4 ways to help your little one sleep through the night
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Louisa Sherlock
Contributing EditorIt’s the one thing ALL parents want more of. Yep, we’re talking about sleep, or more precisely the lack of it as soon as your baby arrives.
If you’re seriously knackered, we’re here to help. We caught up with midwife Marley Hall who has worked with hundreds of parents struggling to get their baby to sleep through the night.
Watch Marley’s top baby sleep tips in the video, below, and read on for practical ideas you can try today.
Why do babies wake up at night?
Hmm, where should we start? From growth spurts to sleep cycles, teething and everything in between, there are lots of reasons your little one is up when they should be sleeping.
FREE NEWBORN NAPPIES
Marley says:
'Lack of sleep when you're a parent can be torturous. We know around two thirds of parents with babies over eight-months-old report their babies aren't sleeping through.'
While some night wakings are inevitable, there’s one sleep-stealing issue you can put an end to: your baby waking up because they are wet.
This is pretty common, not to mention very frustrating (for your baby and you!): a survey* found two thirds of parents with babies aged eight months and older said their babies woke up at least once in the night. Of these, over a quarter said their baby was woken by a dirty or wet nappy.
The solution? Nappies that fit properly and that are super absorbent, drawing any wee or mess away from your baby’s skin. Step forward Pampers Night Pants which soak up any liquid instantly and give up to 12 hours all-round EXTRA leakage protection.
Marley says:
'Babies waking up, especially when they're very small, is normal. They need to wake up to eat.
'If they're wearing a nappy that isn't very absorbent, they can wake up because they're uncomfortable. Pampers Night Pant is their most absorbent nappy pant. Its special strengthened core offers 12 hours extra leakage protection, all night long.'
*OnePulse survey conducted in June 2021 of 317 UK parents with children aged between eight months and two years.
How can I help my baby sleep through the night?
The first thing to remember is that each baby is different. Some will sleep through from just a few weeks while others take longer.
While you can't change your baby's natural night owl tendencies, there are a few easy things you can do to help prepare your baby for nighttime, including:
1. Set a bedtime routine
You can start a bedtime routine with your newborn and adapt it slightly as your baby gets older. It might include a bath, story time and cuddle.
2. Get the right sleep environment
Tiny tweaks you make to where your baby sleeps can make a big difference. From the temperature of the room to the level of light or the thickness of your baby’s sleeping bag or sleepsuit: get it right and they’ll sleep like a baby. Hurrah!
3. Choose the right nappies
Keeping your baby dry is a key part of helping them sleep through the night.
Pampers Night Pants are their most absorbent nappy pant ever thanks to a strengthened core that absorbs wee in an instant. They have a clever 360˚ fit so as your baby moves, the night pants move with them. Double safety leg cuffs mean an even better fit and protection against leaks.
The night pants also have a totally unique Stop and Protect Pocket which is a total game-changer. The clever pocket is designed to catch any soft poo and stop it spreading up your baby's back. (It's available on Pampers Baby Dry and Pampers Active Fit Nappy Pants to stop any poo disasters in the day, too.)
Another important step is making sure you’re using the right nappy size for your little one: too small and the nappy can leak because there isn’t enough absorbency for the volume of pee or poo. Too big and it can cause pee and poo to run out through the gaps between the nappy and the skin. Find out more here.
Pampers are even offering a money back guarantee on their Night Pants. Enjoy a leak-free night or they’ll give you a refund!
4. Try sleep training
If you’ve tried everything else and your baby is still waking throughout the night, you might want to try some gentle sleep training.
There are lots of different techniques you can try: check out our sleep training section for tips and advice.