More Baby Sleep Tips

Sleeping Outdoors: Except when it's chilly your baby will sleep quite happily outdoors, but make sure she's wrapped up and visible at all times and never place her in direct sunlight; choose a shady area or protect her with a canopy. If it is windy, put the hood up on the carriage or bassinet to act as a windbreak. A mesh net will protect her from insects.

Keep The Baby Comfortable: Your newborn will need to be changed often, and while she is sleeping she should wear something that gives you easy access to her diaper. An all-in-one stretch suit or nightdress - one with a drawstring at the end so it doesn't ride up her back - is best. It is important that your baby does not get too hot or too cold. In warm weather a diaper and an undershirt will be sufficient.

In the winter, you can check that your baby is warm enough by touching the back of her neck with your hand. Her skin should feel about the same temperature as yours. If she feels too hot and clammy, dress her in a lighter sleeper or remove a blanket.

Stimulate Sleep: Encourage your baby to sleep at night by tiring her out in the day with plenty of stimulation: talk to her, pick her up, and give her lots of different things to look at. If she wakes up a lot in the night because she is wet, use double diapers or diaper liners, and if she cries when you leave her, don't immediately return and pick her up. Rocking her cot, removing a blanket, or changing her position may be sufficient.

Early on swaddling or wrapping your baby in a shawl or blanket may help her sleep; the sensation of being tightly enclosed gives babies a great feeling of security. It is also a useful way of calming a distressed baby.

To swaddle your baby, you need a shawl or small blanket. Fold the shawl in half to form a triangle and lay your baby on it, aligning her head with the longest edge. Then fold one point of the shawl across your baby and tuck it firmly behind her back. Do the same with the other point. Tuck the bottom of the shawl back underneath your baby's feet to keep them covered.

The close wrapping holds your baby's arms in a comfortable position that feels safe and secure and may also help her sleep longer. If her limbs move while she is asleep, she is less likely to wake if swaddled. Not all babies like swaddling and if yours doesn't, don't worry. It is safe to swaddle your baby in cold weather, but keep a check on her temperature by touching her skin. Unwrap her right away if she feels or looks too hot.