Prepare their sleep environment
Black out blinds and sleep sounds like white noise can all help to transform their nursery into a womb like environment. As most of their sleep rhythm is in the REM stage (Rapid Eye Movement) this means light sleep so you want the most serene atmosphere to encourage them to drop off into a deeper sleep mode. White noise can mask other sounds in the house whilst not being too distracting for the baby. You can also try soft lullaby music too, every baby is different!
Drop the temperature
Generally we all sleep better in a cooler room. The optimum temperature is recommended between 68° and 72°F (20° to 22.2°C). Maintaining a safe room temperature for your baby is important because it reduces the risk of overheating. You can buy room thermometers for this. One of the best ways to check your baby’s comfort is to check how you feel in the room. If you feel comfortable in the room then your baby will too. Also make sure you don’t over dress your baby in too many layers.
Get ready for quick changes
The last thing you want to do is look for fresh cot sheets after nappy accidents in the dead of night. Prepare the cot with lots of layers: start with a waterproof sheet on the bottom then place a regular sheet on top. Then layer up again with a waterproof and regular sheet on top. By doing this you can easily remove the top layers and throw them in the laundry basket. You could always try disposable waterproof pads in between the regular layers instead and these can be thrown away. This definitely beats hunting through drawers in the dark and keeps your baby comfortable.
Share the sleep shifts
For both parents It’s important to try and get at least 4 hrs uninterrupted sleep. If you have a partner this can happen if you take turns to see the baby in the night. Even if mum wakes up to nurse, you can handle the nappy change before the feed. Say you went to bed at 10pm and slept until 2am, then your partner can sleep the early morning shift. Work out what works for you and your family.