6 steps to successfully sleep training your child

You've put with the multiple night waking, you're getting far less sleep than you should (remember if you have a short duration of sleep you are more at risk of; Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents. Increase in body mass index – a greater likelihood of obesity due to an increased appetite caused by sleep deprivation. Increased risk of diabetes and heart problems. Increased risk for psychiatric conditions including depression and substance abuse

Decreased ability to pay attention, react to signals or remember new information) you need more sleep not just for your health but your child's development. You are ready to sleep train your child.

Here's my tips for helping you successfully sleep train your child.

1. Decide on your sleep training technique well in advance. Read up on it and then reread. You want to make sure you know what you need to do both getting your child to sleep initially and then during the night. Write it down if you need to.
2. Make sure your partner is on board and knows what they need to do during the night.
3. Don't expect to see any improvement for at least three nights. Breaking habits is hard to do.
4. Make sure you are 100% committed. Your child is going to be frustrated and upset that they are not being got to sleep as they usually do. If you give in after 30/45/60+ minutes you're just letting your child know that you will eventually give in. It's also not fair on your child to have them frustrated and upset only to do what they originally wanted.
5. Take the night in shifts with your partner. That way you'll both get a few solid hours of sleep. Lots of families start sleep training on a Friday night, that way you can have tag team naps the following day!
6. Be consistent, research shows that any sleep training method will work if you are consistent.

Good luck, sleep training isn't easy. But all parents agree that when they're sleeping through the night it was well worth it.

Co-sleeping safely.

You may not have planned on co-sleeping with your infant, but hey, most of us will do anything to get some more sleep!Quite often parents and infants get more and better quality sleep when co-sleeping. Nursing can be quick and easy when co-sleeping (that is if you can nurse lying down, personally I never could).

Though don't feel pressured into co-sleeping, every family is different and it suits some more than others. I didn't so-sleep with either of my children, I am such a light sleeper (and I was unable to nurse lying down) that I would wake whenever baby moved (and if you've had a baby you know they are noisy fidgety little things!). I had my daughters in a bassinet next to our bed.

If you are going to co-sleep you want to make sure that you are co-sleeping safely with your infant, he are some things to consider;

• make sure that both parents agree to co-sleep. You are bring someone new into your and your partners bed, everyone needs to agree.
• Where will baby sleep? Yes I know in bed with you, but where? Will they be in-between you and your partner? Or, will they be between Mom and the side of the bed. You will need a guardrail on the side of the bed.
• When your infant is young don't use pillows or covers on your infant.
• Make sure there is no gap between the mattress and the headboard/guardrail.
• Never let and pets onto your bed.
• Never leave your child unattended. If you are not ready to go to bed when your infant does (I suggest you do sleep when your infant does) then you can always let them start the night in the crib and move into bed with you when they wake for the first feed.
• Never co-sleep if you have drunk alcohol or taken any drugs or medications.

Enjoy your co-sleeping experience and sleep well.