Subscribe to get ongoing, personalized support from certified Sleep Consultants in our Village. Say "yes" to better sleep!

We can help you through your baby’s sleep regressions!

We share our secrets to surviving the 4-month sleep regression and improving your little one's naps, settling ability and night sleep.

Download our free e-book

Baby Silas would only ever nap on his mum for 20 minutes at a time. He was also waking every 2 hours at night. But in just 4 weeks, his mum was able to get him napping longer in his crib and sleeping through the night! Find out how...

Silas, 5 months: Catnapping and waking every 2 hours overnight

Whatever your current sleep situation, we've got the tools, the information and the personalised support to help you and your little one reclaim those nights.

You CAN have a better night’s sleep!

Download our free e-book to get started with us on better sleep

This totally FREE e-book will support you through what to expect in the first few months of your child's life.

Download eBook - Newborn Sleep Guide

This 5 week old baby was catnapping during the day, taking hours to settle at bedtime and waking all through the night. Find out how we helped to get her settling easily and sleeping through the night in just a few weeks!

Khalia, 5 weeks: Catnapping and taking 3 hours to settle at bedtime

From the secret to great naps to self-settling methods that do not involve crying, we can help to get you through it!  
Say "yes" to better sleep!

Feeling like the 4 month sleep regression will never end?

Sleeping through the night - just in time for Christmas! Find out how new mum Kait resolved her baby's catnapping and frequent night wakes in just two days and got through the 4 month sleep regression with the help of our Baby Sleep Program. 

Callan, 6 months: His tired mum got the best Christmas present ever!

Download our free e-book to get started on your journey to better sleep!

In this totally FREE e-book you'll receive our best advice for napping, night sleep, sleep environment and self-settling.

Download eBook - 2 weeks to Sleep

Case study: Harry, 18 months & Emmy, 10 weeks | Discover how mum Lauren helped her toddler to sleep through the night and established great sleep habits for her baby that made the 4 month sleep regression a breeze!

Harry, 18 months & Emmy, 10 weeks: It's never too early or too late to establish great sleep habits!

Get guidance, advice & exclusive support through the sleep regressions, nap transitions and big sleep changes to come. 

Get your little one’s sleep back on track.

Before giving birth, Evie’s mum, Sascha, was told that newborns would simply feed and sleep when they needed to, all she had to do was follow her baby’s cues. So it was a bit of a shock when she brought little Evie home and they struggled with both feeding and sleep.

Evie, 6 weeks: From colic and purple crying, to a happy and settled baby overnight!

Getting back on track once your baby is well

Waking early from naps - usually between 10-30 minutes <a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/when-babies-nap">when they should be in a deep sleep</a>. If you’re confident that their awake times are spot on for their age and you know they have fed well before their nap, then it could be a sign of illness, especially if they are crying or screaming when they wake.

Waking more overnight. Babies who are sick usually wake more frequently in the first few hours after bedtime or in the early hours of the morning. Sometimes they can wake all through the night though, or they may just have one prolonged wake during the night.

No longer able to self-settle. If your little one is experiencing pain or discomfort, this can make it really hard for them to self-settle. Your baby may suddenly want you to feed, cuddle or rock them to sleep, or to stay in the room with them while they go to sleep.

Having smaller milk feeds, more frequently throughout the day

Repeatedly coming off the breast/bottle (often due to nasal congestion and difficulty breathing)

For older babies and toddlers, refusing solids or not eating as much as usual

Keep a close eye on your baby during their awake time. If they are getting tired and cranky before their usual nap time, pop them into bed earlier. Let them sleep through to their usual wake time, then get them up and do the same at their next nap if needed. Waking your baby from their naps helps to keep things on track for bedtime, and also ensures your baby isn’t sleeping the whole day away!

If your baby is still settling and sleeping well overnight, this suggests that they genuinely need the extra sleep during the day. As their health improves, you can gradually lengthen their awake times to get back to their normal nap routine.

If your baby is hard to settle at bedtime, waking more overnight or <a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/up-with-the-larks-tackling-early-waking">early in the morning</a>, this can be a sign that they are having <a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/over-under-tiredness-your-sleep-enemies">too much day sleep</a>. In this case, you might actually be better off sticking to your baby’s normal nap routine.

If your baby is only having small feeds, offer them more frequently throughout the day. If you are <a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/breastfeeding-benefits-nutrition-and-general-advice">breastfeeding</a>, you may want to switch to feeding your baby on demand while they are unwell.

Between 6-12 months old, you can offer your baby additional water throughout the day but breastmilk or formula should still be the priority. Using breast milk or formula to thin out purees or cereals, or giving your baby breastmilk popsicles, are other ways to increase their milk intake throughout the day.

Some toddlers can benefit from electrolyte drinks or popsicles, but talk to your doctor or pharmacist first to see whether this is appropriate for your little one.

Give your baby pain relief medication as directed by your doctor or pharmacist

Use a humidifier in your baby’s room during naps and overnight sleep. This adds moisture to the room which can make it easier for them to breathe, especially if they are congested or have a cough.

If your baby is congested, ask your doctor or pharmacist about using a saline nasal spray and/or a nasal aspirator (also known as a “snot sucker”!). This can help them to breathe easier during their feeds and sleep.

Give your baby a warm bath. A bath is not only relaxing and comforting, it can help to ease muscle aches and pains, and the steam from the bath can help with coughs and congestion too (test the bath with your elbow first to make sure it’s not too hot for your baby!)

Start by re-establishing your baby’s normal sleep and feeding routine. Some babies will naturally fall back into their regular routine but most will need a helping hand. You can either jump straight into their regular routine (keeping in mind they might be a bit more unsettled for the first few days) or tweak their awake times and naps by 10-15 minutes every few days to give them a bit more time to adjust.&nbsp;

If new, unwanted sleep habits have developed while your baby was unwell, like rocking/cuddling/feeding to sleep, you can gently guide them back towards self-settling again by gradually reducing your input at naps and bedtime. So instead of settling your baby all the way to sleep, try just settling them until they are drowsy and let them do the last bit of falling asleep on their own.&nbsp;

If you have an older baby or toddler who is now expecting you to stay in the room with them while they go to sleep, you can use a similar approach where you gradually move further and further away, until you are out of the room. Take it nice and slow and use your voice to soothe them if they get upset.

Let our sleep experts help you every step of the way. Together we can solve your little one's sleep challenges

Feeling confused about your baby's sleep needs?

Help your family to sleep better with the Little Ones App , trusted by medical professionals worldwide.

It's like having a sleep consultant in your pocket!

When your baby is sick, this can have a huge impact on their settling, sleep, feeding and behaviour. And it can be difficult to know how to help your little one during this time. 

What to do when your baby is sick

Medical reasons for poor settling and sleep

&nbsp;<a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/crying-over-spilt-milk-what-is-reflux">Reflux</a> (including<a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/silent-reflux-in-babies"> silent reflux</a>)

<a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/tongue-tied-how-a-small-piece-of-tissue-can-affect-your-baby-s-feeding-and-sleep">Tongue and lip ties</a>

Food allergies or intolerances (<a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/what-is-cows-milk-protein-allergy">cow’s milk protein</a> being the most common)

Only wanting to nap being held or upright in a carrier/pram/carseat.

Short, frequent feeds throughout the day and/or night (every 1-2 hours).

Waking within the first 10-30 minutes at naps, especially when sleeping on their back.

Waking frequently in the first half of the night from bedtime to midnight.

Waking frequently in the early morning, from around 3am onwards.

Crying or screaming straight away when they wake during naps or overnight.

Restless sleep - wriggling, kicking, grunting, lifting their legs, arching their back, crying in their sleep.

Difficulties settling - older babies will find it almost impossible to self-settle.

We want to lay it all out for you so you can stop guessing and worrying! After helping hundreds of thousands of families to improve their baby’s sleep, we can tell you what’s “normal” and what’s not when it comes to your baby’s sleep patterns. We’ll also share some steps you can take to get more sleep for your family.

Baby Sleep: What’s “normal” and what’s not...

Is it normal for a baby to…

When to tell your older child about the new baby.&nbsp;

How to prepare your child before baby arrives.&nbsp;

How to introduce a new baby sibling.&nbsp;

How to help your child adjust after bringing baby home

Invite your older child to help you prepare for the baby’s arrival - shopping for baby items together, choosing a special outfit/toy/comforter, helping to set up the nursery etc.

Involve them in decision making - who do they want to stay with while the birthing parent is in hospital? What are they going to pack for their stay? Do they want to meet the baby at the hospital or wait until everyone comes home?&nbsp;

Explain what it will be like when the baby comes home - they will mostly feed and sleep, they might cry a lot, we’ll have to change their nappy, they won’t be able to play straight away etc.&nbsp;

Read age-appropriate books that involve babies or new siblings.&nbsp;

Look at their old baby pictures together and talk about what they were like as a baby.

Visit friends or family who have babies so they can see first-hand what it will be like when their new sibling comes home.

Role play looking after baby with their dolls or teddies.

Talk to your child (in age-appropriate language) about how the baby is growing and what will happen once the baby is born - what will change, what will stay the same etc.

Encourage questions. Toddlers and younger children probably won’t need much encouragement but some older children might hesitate to ask questions, especially if they are feeling anxious.

Reassure your child that they are still important, they are still loved and that won’t change once the baby arrives.

Let your older child choose a nickname for their baby sibling (our older child chose the name “Rainbow” so Baby Rainbow it was!).

Encourage them to talk, read or sing to their baby sister or brother in your belly. From around 6-7 months, your unborn baby will be able to hear those external sounds and by full term their hearing will be much the same as an adult.

Once your baby starts to move around, you can invite your older child to feel when the baby moves or kicks. If they would prefer not to touch your belly though, respect their boundaries!

If your older child is due to begin toilet training, either start that process a few months before baby arrives OR hold off until a few months after baby comes home.&nbsp;

With a new baby on the way you might also be thinking of moving your older child out of their crib into a toddler bed now… BUT WAIT! If your child still fits comfortably in their crib and isn’t climbing out, we would actually recommend you hold off on this transition for as long as possible (you can read why in <a href="https://www.littleones.co/blog/transitioning-from-crib-to-toddler-bed">this article</a>). If it’s unavoidable, try to make the move a few months before the baby arrives so your older child has plenty of time to adjust.

Similarly, if you are thinking about having your older child start daycare/nursery once the baby arrives, even if it’s only a couple of days a week, you might want to consider starting this transition a few months earlier.&nbsp;

Don’t hold the baby straight away. Whether your child is meeting their new sibling at the hospital or at home, have someone other than the birthing parent holding the baby or lie the baby down in a bassinet or on a play mat for this first meeting.&nbsp;

Greet your older child first. Don’t jump straight into “come and see your new brother/sister”, greet your child like you usually would, ask them how they are, tell them you missed them etc. Focus all of your attention on them for the first couple of minutes, then ask them if they want to meet their new sibling.

Consider a gift exchange. If your older child has already picked out a gift for the baby, like a special outfit or toy, consider buying a gift in return “from the baby”. Obviously if your child is older they will know it’s not actually from the baby, but the gesture can still help to show your child that they are important and can help to prevent jealousy.

Keep things brief. Young children, especially toddlers, have a short attention span and after seeing the baby it’s very likely that they will want to go and do something else! Don’t try to force prolonged interaction - if your older child has had enough, let them go and play and welcome them back whenever they want to see the baby again.

Stagger your children’s schedules so that the baby goes to bed before your older child. This will give you some 1:1 time to reconnect at the end of the day.

Try not to do everything in the nursery or bedroom. Instead, you might want to feed your baby in the living room while your older child plays next to you or have your baby do one of their naps in the pram/stroller while you play with your older child outside.

Plan a special 1:1 outing with your child from time to time. It can be as simple as going to the park together or you might want to do something more adventurous like see a movie, go to the beach or have lunch out at a cafe or restaurant.&nbsp;

There is a LOT of growth and development that happens between the ages of 3 and 6 years and your child becomes a pretty amazing, pretty independent little human. There can also, however, be a raft of challenges that accompany these changes (and I know I don't have to tell you that!). 

In our comprehensive e-book we'll guide you through your little one's sleep, behaviour and development across these crucial years.

E-Book: Navigating the Preschool Years: Sleep, Behavior & Development for 3 to 6 Year Olds

Welcoming a new baby to your family is an exciting time but it can also cause a lot of stress and worry for parents and children alike. After all, this new baby is going to change your family dynamic, forever!

Helping Your Child Adjust to a New Sibling

Bringing home baby: Helping your older child adjust to a new sibling

When should I start setting up a nursery for my baby?

How much does it cost to set up a nursery?

Tips for nursery organisation and storage

In the UK, a 2019 survey of parents found that they spent an average of £853 on furniture, decor and bedding for their baby’s nursery (1).

In Australia, in 2020, the average cost of a basic nursery set-up was $1375 (2).

In the US, a 2019 article recommends budgeting $2000 for nursery basics such as a cot, changing table, feeding chair and bedding (3)

Consider buying second hand. For safety and health reasons, it is recommended to buy a new bassinet/cot/crib or at least a new mattress but most other items can be bought second hand.&nbsp;

Upcycle existing furniture. An old dresser can easily be converted into a change table/dresser combo and any comfy armchair can be used as a feeding chair.

Look for clever furniture hacks online using cheaper options from stores such as IKEA and Kmart.&nbsp;

Skip fancy bedding sets. All you really need is a mattress protector and some fitted sheets. It’s worth noting too that some of the pieces included in bedding sets, such as cot bumpers and pillows, are actually not safe to use when your baby is sleeping in the cot.

Decorate with free printable wall art. A few cute, framed prints can make any room feel more inviting. Start by checking out our free nursery print sets that come in four different themes... <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/littleones-prod.appspot.com/web_downloads/nursery/LittleOnes-NurseryPrintable-Animals.pdf">Animal&nbsp;Print Sets</a>, <a href="https://www.littleones.co/download/web_downloads/nursery/LittleOnes-NurseryPrintable-Bunnies.pdf">Bunny Print Sets</a>, <a href="https://www.littleones.co/download/web_downloads/nursery/LittleOnes-NurseryPrintable-Ocean.pdf">Ocean Print Sets</a>, and <a href="https://www.littleones.co/download/web_downloads/nursery/LittleOnes-NurseryPrintable-VintageWild.pdf">Vintage Wild Print Sets</a>.

Start planning early to keep an eye out for sales. Starting early also gives you more of an opportunity to shop around and score some bargains.

See if friends or family have baby items they no longer need. You will likely find people are more than happy for you to take their unused baby items away.&nbsp;

A comfortable feeding chair. Focus less on the style here and more on how comfortable it is - after all, you’ll be spending a lot of time in this chair! You’ll want to make sure the arm rests are at a comfortable height and padding helps too. Chairs that rock or glide can be helpful for settling your baby to sleep after a feed but aren’t really necessary.

A side/end table with a drawer. This is handy to store all manner of feeding-related items such as breast pads, burp clothes and snacks. It also gives you somewhere to keep a drink bottle or glass of water and your phone or a clock to keep track of the time.

Try to maintain a consistent room temperature through the use of a fan, air conditioner and/or heater with a <a href="https://www.littleones.co/pages/products-we-recommend?_pos=1&amp;_sid=0cad07d67&amp;_ss=r">thermostat</a>. Babies generally sleep best when the room temperature is between 18-20C.&nbsp;

Keep the room as dark as possible with the use of <a href="https://www.littleones.co/pages/products-we-recommend?_pos=1&amp;_sid=0cad07d67&amp;_ss=r">blackout blinds</a> or curtains as this will promote the release of melatonin - the hormone that helps us to both fall asleep and stay asleep. We recommend sleeping babies in a dark room for both naps and overnight sleep.

Get a dim <a href="https://www.littleones.co/pages/products-we-recommend?_pos=1&amp;_sid=0cad07d67&amp;_ss=r">nightlight</a> that you can use to navigate middle of the night feeds and nappy changes. We also recommend a white noise machine or app that can play continuous <a href="https://www.littleones.co/perfect-sounds">white noise</a> during your baby’s naps and overnight sleep. Some nightlights have an in-built white noise machine and some have a humidifier function as well.

Position the crib/cot away from windows and outside walls. This helps with temperature regulation since windows and outside walls can get chilly in the colder months. Positioning your baby away from windows also helps to prevent light waking them and keeps them away from blinds and curtains.

Follow safe sleep guidelines when setting up your baby’s cot/crib - use a firm mattress and avoid cot bumpers, pillows or loose blankets/toys.&nbsp;

Anchor tall or heavy furniture to the walls

Use a <a href="https://www.littleones.co/pages/products-we-recommend?_pos=1&amp;_sid=0cad07d67&amp;_ss=r">video baby monitor</a> to keep an eye on your baby while they are sleeping.

Use baskets on open shelves to store smaller items

Consider a cot/crib that has in-built drawers for storage or use baskets/tubs that will slide under the cot/crib.

Use baskets or drawer dividers in your baby’s dresser to easily sort clothing

Keep only what you need in your baby’s nursery. If you have clothing, books or toys that they are not ready for yet, pack them away in a wardrobe or in another bedroom until they are older.&nbsp;

As your baby outgrows clothes, move them to a plastic tub and when the tub is full, you can either store them for your next baby or sell/donate them.

Being a new parent can be overwhelming. You probably have lots of questions.

Find the answers to all your questions and more in our Sleep App to future-proof your newborn's sleep.

Need support figuring out your newborn's sleep?

Setting up a nursery for your baby

taking a LONG time to feed (45 minutes+) or excessive cluster feeding

frequent feeding through the day and/or night (less than 3hrs between feeds)

fussiness and arching away from the breast

inadequate weight gain or that horrible term “failure to thrive” (NOTE: this isn't always an indication and many babies with tongue ties can still gain weight well due to feeding more frequently)

recurring blocked ducts or bouts of mastitis

difficulties with let down (due to baby’s poor latch or weak sucking)

difficulties settling and sleeping on their back (due to reflux/wind)

reliance on feeding to sleep or using a pacifier/dummy to settle to sleep

waking early from naps (often in the first 30 minutes)

waking frequently overnight (every 1-2hrs or even more!)

Tongue tie facts & information | Symptoms and effects of ties | When to seek help | Little Ones™ Sleep Article

Jess Torrisi

Articles by this author