How do you sleep train a baby?

When it comes to sleep training, parents will use a variety of methods to teach their little ones to self-soothe. Some popular approaches include the CIO (Cry it Out) method, the Ferber method, and the Bedtime Fading method, amongst others.

While each sleep training method takes a slightly different approach, they are all focused on helping your baby sleep more independently and to calm themselves back to sleep when waking in the night. Typically, most methods take less than a week, and can make all the difference for tired parents!

How do you dress your baby for sleep?

When dressing your baby for sleep, it is important to ensure that there is no risk of overheating.

The NHS states that the ideal room temperature for a baby is between 16 and 20 degrees – by maintaining a stable room temperature and gently feeling your baby's head and tummy, you should be able to gauge if they are too warm.

Most babies will sleep in a vest as well as an added layer, such as a cotton onesie or pyjamas. In colder months, some parents will also use a sleep suit or baby grobag. However, their heads should never be covered and blankets should not be used until they are at least 12 months old.

How to get a baby to nap longer?

Getting your baby to nap and stay asleep can be a challenge, especially if they are prone to only short naps or bursts of rest.

One of the best ways to tackle a restless baby is through sleep training, which focuses on teaching babies to self-soothe upon waking. Babies who are sleep trained tend to wake up without immediately crying or becoming distressed, and may even send themselves back to sleep. As babies will naturally wake repeatedly during the nap time and night-time sleep cycle, this can be a great way to help them get longer, more restful naps in the daytime.