Sleep is so important for both babies and parents, and it’s usually one of the things that plays on the minds of new mums and dads the most.

Whether it’s a snoozy daytime nap or settling your little one down for the night, we’ve got you covered with this step-by-step guide to all things sleep.

First of all, what are the signs that your baby is tired?

• Yawning
• Jerky movements
• Becoming fussy, quiet, or not wanting to play
• Rubbing their eyes
• Crying
• Clenching their fists

Simple Sleep Tips

• Create a sleep-friendly environment

Getting your baby’s nursey ready is all part of the nesting process. You’ll undoubtably have your own aesthetic taste, but it’s important that your little one’s room is practical, cosy, and free from clutter that could distract them when bedtime comes around. It’s a great idea to browse sites like Pinterest for inspiration!

• Establish a routine

A bedtime routine is a great way for you and your baby to wind down at the end of the day. Having a bath, getting changed into snuggly PJs, cuddling up for a final feed, and reading a story all let your baby know that it’s time to doze off and will help them to form positive sleep associations over time.

• Turn down the lights

Low light levels and a soft glow make for a snoozy baby. It’s a good idea to make the distinction between night and day clear, using a black out blind in the summer months can really help! In addition, time spent in daylight, especially during the afternoon, often means that babies sleep better at night.

• Comfort is key

Offering your baby a soft comforter or a soother is a great way of letting them know that it’s time to sleep.

When it comes to dressing your baby for bedtime, newborns love to be swaddled as it mimics the cosiness of the womb. As your baby grows, Tommee Tippee Snuggles and Sleepbags are another great option as they’re tailor-made with wriggly arms and legs in mind.

• Dream feeds

Dream feeding is a strategy that could reduce how often your baby wakes up fully during the night. Basically, it’s a sleepy breast or bottle feeding session given to your baby when they’re drowsy, usually just before you go to bed yourself. To learn more about dream feeds, take a look at this guide from Healthline.

• Keep the noise down

It’s best for you to be boring and not too chatty when you’re getting baby off to sleep. Don’t feel like you need to tip-toe around – it’s good for them to get used to sleeping with some background noise and silence is unfamiliar to them – just make sure that it’s not too loud! Sleep aids that produce soothing sounds are a great way to support a calm atmosphere.

• Keep an eye on the temperature

Experts recommend that the perfect room temperature for a baby is between 16-20°C. It’s a good idea to bare this in mind when you’re choosing the perfect room to turn into a nursery. A colour-changing digital thermometer – like the Groegg™ – is a great way to put your mind at ease. By simply looking at it, you’ll know whether the room is too hot, cold, or just right.

• Safety first

The Lullaby Trust and Tommy's have tons of great infomation to help you keep your little one safe as they sleep. 

Introducing Tommee Tippee’s Dreammaker™ Sleep Aid

The Dreammaker™ is a super clever sleep aid that uses technology to get your baby into a deep sleep. What’s more, it can also help you drift off too!

Developed by a world-leading sleep laboratory to soothe your baby into a sound sleep, it emits an ambient and pulsing red glow that triggers the production of the sleep hormone melatonin and two pink noise settings that mimic the sounds your little one would’ve heard in the womb.

If baby does wake during the night, the Dreammaker™’s Intelligent CrySensor technology listens and automatically turns the device back, encouraging them the self soothe and drift back off to sleep.

Basically, it means that both you and your baby can rest up and dream on!