Baby sleep expert shares 'magic ingredient' for getting newborns to settle

14 January 2024 , 14:55

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It can be really hard to get your baby to sleep (stock image) (Image: Getty Images)

One of the many challenges a parent faces when having a baby is trying to get them to sleep through the night.

All parents have been here. Your newborn has been awake for hours, rubbing their eyes, and yawning - but they just won't go to sleep. It can be incredibly frustrating for any parent, but it's important to remember that all babies are different - and although things might seem difficult now, they won't always be.

Luckily, there are things you can do to help your baby sleep. According to Heidi Skudder, Sleep expert and founder of Positively Parenthood, the key is to focus on your little one's "awake windows," rather than when they are sleeping, adding that this can be the "magic ingredient when it comes to improving sleep".

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Heidi said: "Newborns settle and sleep much more easily if they adhere to the awake windows. In fact, a baby's awake window can be the biggest magic ingredient when it comes to improving sleep.

"You don't need to stick to a super strict schedule as a schedule can come later on, but at around three months of age, your baby's awake window is one hour and 30 minutes, adding on 15 minutes or so for every month until they are one. Just knowing this will improve both how easily they settle and also, how long they sleep for."

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If you try to put your baby down for a sleep much later than their awake window, you might find they are "harder to settle to sleep," explained Heidi, who will be speaking at The Baby Show at ExCel London between March 1 and 3. She added: "For example, if you stick to their awake window - give or take - depending on poonamis and feeding (feeding is much more important than sleep in those early months), that will aid their sleep and help them and you to sleep better.

"So, it's about knowledge, knowing how long they can be awake for but not really putting too much pressure on it as what you don't want to be doing is stressing about a very strict routine in those early months."

According to Heidi, sleep is "directly linked" to a baby's comfort levels in the early days. So if your baby is still struggling to sleep, it might be because of wind, which is "one of the biggest reasons," for them not settling.

She added: "Contrary to the popular myth, all babies need winding including breastfed babies. Spend time before, during and after a feed winding and both your sleep and baby will thank you for it."

If your baby is still having trouble sleeping, or you need more advice about getting into a proper routine speak to your health advisor.

Ariane Sohrabi-Shiraz