The NHS website recommends that parents don't worry about when their baby sleeps during the first few months. Babies can't tell day from night and so it's normal to end up awake at 3am and fast asleep in the afternoon. However from about 3 months it's a good idea to try and differentiate day and night to help calm a baby down and wake them up at more appropriate times. For example choosing a bedtime is a good idea to establish a habit of going to sleep. This means encouraging the baby to stay awake an hour or two before their bedtime so they feel like dropping off then. In the morning simply opening the curtains and keeping the room light, will stimulate a baby's wakefulness providing they have had enough sleep beforehand.

Routine

In the first two to three months, a typical pattern is a longer sleep in the morning and a couple of shorter naps in the afternoon. Waking in the night is normal, and may continue for some time. Most babies need to feed in the night and its perfectly normal for a new baby to wake two or three times. As the baby gets to about 6 months however it's a good idea not to feed immediately before bedtime, as the baby may associate sleep with feeding and hence require food to get back to sleep.

From about 3 months a bedtime routine can be a real blessing here's what a parent should do:

• Do the same thing each night - this gives the baby a sense of knowing what's coming next
• Begin calming things down about an hour before bedtime.
• Having a bath to help the baby unwind
• Keep the light in the baby's room dimmed
• Make sure the baby is clean and comfortable
• The baby should be cuddled and then put down on his or her back
• Wind up a musical toy with a gentle lullaby or sing softly for a few moments
• Leave the room and quietly go downstairs

Sleeping Safely

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is rare, and the cause is unknown but smoking and a baby sharing an adult bed are thought to play a part. These are the current guidelines for parents:

• Place your baby on her back to sleep
• In the cot, place your baby in the 'feet to foot' position so there's less chance of her slipping down beneath the bedding
• No one should smoke in the same room as your baby
• Do not use a duvet, quilt or pillow until your baby is over one year old
• Keep your baby's head uncovered
• If your baby is unwell, seek medical advice straight away
• Do not allow the baby to get too hot
• Let the baby sleep in the same room as you for the first six months but preferably not in the same bed.