Helping your baby sleep more: A realistic guide for tired parents

If your baby isn’t sleeping as much as you hoped, you’re not alone. One of the most important things to know is that frequent waking is completely normal, especially in the first year.

Every baby is different. Some sleep for long stretches early on, while others wake often for feeds, comfort, or simply because they are still learning how to sleep.

What you can do to encourage better sleep

1. Keep expectations realistic
Newborns wake frequently, and many babies continue to wake during the night well beyond six months.

2. Help your baby learn day from night
During the day, keep the house bright and active. At night, keep lights low and interactions calm and quiet.

3. Create a simple bedtime routine
A bath, feed, cuddle, and lullaby can help signal that it’s time for sleep.

4. Don’t worry about doing everything perfectly
In the early weeks, many babies fall asleep while feeding or being held. This is normal and temporary.

5. Look after yourself too
Sleep deprivation is hard. Accept help where you can and rest whenever possible.

Remember: Sleep is developmental. Your baby is not broken, and neither are you. With time, consistency, and support, sleep usually improves.

NHS Advice

The NHS offers excellent guidance on helping your baby sleep, including a short video on how much sleep newborns need: NHS: Helping Your Baby to Sleep

If you would like personalised support, Sleep etc. offers gentle, evidence-based sleep coaching to help your family get more rest.