The erratic nature of newborn sleep can be challenging for new parents, and can impact their physical and mental wellbeing. Providing guidance to manage parents’ expectations, and giving advice around practical ways to encourage night-time sleeping can help parents cope through this challenging period. A multisensory bedtime routine comprising a bath, massage and a calm pre-sleep activity is a useful and proven way to help babies settle and establish or restore a good night-time sleeping pattern.

After studying this module, you should:

• Understand why babies take a few months to start sleeping longer during the night
• Appreciate how useful a bedtime routine can be and why
• Feel confident in supporting parents to help their baby to sleep at night