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Sleep Clinic

The key to sleep
One of the most useful things you can do to help your baby (and you) sleep through the night is to make sure that you put her down awake in the evening. If she settles to sleep alone, then she’ll settle herself when she wakes at night, and won’t need to call for you to give her a feed, a song, or a walk up and down the bedroom floor.

If your baby has been falling asleep in your arms, or you have been lying down with her, or rocking her, you will need to teach her to settle alone. This is sometimes called sleep training or controlled crying.

Some parents find the idea of leaving their baby to cry very distressing. That’s why it’s important to be determined.

You don’t want to change your mind after a few nights, because then you will have taught your baby that she can’t fall asleep alone. So don’t start a sleep programme if your baby is ill, or if you are going to be away from home over the next couple of weeks. The key is being consistent.

The first few nights will be difficult. Talk to your partner before you begin the programme; you will want to support each other if you get upset. You can also talk to your health visitor for reassurance either before you begin, or once you have started to be sure you are on the right track.

10 step sleep programme
Sleep training will help your baby settle in her cot, or when she wakes at night. Do the same things every night, or when your baby wakes, and remind yourself that the training is for everyone’s benefit.

1. Carry out your usual bedtime routine with your baby
2. Dim the lights and put your baby to settle to sleep in her cot
3. Leave your baby to fall asleep.
4. She will probably cry for you, but wait five minutes before you go back in
5. Go back in to reassure your baby that you are around, that everything’s okay, and to let her know that it is safe for her to fall asleep. Pat her back, reassure her, perhaps tuck her in, but do not pick her up out of her cot. Leave the room again
6. This time wait ten minutes before you go back in and reassure your baby again
7. Gradually increase the intervals by five minutes before you go back in to her. The first night or two she may cry for what seems like a very long time. Get support from your partner if you become distressed. Don’t get angry with your baby or impatient; you’re trying to teach her that falling asleep alone is fine. Be calm and reassuring every time you go in
8. Keep going back in until your baby falls asleep
9. Follow the same plan every time she wakes during the night
10. Continue with the sleep programme for at least a week, but you should see an improvement after the first two or three nights.

The moving game
This is an alternative way of teaching your baby to fall asleep alone. It will take longer than the sleep training method described above, but may involve fewer tears all round.

1. Sit by your baby’s cot and hold her hand until she learns how to fall asleep this way. It may take a few nights, but then let your baby fall asleep in this way for a few nights.
2. Move your chair a little further away from the cot, and stay there until your baby falls asleep.
3. Gradually keep moving your chair a little further away each night. You will find yourself sitting outside the door eventually, but in a place where your baby can still see you.
4. Stay outside the door, but in a place where you can still talk to your baby and give her reassurance for a few nights.
5. You will a reach a point where your baby will fall asleep without you being nearby. It will work, even though it may take a few weeks!

For the next You and your growing baby guide Chapter, Your 10-month old, Click here