Children's Bed News

Paediatrician offers baby sleep tips

An American paediatrician has offered sleep tips to parents wanting to give their young babies the best chance at a good night''s rest.

Speaking to the Great Falls Tribune, Deb Garrity highlighted the differences between all babies and their bedtime habits, ranging in the amount of sleep they need, how fast they fall asleep and how quickly they resettle after waking up during the night.

Ms Garrity highlighted the importance of consistency in sleeping times, adding comfort items such as stuffed toys or blankets for comfort and offering an open door or a night light for those scared of the dark.

When resettling the child, parents should increasingly delay response times and keep contact and talking to a minimum to slowly encourage independence.

She continued: "Parents need to try to establish good sleep habits for their children at an early age.

"Learning to fall asleep on their own is an important step in a child''s development."

Online resource Baby Centre emphasised the importance of cutting down a baby''s afternoon naps to encourage a deeper sleep overnight.