The A-Z Of Baby Sleep Solutions (That Every Parent Needs In Their Life)

We all have our different ways of soothing our children to sleep – and we’ve rounded up our favourite 26 to make sure both you and your bub get a good night’s kip.

A is for avoid eye contact
When feeding or soothing your baby in the middle of the night, avoid looking directly at your tot – or even talking to her. This will help her distinguish between day and night and learn that

B is for blackout blinds
The majority of parents find that blackout blinds work wonders as the darker the room, the better your bub will sleep.

C is for controlled crying
This parenting technique isn’t for the faint hearted. It’s a tough method that can be emotionally trying – but it will give results. And quickly, too. Read more on this sleep training technique here.

D is for dream feed
Some baby sleep experts, and parents, are huge advocates of dream feeds – feeding your baby’s while she’s still asleep.

“Because a baby will only have one long sleep in 24 hours, you want it to be when you’re having your long sleep,” says baby sleep expert Jo Tantum.

“If you don’t give a dream feed, then your baby will wake up at around 12.30 to 1am. That’s when you’ve usually hit your deep sleep so it will feel really awful being pulled out of that sleep – and it can also mean that your baby will nap, and keep waking, for the rest of the night.”

E is for Ewan the Dream Sheep
A toy and a sleep aid in one, there’s a reason why Ewan the Dream Sheep is such a favourite with parents. It boasts actual womb and heart beat noises and a warming pink glow to help soothe your tot.

F is for feeds
How often your baby needs a feed each night depends entirely on her age – and metabolism.  “If your baby’s six months or older, a feed in the night can actually interfere with her sleep. At this age, because of the combination of weaning and milk, your baby gets enough nutrients during the day that she doesn't need anything at night,” says baby sleep expert Jo Tantum.

“If you have a baby that’s feeding a lot during the nighttime and is already three or four months old, then you can start, gently, weaning her off lots of feeds. But all babies are different and it obviously depends a lot on your little one’s weight – she needs body fat to get her through the night without waking.”

G is for Grobags
Grobag baby sleep bags are genius – and used by over 95 per cent of parents in the UK, making traditional top sheets and blankets a thing of the past. They’re created alongside baby sleep safety charity The Lullaby Trust, limiting the risk over suffocation or overheating.

H is for hungry
If your baby keeps waking, it may bee because she’s hungry. Simple as. Check to see if she needs a feed.

I is for ideal bedtime
Most experts advise that parents put their baby to bed around the 7pm mark, in the hope that they’ll sleep until 7am. Start the bedtime routine an hour before, so your bub has time to wind down with a bath, a book and a feed before you put her down.

J is for justification
There will be the odd night where you get your baby down later than usual or you need to bring her into the bed with you. It’s all part of parenthood and you shouldn’t feel like you have to justify every decision you make.

K is for keeping calm
There will be moments (usually when you’re up for the seventh time in one night) when you’re ready to throw in the towel and drop your bub off at your mum’s for a couple of days. Take deep steady breaths and remember that it happens to all of us – anyone who claims they haven’t experienced a melt down or two since becoming a parent isn’t telling the truth.

L is for lullaby
Even if you don’t rate your singing skills, the sound of your voice will help calm your baby before bedtime – or when she wakes in the night. To give you some inspiration, these are the top lullabies that parents sing to their child.

M is for massage
Giving your baby a massage isn’t simply a great way to bond, it’s a brilliant calming activity to build into your baby’s bedtime routine. Think how relaxed and ready-for-bed you feel after having a massage – that’s how your baby will feel, too.

N is for naps
Naps are really important for babies and young children, but get clued up on the best time for your tot to have her daytime snoozes.  

“Babies can only sleep for one long stretch during 24 hours, so obviously what you want to make sure to do is make sure that long stretch is at night,” says baby sleep expert Jo Tantum. “And you also want to make sure that it’s around 11pm-7am, which is when you’re having your deeper sleep. “Make sure she doesn’t nap too late in the afternoon or she’ll end up going to bed late.”

O is for overnight nappies
It’s definitely worth investing in good quality and really absorbent nappies that will keep your little one dry overnight. Chances are, a soggy nappy will wake her – and you.

P is for Peppa Pig
Screen time shouldn’t be your usual go-to sleep solution, but when it’s the only thing that will keep you little one quiet while you doze for another hour is OK on the odd occasion.

Q is for quiet
It’s pretty obvious, but keeping quiet while doing the night feed will help you baby realise that it’s still bedtime.

R is for routine
Babies love consistency and thrive from a good routine. Get in the habit of keeping nap times regular and also bedtimes – it will help your little one sleep through.

S is for swaddling
Swaddling is an age-old technique that makes babies feel really safe and secure – like they did in the womb. Because of just that, swaddled babies tend to sleep better and for longer. And hey, if it’s good enough for Prince George…

T is for temperature
Babies don’t need to sleep in rooms that are warmer than usual – they’re most comfortable when the temperature is around 18°C. Use a room thermometer to make sure your little one’s comfortable and try to avoid positioning her cot next to a window, where there may be a draft, or a radiator, where she may get too hot.

U is for understand
Understand how your baby sleeps. Not all babies sleep for the same length of time or in the same position. Some babies start turning onto their stomachs before they’re six months old. But once she’s made certain developmental advancements then it’s safe for her to.

V is for variation
You may always rock your baby to sleep or bouncing may work, but actually a variation of both can be the most effective solution. Sometimes the shift in motion distracts your baby enough to enable her soothe her to sleep.

W is for white noise
Most babies find white noise (i.e. the sound of the washing machine or the hum of an dehumidifier) really soothing – as it’s similar to the sounds they hear while in the womb.

X is for X-rated
Sometimes you need something a little out-there to put things into perspective, like hilarious parenting book ‘Go The F**K To Sleep’.  It’s pants-wettingly funny – but you probably shouldn’t read it to your tot.

Y is for YouTube
While advice you may find on YouTube and other social media sites shouldn’t always be followed, sharing sites like these can offer some great tips and tricks from fellow parents. Like the dad who used a piece of tissue paper to help soothe his bub to sleep in less than a minute. Genius.

Z is for zzzzz
You’ll get there. It may take a while for you to work out the best way to get your baby to sleep but eventually you’ll figure out the magic solution for your bub – and share it when you do!

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