You've got home from hospital with your little bundle of joy.  But try as much as you can you can't get baby into a good sleep routine.  You're beginning to experience broken sleep!  One in three babies can end up with sleep problems.  As a parent I have experienced sleepless nights and I know just how that feels.  You're exhausted, you try and catch up by cat napping at any opportunity during the day.  After a few weeks of this you can feel utterly exhausted.  It may also seem to you that your baby is sleeping less and less.

One important thing to remember is that in the early months babies need to feed regularly throughout the night and day as their stomachs are so tiny. As they grow so will their ability to sleep better and for longer periods.  It important to find a routine that works for you and your baby and to stick to it.

The obvious checklist:

• Nappy - does it need changing?
• Are they hungry?
• Are they cold?
• Do they have wind?

The not so obvious checklist:

• Are they thirsty?  In warm/hot climates this is could be a cause.
• Is there anything that might be distracting them? ie noise, light etc
• Do they have a pain? ie earache or have they started teething?
• Are they overtired?
• Are they too hot?  
  
• Is your day time routine contributing to a sleep problem at night?
• Is your baby hungry?
• If you're breast feeding, in some cases babies don't attach properly so they are hungry.

Some tips to get your baby to go back to sleep after a night feed:

• Be organised.  Have everything you'll need close at hand, so you can feed/change and pop back to bed as quickly as possible.
  
• Keep your voice soft and low.
• Keep distractions to a minimum.  Don't play with them.
• Put them straight back down as soon as they've fed.

Looking after YOU.

It's important that you also look after yourself.  If you're exhausted you will benefit from a break.  You could try playing some soothing music to muffle the baby sounds.  Or get a family member/friend to come over to stay with the baby whilst you go for a walk/do some shopping or sleep. 

Remember the only means of communication your baby has available is crying.  You will quickly learn what the different cries meanand yes there are subtle differences.

Available Help in Australia:

• Your child care centre nurse
• Your doctor
• Parentline, provides confidential phone counselling.  Phone 1300 30 1300  www.parentline.com.au
  
• Parenting Centres.  They help you establish a routine with your baby.
  
• Breastfeeding Association help line (Australia phone 1800 686 2686) www.breastfeeding.asn.au