Settling Techniques (For 12 Months to Toddlers)

Children are very different.
The following settling techniques are a guide only.
A consistent routine is important to help your child recognise and establish good sleep patterns. Developing a bedtime ritual will also help signal to your child that it is time for sleep, this may include saying goodnight to family members, cleaning their teeth, reading a bedtime story and saying goodnight to their soft toys.

When you observe your child's tired signs, prepare your baby for bed e.g
* Check the nappy
* Put your child in their bed/cot
* In order to help your child fall asleep by him/herself, you may find it helpful to understand normal sleep cycles and be able to identify their tired signs.

Tired signs may include :
* Grimacing
* Clenched fists
* Frowning
* Sucking
* Grizzling
* Rigid Limbs
* Yawning
* Staring
* Crying
* Jerky movements or becoming restless
* Minimal movements or activity
* Increased irritability e.g. whilst playing

A normal sleep cycle is approximately 40-60 minutes and some children will stir and re-settle themselves. However, some children who are dependent on their parent to help them fall asleep may have difficulty re-establishing sleep unless the same conditions for re-settling are met. For example, if your child needs the beast, bottle, dummy, cuddles or a complicated ritual to sleep, you may notice after one sleep cycle that he or she wakes and cries until the same conditions that he or she associates with falling asleep are re-established.

It can be difficult for children to learn to sleep by themselves. A consistent bedtime routine is important to help your child establish satisfactory sleep patterns.

When assisting your child develop a sleep pattern it is better to use levels of distress/cry as your guide to the need to comfort your child than adhering to a time schedule.

Day: quiet time (story), bedtime

Spend some quiet time with your child, either reading a story, singing a nursery rhyme or a quiet cuddle

Just prior to the agreed upon bedtime, tell your child that the story will finish soon

Ensure your child is adequately clothed specially for the night e.g. warm pyjamas, enough blankets or a sleeping bag

Having a favourite toy in the cot and a night light can help small children

Say goodnight and kiss your child. If in a cot ensure that the sides are up and securely in place prior to leaving the room.

Give your child an opportunity to settle. Leave the bed room door ajar. Try to leave your child for a short time.

If your child is not calming return to the room and reassure them, then lay him/her down and tuck in the bedclothes.

In a calm voice tell your child its time for sleep.

If the nappy is soiled or your child vomits, change with minimal fuss, then resume the settling technique.

You may have to repeat this for some time

During the day if your child still remains unsettled for the length of the sleep with frequent reassurance then cease settling. Try to avoid "old habits" when settling , like giving a bottle or dummy. Continue with the usual daily routine and settling at the next sleep. At night time continue with settling.

Settling Technique if your child is in a bed
Ensure your baby has a consistent bedtime routine.

Day: quiet time (story), bed

Night : dinner, bath, quiet time (story), bedtime

Place the child into bed - tuck in and say good night

Special toy may help your child settle

Tell the child what will happen if they get out of bed. Decide on this with your partner and be consistent.

If she/he gets out, put her/him back immediately with minimal fuss. Remain calm, but firm. If you get annoyed or angry they will become anxious, as they will think you are unhappy with them and not want to separate from you.

If the nappy is soiled or your child vomits, change with minimal fuss, then resume the settling technique

If your child wakes again, either the same night or the next night, go in again and resettle

You may have to repeat the above, often, for your child to settle

For all young children
If you wish to safely maintain physical closeness with your child while they are asleep, place their bed or a mattress on the floor beside your bed.

If your child continues to remain unsettled, consider other management techniques. For example, cuddle; rhythmical movement (walk or rock); baby massage; relaxation techniques; musics, or ofter a drink of water. Choose whichever technique suits you and your child best.

With consistency these routines may take up to two weeks to show progress.

Time given are a guide only

Source : Tresillian NSW

Settling Techniques (From 6 months - 12 months)

A consistent routine is important to help your baby recognise and establish good sleep patterns.

When you start to observe your baby's 'tired signs', it is time to prepare your baby for bed e.g:
* check their nappy
* put your baby in the cot - on their back - with their feet and bedding at the bottom of the cot.
In order to help your baby to fall asleep by him/herself, you may find it useful to understand normal sleep cycles and be able to identify their 'tired signs'.

Tired signs may includes :
* Grimacing
* Yawning
* Grizzling
* Rigid limbs
* Frowning
* Crying
* Sucking
* Clenches fists
* Squirming
* Staring
* Minimal movements of activity
* Jerky movements or becoming more active

A normal sleep cycle is approximately 40-60 minutes and then most babies will stir and re-settle themselves. However, some babies develop sleep associations and may have difficulty re-establishing sleep unless the same conditions for re-settling are met. For example, if your baby needs the breast, bottle, dummy, to be patted or cuddled or they have a complicated ritual to assist them to sleep, you may notice after one sleep cycle that your baby wakes and cries until the same conditions that they associate with falling asleep and re-established.

it can be difficult for babies to learn to sleep by themselves and various settling techniques may help the transition form wake to sleep. When assisting your baby develop a sleep pattern it is better to use levels of distress/cry as your guide to the need to comfort your child than adhering to a time schedule.

Self Settling Options
Give your baby an opportunity to settle. Try to leave baby, depending on their cry, for a short time. If distressed soothe to a calm state before leaving your baby.

Leave the room giving your baby an opportunity to self-settle

REMEMBER your baby is now older and you may need to leave him for longer periods as he learns to self-settle only if not distressed. Consistency in technique now becomes important.

If your baby does not calm with frequent reassurances - get baby up and continue your daily routine until the next sleep period and repeat your settling technique.

FOR ALL BABIES
If you wish to safely maintain physical closeness with your child while they are asleep put their cot in your room.

If your baby continues to remain unsettled - consider other management techniques. For example: offer a "top up" breastfeed with 30 minutes of completing the feed. Other ideas include " cuddling, rhythmical movement; walk or rocking; baby massage; deep relaxation bathing; play some music; a dummy; or offer cooled boiled water. Choose whichever technique suits you and your baby best.

With consistency these routines may take up to two to four weeks to show progress. Times given are a guide only.

For safety ensure cot sides are completely raised whenever a baby is left unattended in the cot.

Safety Information
(adapted from the "Kids & SIDS. Three ways to reduce the risk' pamphlet)
The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is increased if babies sleep on their tummies. The best position for babies to sleep in is on their backs.
* Put your baby on their back to sleep
* Make sure your baby's head remains uncovered during sleep
* Tuck in your baby's bedclothes securely
* Make up the bassinette/cot so that the baby's feet are positioned at the foot of the bed
* Quilts, doonas, duvets, pillows, soft toys and cot bumpers in the cot are not recommended
* Use a firm, clean well-fitting mattress
* Do not put your baby on watter bed or bean bag
* Avoid smoking near your baby
* Bed sharing is unsafe as your baby may slip under the bedding or into a pillow, become trapped between the bed and a parent or the wall, they may fall out of bed, become too hot from too much bedding or they may be rolled on by a sleeping parent. And of course, don't bed share if you have been drinking alcohol or are affected by other drugs.

Source : Tresillian NSW

Settling Techniques (For Newborn to 6 Months)

Babies are all very different.
The following Settling Techniques are a guide only.
Babies need to learn how to put themselves to sleep. Like most skills, it takes time and occurs at an individual rate. In the early months of life a baby has a need to be physically connected to their mother and other other significant family members. If this closeness is provided the baby learns to separate more easily from their parents as they can trust that in times of need the parent or other significant adult will come to their assistance.

Newborn babies' pattern are often unpredictable with irregular feeding and sleeping times, and generally babies do not establish a regular pattern till after 3 months of age. When assisting your baby develop a sleep pattern it is better to use levels of distress/cry as your guide to the need to comfort your child than adhering to a time schedule.

In the early weeks of life a baby will often fall asleep while being fed but then wake as soon as it is away from their parent's body.

A normal sleep cycle is approximately 40-60 mins and some babies will stir and re-settle themselves. However, some babies may need help to re-settle. When babies are overtired they may be more difficult to settle. An important starting point is to be able to recognise your baby's tired signs.

Tired signs may include :
* Grimacing
* Yawning
* Frowning
* Crying
* Sucking
* Clenched fists
* Staring
* Rigid limbs
* Squirming
* Jerky movements or becoming more active
* Minimal movements or activity

When you observe baby's tired signs, prepare your baby for bed:
Check your baby's nappy

Take care not to overheat

Position your baby in bed - on their back - according to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) guideline

0-3 Months :
If quiet, allow to settle. If crying introduce gentle stroking/cuddles until your baby calms

Swaddling your baby in a light muslin or cotton wrap may help and assist your baby to settle or to re-settle

Talking/singing but without eye contact can be reassuring for both you and baby

Most babies will take a while to settle

You may need to leave your baby for a brief time to see if he or she will settle on their own

If your baby is crying go in and comfort them

Often, you will have to do this several times

If your baby wakes under one hour attempt to re-settle them.

3-6 Months:
Self-settling involves comforting your baby in the cot or up-in-arm for short periods while also giving your baby the opportunity to fall asleep by himself/herself.

Your baby may initially protest and fuss when you leave the room. If you feel comfortable and your baby is not distressed. allow him/her the opportunity to settle himself/herself.

Listen to your baby's cry and respond accordingly. If your baby continues to fuss, return and comfort until your baby calms, before leaving the room.

For all babies
If you wish to safely maintain physical closeness with your child while they are asleep put their cot in your room.

If your baby continues to remain unsettled - consider other management techniques. For example: offer a "top-up" breastfeed within 30 mins of completing the feed; cuddle; rhythmical movement (walk or rock); baby massage; deep relaxation bathing; play some music; offer a dummy; or cooled boiled water. Choose whichever technique suits you and your baby best.

With consistency these routines may take up to 2 weeks to show progress. Times given are a guide only. For safety ensure the cot sides are completely raised whenever the baby is left unattended in the cot.

Source : Tresillian NSW