you say to them. Children often think staying up 'late' is a sign they're growing up so be sensitive to this. Point out that they still go to bed much later than younger brothers and sister and give them a bedroom clock so they can see for themselves what time it is.

If they can't tell the time this should encourage them to learn!

Common bedtime problems solved

If they keep getting out of bed or coming into your bed Just take them back to bed, however many times it takes. We know this could be exhausting so start at the weekend when you don't have to get up for work or school. And remember, consistency is key here.

They're wide awake for hours If they're used to staying up late, it will take time for their body clocks to adjust to an earlier bedtime so let them read until they're sleepy and stay firm. Don't be fooled into thinking they don't need 'much sleep.' It's far more likely they're just hyped-up and over tired.

And while these might not be quick fixes, they are great to help settle children in for a peaceful night's sleep.

If you're looking to buy a cot bed for your little one, there are a few rules and regulations to follow before buying it including some hidden dangers which its best you are aware of.

Cot bed safety is always a parents' biggest concern, especially because of the concerns over dangers such as SIDS. We'll spend hours trawling websites for the five-star kids products and pour over reviews and recommendations before parting with our cash, in the knowledge that we're making the best possible choices for our child. Unfortunately, however, sometimes companies can get it wrong.

When it comes to buying a cot bed for your little one, it really is best to make sure its as safe and as practical as possible. It's all about keeping your baby safe and comfortable so they have the best sleep possible.

Here are three crucial cot bed checks you really must do before buying to make sure you've got the best cot bed safety possible.

Cot bed safety checks

1. Width between bars

The space between the bars should be no more than 6.5cm to prevent your baby from getting stuck. This is particularly important to remember when buying a second hand cot bed, which might not adhere to the latest safety standards.

2. Height adjustable base

This allows you to alter the height as your baby grows, keeping him or her secure from a little baby to when he or she can pull themselves up to stand. The distance between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot sides should be at least 50cm, to prevent your baby from climbing out when they become more mobile. You need to make sure that your baby’s arms or legs cannot get caught down the side of the cot or between bars.

Psst! We've rounded up some of the best cots currently on sale including Mothercare and John Lewis' most popular cot beds.

3. Drop sides

It is worth considering whether you want fixed or drop-sides. US safety regulations on cot beds were changed in June 2011, banning drop-sides after a series of babies were killed after being trapped beneath them. British nursery furniture experts state that the differences in UK cot bed design mean that it would not be possible for incidents like those in the US to happen on a British-made bed - but if you're still worried, fixed-side cot beds are are available instead.

4. Circulation

Some experts recommend cots with four sides that have bars to allow air to circulate freely around your baby when they sleep.

5. British Safety Standards Code

When buying a cot, you need to look out for the British safety standards code: BSEN716 which should be on all cots as well as the BSI number: BS 1877-10:1997 for the mattress for your cot.

Not only should you look at your cot when thinking about cot bed safety, but you should make sure the mattress follows British standards too. The firmer the mattress, the better. There's no need for duvet or toys etc. in your little ones bed to start with either. Keep it simple and safe. Our guide to baby bed safety explains more.

Concerns surrounding kids' cot beds have come to light after a particular item was recalled from sale when it nearly caused the deaths of two young children. The Baumhaus Nutkin cot bed was recalled from sale in 2013 after two children were seriously injured. The Nutkin cot bed, by Baumhaus, was pulled from stores after the bed brought two young children 'very close to serious harm or death'.

The concerns were the potential 'trap-hazards', i.e. places where children could trap their head and neck in the gaps at the top, and their fingers in the drill holes. It was also concluded that children's clothes could snag on the sides of the bed, also potentially trapping them.

READ MORE: Best baby sleep aids to help babies sleep through the night

Although the original design was recalled, there is a new, modified version still available for around £500.

More recently the Baumhaus boss, who is facing a £20,000 fine or possibly even a prison sentence, admitted that there may still be some potentially dangerous cot beds in use. Speaking to consumer watchdog, Which?, he said that while 93 per cent of the cot beds have now been recalled, a small number could still be in use.

If you still have one of the recalled Baumhaus Nutkin cot beds, get in touch and they'll organise a collection for you.

Alternatively, you could opt for another type of safe baby sleep bed. Moses baskets that meet safety guidelines are certainly a good option for example.

Which cot mattress is the safest?

While there are many different types of baby cot mattresses to choose from, The Lullaby Trust suggests that babies sleep on their own one in the same room as their parents or caregivers, at least for the first six months of their life. Mattresses need to be clean and dry, as well as free of cracks and tears to the fabric.

It's also been advised...

• Baby mattresses should be firm, with no sagging around the edges and fit the cot without any gaps.
• As mattresses come in two sizes, standard and continental, and so they should comparatively fit the size of cot that you have at home.
• Baby cot mattresses need to be kept as clean as possible, so having one that has a wipe-clean covering or removable top that you can wash at a high-temperature is optimal.
• While soft mattresses might sound like a cushion for your baby, they need to have one that's firm rather than soft. As such, it should be no thinner than 8cm.
• All baby mattresses should carry the BSI number BS 1877-10:1997.
• Do your research - test all the different types like foam, spring-interior and coir cot mattresses. Test out as many as possible before picking the one that works for you.

Are old cots safe?

Older and second hand cots are a great option if you're looking to cut down costs as they can often come from family or second hand shops. Largely, they are safe but it needs to conform to current safety standards. This means that if you're going to buy an old or second hand cot that has had a few years use, there are some things you need to look out for...

• If it's an old painted cot, it might need to be stripped down and repainted. Older cots could have been painted with lead paint, which is toxic and dangerous to young babies.
• Does it have a drop-side mechanism? Best to give it a miss as the mechanism could be unsafe.
• Any decorative stickers or items on the inside of the cot need to be immediately removed as they could be a choking hazard, especially to newborns.
• Naturally, check for any jagged ends or breakages that could create a sharp edge, as these could hurt your baby.
• Make sure that the bars on the cot are vertical, rather than horizontal, as babies could climb these and escape from their cot.

Drop side cribs: Are they safe and legal?

The USA made drop side cots illegal in 2011, due to a number of incidents which tragically resulted in infant deaths in some cases. This was largely down to non-functioning, cheap, plastic safety mechanisms that went on to break and create a dangerous V-shape gap between the mattress and the drop-side rail. However in the UK, detailed and rigorous testing is undertaken on drop-side cots to ensure their safety to young babies.

In 2011 and 2013, the British and European safety standard of cot EN716 was re-visited and additional safety requirements were added to make sure that drop side cots would stay safe. For example, the mechanism on the cot now has to auto-lock on both the top or bottom positions with another two actions required to unlock and lower or raise the rail.

So while EN716 drop-side cots might be banned in the UK, they are in fact safe and legal in the UK and due to the many years of testing and increased requirements, parents continue to buy them everyday.