At last daylight saving has begun!  More daylight at the end of the day, coupled with warmer weather means the opportunity for later outdoor play, evening walks, a bit more gardening.  But for families with toddlers and young children, it can also make bedtime a bit more challenging as parents battle with a little one who doesn’t want to sleep yet because the sun hasn’t gone to bed.  Even parents of babies who are too young to know whether it’s dark might find baby just won’t settle at the usual time.  Take a deep breath and remember your baby is probably still ready for bed at the same time – we’ve just changed that time by moving time forward by an hour, so an eight o’clock bedtime might now be nine. 
 
Try bringing bedtime forward gradually, in 10 or fifteen minute intervals every few days or so.  It might take a little while but many parents find within a few weeks the family has settled back down, or adjusted to a new routine.
 
Do you have a bedtime ritual? Following a similar pattern in the lead-up to bedtime helps your little one know that it is time to go to sleep.  Rituals can be adapted to suit your baby or toddler and your family, and will change somewhat as your child’s needs change.
 
Talk to older toddlers and preschoolers about the time.  Show them what the clock looks like when it’s time for bed, or relate bedtime to another activity – after dinner we have a bath, put on our pjs, read stories and then go to sleep.
 
You might even decide that a later bedtime is a positive thing – many working parents enjoy extra time together as a family. And one of the best bonuses of a later bedtime can be a later morning wake-up – a blessing if you have a child who’s on the go before 6am!

It's easy to be confused by the range of information and advice so freely given about new born babies and sleep. Very young babies depend on their parents for everything as they adjust to life outside the womb, including sleep.  These really simple tips can really help new when you are struggling with the tiredness that comes with having a new baby in the house:

1. Consider wearing your newborn baby for daytime sleeps. 
   Babies love to be held close.  The movement of your body will help soothe your little one to sleep and you’ll probably find he will sleep longer too.  One of the added benefits of wearing your baby is that your hands are free to things, whether its chores, playing with an older child or catching up on social media or a good book.
2. Sleep your baby in your bedroom. 
   Research tells us the safest place for babies under six months to sleep is in the same room as the mother.  Not only is it safest, you are also able to respond more quickly to your baby if she is right beside your bed. 
3. Rest when your baby sleeps.
   Even better, sleep when your baby sleeps.  Taking care of a young baby can be exhausting and it seems to take up more time than most first time parents imagined.  Your baby needs you day and night, so having a nap when your baby sleeps is a great way to ensure you get enough sleep when your night time sleep is broken.
4. Help your baby know the difference between night and day. 
   New born babies really don’t know whether it’s daytime or night time – and they don’t know we like to sleep at night. Circadian rhythms  (sometimes referred to as your “body clock”) don’t develop for several months but you can help your baby learn that night time is for sleep by keeping the lights dim and voices soft when responding to her needs through the night.  During the daytime, expose your little one to bright light, such as sunshine and make this the time for activity and play.
5. It’s Ok to cuddle or soothe your baby to sleep.  
   Babies need to be calm and peaceful in order to drift off to sleep and some babies need some help from their parent to be ready for sleep.  Being responsive to your baby’s  needs will help him find sleep more easily.