HOW TO INSTILL EAR DROPS IN CHILDREN

Ear infections are a common childhood ailment. The proper technique will ensure the drops go into the ear without causing your child discomfort.

How to give ear drops

• Shake the bottle and remove the cap.
• Your child needs to have their head tilted to one side. (They could rest their head on a pillow.)
•  Put the tip of the dropper just inside the ear hole. Try to avoid touching the nozzle on to the ear. Gently squeeze the drop(s) into the ear.
• Your child should keep their head tilted to one side for a minute or so.
•  Wipe the nozzle with a clean tissue after each use.
•  If you think the drops didn’t go into the ear, you can repeat the process but do not try more than twice.
•  Try to avoid the tip of the bottle touching any part of your child’s ear if possible.
•  Wash your hands again with soap and hot water.

How to give your child eye drops

Instructions on giving your child eye drops

• Wash your hands.
• Shake the bottle.
• Remove the top from the bottle and throw away the plastic seal.
• Get your child into any of these positions to give the eye drops:
• tilt your child’s head back
• lay your child flat on his or her back
• ask someone to hold your child in a safe position
• wrap your baby or young child in a light blanket or sheet to keep his or her arms and legs still
• Gently pull down your child’s lower eyelid.
• Avoid touching the dropper against your child’s eye, eyelashes or any other surface.
• Hold the dropper above your child’s eye and squeeze one drop into the lower eyelid.
• Release the lower eyelid and let your child blink a few times to make sure the drop is spread around the eye.
• Wipe away any excess with a clean tissue.
• If you are using another type of eye drop, wait a few minutes before giving it. This will stop the first drop being washed out by the second before it has had time to work.
• If your child is getting very distressed

Giving medicine to children

General Tips for Making the Medicine 

Make sure your child is standing or sitting up at least a 45-degree angle when taking any medicine. This reduces the risk of choking.

Give liquid medicine along the side of the mouth, about halfway down. If it goes directly to the center of your child's palate, it will trigger a gag. Place tablets on the back of the tongue or they will be spit out.

Disguise a medicine's bad taste when possible. Favorite vehicles include applesauce, yogurt, pudding, smooth peanut butter (for kids 18 months and older), and jam. For the most resistant cases, try soft candy pieces, ice cream, or chocolate syrup.

Mixing a medication with a liquid such as juice, formula, or milk can be problematic because a significant part of the medicine will be left coating the cup, glass, or bottle. If you use a liquid to dilute medicine, use a small amount and be sure all of it gets into your child.

Skin rashes in babies

It's normal for babies to develop skin rashes from as early as a few days old, as their sensitive skin adapts to a different environment. Most rashes are harmless and go away on their own.

However, if your baby has developed a rash and seems unwell, or if you're worried, see your GP to find out the cause and for any necessary treatment. It's especially important to be aware of the warning signs of meningitis.

This guide may give you a better idea of the cause of the rash, but don't use it to diagnose your baby's condition by yourself. Always see a GP for a proper diagnosis.

Sharing a bed with your baby

Many parents who share a bed with their baby – also called co-sleeping – believe it helps their baby feel safe and secure. They like the close bodily contact, feel that it’s rewarding and satisfying, and believe it’s good for their relationship with their baby.

Some parents also bed-share because they find it more practical. Breastfeeding during the night can be easier – the hungry baby can be fed then settled back to sleep quickly.

For these reasons, advocates of co-sleeping feel it can be worth making the adjustments necessary to learn to sleep with a small child. The most important thing is that bed-sharing is done safely.

During pregnancy when baby has spent nine months inside the body with a constant supply of food and comfort, it seems strange and unnatural to infant when he/she is suddenly separated from you and compel to sleep on his own without food or comfort for long periods. Only through co-sleeping and breastfeeding give the same condition that your baby has been used to during pregnancy. This combination supports the development of a healthy child hence it continues throughout much of the world. Modern parents often feel guilty or make excuses that bed sharing perceived their child as weak. Some parents are worried about that co-sleeping makes baby habitual to and spoiling their baby. 

Recovering from birth

Right now, you are focused on caring for your new baby. But new mothers must take special care of their bodies after giving birth and while breastfeeding, too. Doing so will help you to regain your energy and strength. When you take care of yourself, you are able to best care for and enjoy your baby.

Getting rest

The first few days at home after having your baby are a time for rest and recovery — physically and emotionally. You need to focus your energy on yourself and on getting to know your new baby. Even though you may be very excited and have requests for lots of visits from family and friends, try to limit visitors and get as much rest as possible. Don't expect to keep your house perfect. You may find that all you can do is eat, sleep, and care for your baby. And that is perfectly okay. Learn to pace yourself from the first day that you arrive back home. Try to lie down or nap while the baby naps. Don't try to do too much around the house. Allow others to help you and don't be afraid to ask for help with cleaning, laundry, meals, or with caring for the baby.

Teething Symptoms

The vast majority of babies sprout their first teeth when they're between 4 and 7 months of age. An early developer may get his first white cap as early as 3 months, while a late bloomer may have to wait until he's a year old or more. (In rare cases, a baby's first tooth is already visible at birth.) Whenever the first tooth makes its appearance, celebrate the milestone by taking pictures and noting the date in your child's baby book.

Teeth actually start developing while your baby's in the womb, when tooth buds form in the gums. Teeth break through one at a time over a period of months, and often — but not always — in this order: First the bottom two middle teeth, then the top two middle ones, then the ones along the sides and back. They may not all come in straight, but don't worry — they usually straighten out over time.

newborn baby head pillow

Straight after birth, your baby's head may have gotten a bit out of shape. Elders may advise you to let your baby sleep on a horseshoe shaped pillow to make his head rounder. However, there are important reasons why this is not a good idea. Traditional horseshoe shaped pillows are filled with mustard seeds or ray. Modern versions are usually filled with sponge chips and thermocol balls. If the pillow tears, the seeds, sponge or thermocol can spill out. If your baby puts even a small piece in his mouth or nose, it can pose a choking hazard. This is why experts recommend not keeping any pillows in your baby's cot. 

Also, if your baby's head is firmly placed in the middle of a horseshoe shaped pillow, it will be difficult for him to turn his head to the side in case he spits up milk or vomits. This can make your baby choke on his own vomit. 

Infant Baby Headbands

Our infant and newborn headbands are made with the tiniest of princesses in mind, but with the capability of sizing flexible enough to fit any size girl!  All of our newborn headbands and Infant baby headbands are made to fit baby's sweet head perfectly!

  

We make all of our elastic headbands with matching shimmer elastics or pretty stretch lace.  These thin and stretchy headbands are perfect for newborns and infant baby girls!  We've also found that older teen girls prefer thin stretch bands similar to those headbands offered here, so we've extended our sizing to accommodate them.  

How to trim your baby's nails

While long nails may look great on adult women, they have no place in a newborn baby’s life. Long nails can cut the baby’s skin as well as the parent’s skin because of how fine and sharp they can become. In addition to this, it is always a good idea to get the baby used to having his or her nails done while they are young rather than exposing them when they are older to the procedure when they are older. This can reduce the stresses that they feel when they are getting ready for their lives in the world.

Cutting a newborn baby’s nails can be extremely stressful for the parent and for the baby. Even if this is not the first time that the parent has cut a newborn baby’s nails, it is still an anxious moment as the parent does not want to hurt the baby. For the baby, the sensation of the nail clipping is new and can be scary. Often, the nail clippers are cold and not as sharp as they should be. This cold sensation can upset the baby and if the nail clippers are dull, and then the nail could be pressed out of shape, making for a difficult cut and an unpleasant sensation for the baby.

Nail care for newborns

Newborn fingernails and toenails are usually soft and flexible. However, if they are ragged or too long, they can hurt the baby or others. It is important to keep your baby's nails clean and trimmed. Newborns do not yet have control of their movements. They may scratch or claw at their face. Newborn babies will usually have long fingernails (and toenails) at birth. Many parents are concerned about their baby scratching themselves with their fingernails, and may use cotton mittens to prevent this. A newborn baby's fingernails are generally quite soft and flexible, and may be able to be gently peeled off. However, as your baby grows older, their nails will usually become harder. At some point you will probably need to trim them.  

• Clean the baby's hands, feet, and nails during regular bathing.
• Use a nail file or emery board to shorten and smooth the nails. This is the safest method.
• Another option is to trim nails carefully with baby nail scissors that have blunt rounded tips or baby nail clippers. Do NOT use adult-sized nail clippers. You could clip the tip of the baby's finger or toe instead of the nail.
• Since baby's nails grow pretty quickly, you may have to cut the fingernails at least once a week. You may only need to cut the toenails a couple of times per month. You can trim your baby's fingernails with a special pair of baby scissors .Avoid using clippers, as these can be hard to manoeuvre accurately, and may injure your baby, if they move their hand unexpectedly. It is probably easier for one person to hold the baby, while the other one trims the nails, but you can place your baby in their bassinette, or bouncer, if you prefer. 

• Make sure your baby is calm and relaxed (possibly after a feed). Cut your baby's nail straight across and avoid cutting down the sides of the nails, as this can encourage ingrown nails and infections. Some parents will use a fine, soft emery board to smooth off any rough edges, although this is not absolutely necessary.

How to make your own baby food

Making your own baby food is easy, efficient, and economical. Instead of spending money on prepackaged baby food, you can use fresh produce, grains, and meat that you have on hand. Best of all, you'll know exactly what you're feeding your baby.Going the do-it-yourself route also gets your baby used to eating the same food the rest of the family does, a strategy that may pay off during the picky toddler years.

Preparing the food

• After washing, cook vegetables – and fruits like apples and prunes that need to be softened – before pureeing or grinding. Bake, boil, or steam the produce until it's soft. If you boil the food, use as little liquid as possible and add some of the leftover liquid when mashing the food (or add it to your family's soup stock).

• Peel and pit the produce if necessary and strain out any seeds. Some fruits and vegetables don't require any liquid – simply mash, add a seasoning or two, and serve. For others, you may want to add a little liquid (breast milk, formula, or water) as you puree or grind to get the consistency you want. As your baby adapts to solid foods, you can add less liquid.
• Grains like quinoa or millet can also be pureed or ground in a food mill. Cook them first according to package directions. For older babies, whole grains make fabulous finger food.

• To prepare meat and poultry, remove the skin and trim the fat before cooking. Then puree the cooked meat in a blender or grind it up in a food mill with a little liquid. For older babies, simply chop the meat into very small pieces.
• If this all sounds like a lot of trouble, keep in mind that "homemade baby food" can be the very same food you feed the rest of your family. It's an old-fashioned idea that deserves to be resurrected. Simply use your food mill or other tool to puree, blend, or mash some of the same food that your family is having for dinner.
• Soups and stews, for example, can be processed and fed to your baby. The same goes for most healthy foods your family might eat. Pack empty baby food jars with extra so you'll have a meal for the next day.

Sterilising bottle-feeding equipment

During their first year of life, babies are at their most vulnerable to viruses, bacteria and parasitic infections, which can lead to anything from a mild attack of thrush to the more serious condition of gastroenteritis. This is an illness similar to food poisoning, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and subsequent dehydration. 

Before sterilization was the norm, thousands of infant deaths were caused by gastroenteritis problems. The cases we see now, which are rarely as serious, are often connected to inadequate sterilizing procedures. It is not possible or practical to create a totally germ-free environment for your baby but you can reduce the risks during his vulnerable first year. 

Cleaning your baby's equipment 

It is not enough to wash bottles in soapy water alone, although before sterilizing they need to be cleaned thoroughly along with the teats, so that every trace of milk is removed. Make sure that the detergent you use has been carefully rinsed off and run water through each teat to ensure the hole is not clogged with milk curds. Using salt is no longer recommended for the cleansing of silicone teats but is perfectly safe with latex ones. Just tip a little salt into the teat, grind the teat between your fingers, and then rinse thoroughly. Check teats and bottles carefully and throw out any with splits or cracks because damaged surfaces can also harbor bacteria.

expressing milk using a breast pump

Once your milk has “come in” you may find it easier to use a breast pump, either manual or electric. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding use, cleaning and sterilization.

How to use a hand pump

• Stimulate the nipple by hand and start the flow by hand expressing.
• Place the pump shield centrally over your nipple and press it firmly into your breast.
• Use the pump gently but quickly at first - this helps with the let down reflex and mimics what your baby does when they first start a breastfeed.
• Once the milk is flowing use a slower speed but stronger suction.
• There should be no pain or discomfort.

How to use an electric pump

Double pumps are recommended for longer term expressing. It has the benefit of being time efficient and also helps with your milk supply. For mothers of twins or other multiples it is also recommended.

Infertility and assisted conception

Many couples believe that it is easy to have a child and are often surprised when the woman does not fall pregnant as soon as they start trying for a baby. The chance of getting pregnant in each menstrual cycle (each month) is calculated to be one in four for an average fertile couple. However, it may take a long time to conceive, even if everything is normal. Eight out of every ten women trying for a baby will fall pregnant within the first year. Women who do become pregnant without any medical assistance generally do so within two years of trying. It is common for couples to seek help and advice if there is difficulty conceiving. Overall, around 15 per cent (one in six) of all couples will seek help. The point at which they may want to seek help will depend on various factors. For example, if they are over 35 years of age or if they have any worrying symptoms, such as infrequent periods, the couple should seek help after about six months of trying.

What happens during normal conception?

1. The woman

Ovulation is the end of a complicated series of events leading to the release of an egg from the ovary. If that egg is fertilized by a sperm and implants in the lining of the womb (endometrium), a pregnancy has started. All of a woman's eggs will already be present when she is born. From the early years of childhood, she starts to lose eggs, but it is calculated that a woman aged 50 still has about 1000 of her eggs left.

Anemia during pregnancy

Anemia is a lack of red blood cells, which can lead to a lack of oxygen-carrying ability, causing unusual tiredness. The deficiency occurs either through the reduced production or an increased loss of red blood cells. These cells are manufactured in the bone marrow and have a life expectancy of approximately four months. To produce red blood cells, the body needs iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. If there is a lack of one or more of these ingredients, anemia will develop.

Red blood cells are the cells that circulate in the blood plasma (fluid) and give blood its red color. Through its pumping action, the heart propels the blood around the body through the arteries. The red blood cells obtain oxygen in the lungs and carry it to all the body's cells. The cells use the oxygen to fuel the combustion (burning) of sugar and fat, which produces the body's energy. During this process, called oxidation, carbon dioxide is created as a waste product. It binds itself to the red blood cells that have delivered their load of oxygen. The carbon dioxide is then transported via the blood in the veins back to the lungs where it is exchanged for fresh oxygen by breathing.

SHAPING UP AFTER DELIVERY

Every woman who's ever had a baby knows how difficult it is to take off that extra weight. Though it is tough but it is possible with little patience and regular workouts. This is no small task, but by starting your fitness regimen and starting a modified exercise program for the first time, you can improve the tone of your body and get back your previous figure. However before you decide to begin, you should check with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

It is necessary to know that during pregnancy:

• A woman's waist expands 50 inches
• Her skin is stretched by 400%
• Her hips widen half a foot 
• Her fat cells grow to 125% their original size -- all 30 billion of them
• Your Post pregnancy Exercise Program 
• Both fit and unfit new moms should ease into an exercise routine by taking 20-minute walks three days a week, for example. You should slowly increase the duration or distance of your regimen each week. Initially you can begin walking and working on exercises for your abdomen, lower back and pelvic muscles. During the first six weeks, you can start walking to increase your circulation and get some general exercise. Do what you can handle, even if it's only for 10 to 15 minutes. Increase the time duration as you get stronger. After you've received your doctor's approval, move on to 50 to 60 minutes of continuous walking, for four to five days a week. Of course, you can take your baby along in a pram/a stroller if you have to. Once you can walk comfortably for 20 minutes, begin to increase your speed.

Expressing milk by hand

Using your hands to express your breast milk often takes a little while to master. Some women find that hand expressing their milk comes naturally; others find it an awkward and slow process. Many women find it is initially frustrating and tedious, but after being shown the proper technique and practising, they eventually get the knack. Being able to hand express is a useful skill to have. However, if you are finding hand expressing frustrating, tiring or unproductive, you may wish to try using a breast pump. A breast pump may also be a better option if you are needing to express for every feed, or you may choose to hand express at some times, and use a breast pump at others. 

The advantages of hand expressing are: 

• It costs nothing.
• It is convenient, no breast pumps to prepare, or sterilize.
• It can be done anywhere, any time.
• It can be used to express small amounts of milk to relieve overfull breasts (for comfort) or to gently rub milk onto sore nipples.
• It involves skin to skin contact, which stimulates a greater milk production and helps to trigger a let-down reflex.

Breech birth

 A breech presentation is defined as the condition in which the baby is in longitudinal lie and the podalic pole presenting at the pelvic brim with the head occupying upper pole of uterus. A breech birth is the birth of a baby from a breech presentation. In the breech presentation the baby enters the birth canal with the buttocks or feet first as opposed to the normal head first presentation. In breech presentation, fetal heart sounds are heard just above the umbilicus.

A breech position means that your baby is in a bottom-down position inside your womb. Usually your baby will settle into a head-down position in your pelvis around the eighth month of pregnancy. A head down position of the baby inside your womb is called a vertex or a cephalic position. 

When labor, nearly all (96 per cent) babies are lying head down in the uterus, but a few (about 3-4 per cent), will settle into a bottom-first, or a breech position. 

Assisted delivery

Near the end of the pushing stage, it might become apparent that mother and baby need a little extra help in the delivery. After ensuring that the anesthesia is working, the health care provider will gently apply forceps or a small amount of suction to the baby's head. As the mother pushes through her next contractions, the health care provider will gently assist the baby's head through the birth canal. 

What instruments are used in an assisted delivery?

• Your health care provider will normally use forceps or a vacuum extractor to help deliver the baby.
• Forceps are similar to tongs, with loops on either side, that are used to gently turn or pull the baby's head in order to assist the baby through the birth canal.
• A vacuum extractor uses suction to turn the baby's head or pull the baby through the birth canal. The suction is controlled so that the amount of suction used to help deliver the baby is kept to a minimum.

Why might an assisted delivery be necessary?

The health care provider might suggest assisted delivery for the following reasons:

• If the mother has had an epidural, the pelvic muscles which normally help turn the baby's head and shoulders into the preferred position for delivery might be ineffective. An epidural can also make it difficult to feel contractions, making pushing less effective.

• If the baby is in a difficult position for normal delivery.

• If the baby is not receiving enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen increases the risk of brain damage.

• If the mother is physically exhausted.

The health care provider might suggest using forceps if the baby is coming feet first or is in a breech position.

 What should I watch for in my baby if the delivery is assisted?

The following effects are possible if a delivery is assisted with forceps:

• There can be a reddened area on the face. The discoloration normally goes away within a few days.
• There can be small bruises. These normally disappear quickly.

• Although rare, there can be trauma to the baby's facial nerves. However, damage is rarely permanent and the effects normally disappear within a few days.

• The baby might be born with a somewhat cone-shaped head. This effect is considered normal and can occur in any vaginal delivery.

The following effects are possible when delivery is assisted with suction:

• A blood blister on the scalp, or cephalhematoma, can develop. It can take up to 6-8 weeks for the baby to completely heal. This condition does not impact the child's brain.

• There can be slight bruising of the scalp. The bruising normally disappears within a few days.

       Related Topics During Your Pregnancy
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       Low blood pressure during pregnancy

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How to Pick Up and Hold a Newborn Baby

How to pick up a newborn baby 

This information is for everyone, especially for new mothers and the men who think that being female automatically means you know how to pick up and hold a newborn baby. Picking up and holding a newborn takes practice and in time, you can be as good at picking up and holding a newborn as any mother can. Many men, oddly enough, have a major advantage over women picking up and holding a newborn, given their hands are so big!

In the first weeks of baby's life, just make sure that when you pick up and hold your newborn baby, you pick up and hold the whole baby so there isn't anything (like arms, legs, heads, etc.) dangling or not being supported.

The most important part you want to be extra careful of when you pick up and hold a newborn baby, in the first 2 months in particular, is the baby's neck. Not to be funny, but the oversized baby head can be rather heavy for its tiny little baby neck to handle; plus, the neck muscles aren't yet developed and don't know their part so exercise extreme caution and support the neck when you pick up and hold a newborn baby.

Baby Sling Wearing & Safety Guidelines

Mod Mum Baby Sling believes that baby slings are the most natural and comfortable way for you to carry your baby. Please use common sense when carrying your baby in your baby sling. Here are some important tips from Mod Mum to use your baby sling safely.

Baby's bottom should always line up with the middle seam of the baby sling.

For your comfort make sure fabric is flat across your back before putting your baby in the sling.

Once your baby is positioned you can adjust the sling to snug your baby in by folding fabric over your shoulder.

When carrying a newborn up to 4 months, be careful not to allow your newborn’s chin to rest on his or her chest as it can restrict their breathing. This is often referred to as a C-like position. If you see your newborn’s chin against their chest, simply adjust them into a more flat position in the sling.

For additional support of your newborns neck, you can easily place a small folded receiving blanket behind baby’s neck to keep their chin off of their chest.

Remember that in all carries, your baby should mimic the same position that you would naturally hold them in. For the cradle carry, your baby should be in the same position they would naturally be cradled in your arms. Your baby’s body should be positioned just below your breasts with their head lying on the top of your breast. For the hip carry, your baby should be at the same height you would hold them on your hip without a sling.

Sleep with your baby

Recently a study done by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) claimed that many deaths of infants were caused by sleeping in bed with their parents. The study did not determine if safe bedding practices were kept or if the parents were under the influence of any form of drugs or alcohol. There are some parents who feel that this study was simply another way to encourage people to buy cribs, seeing as the CPSC supposedly stood to have more to gains if that were true.

The bottom line is that if you choose to sleep with your baby in your bed for any amount of time, you need to follow safe bedding practices. The first thing is where you sleep. You should never sleep on the couch or on a waterbed with your baby. Your bed mattress should be firm, flat and clean. 

Baby's first cry...

Crying is the first sound the baby makes when he/she enters this world, which is a very positive sign of a new healthy life. His/her crying leads to relief on the doctor's part. Weird, isn't it to feel relieved instead of being disconcerted on 'The Cry’ Cry is all a baby can do to express any discomfort it feels. 

But why cry? Because we elders can speak out but the baby isn't privileged enough yet. He/she would take some time in being able to blurt out whatever he/she feels. 

Here we consider the views on the crying of an immediately delivered baby. When a baby is first born it has no way of communicating. Normally, immediately after birth a baby will start screaming. Doctors say this is how they test their lungs. Crying is the best and most efficient way to quickly pump up the lungs. Some people say that it is their way of protesting for being taken from the nice, warm cocoon in their mother's belly to the cold air in the real world. In reality it is probably a combination of both.

The contents of your baby’s nappy

One way of knowing that your baby is feeding well is by checking the contents of his/her nappy. Listed below are the common sights on a baby’s nappy during the first few weeks of his/her life.

• Greenish-black, sticky tar (first two or three days only): This is meconium, which fills the bowels before birth, and passes out in the first two or three days
• Greenish-brown or bright green semi-fluid stools, full of curds (first week only): “changing stools” show that your baby is adapting to feeding through his/her digestive system
• Orange-yellow, mustard-like stools, watery with bits of milk curd in them, often very copious: the settled stools of a breastfed baby
• Pale brown, solid, formed and smelly stools: the settled stools of a bottle-fed baby
• Green or green-streaked, stools: quite normal, but small green stools over several days may be a sign of under-feeding

Consult your doctor if:

• Your baby’s stools are very watery and smelly, and your baby is vomiting and off food: diarrhea is life-threatening in a young baby
• You see blood on the nappy
• Anything at all worries you 

Games to play with your baby

Most parents realize how important it is to talk to their baby, but not every one finds it easy to do this without feeling embarrassed or self –conscious. That’s one reason why the games that parents traditionally play with their babies are so important. They provide a natural way for you to interact with your baby. Many of them involve simple repetitive rhymes and songs that even a baby quickly learns to recognize and that will help to stimulate his/her own language development. Here are some favorite games to play with your young child.  

Tickling and touching games

Overcoming baby’s sleeping problems: Establishing a routine

By three or four months, most babies start to sleep 15 hours a day (10 hours at night, and the remainder divided among three day time naps). You may still be getting up once or twice a night for feeds at the beginning of this stage but by the time your baby is six month old. She(he) will be physically capable of sleeping through the night. Whether he/she actually will depends on whether she’s learning sleep habits and patterns that will encourage this. She will still need about 14 hours of sleep a day, and may sleep for as long as seven hours at a stretch, with two one and a half to two hour naps a day. She no longer needs a feed during the night. By nine months to a year, your baby will probably be sleeping for about 10-12 hours at night and napping twice a day for an hour and a half to two hours at a time.

You can prevent a lot of future sleeping problems if you try to establish a consistent bed time routine as early as possible. 

From the time your baby is three months old try to:

• Keep bed time and nap time as regular as you can
• Put him/her down to sleep at night before he/she nods off, so that he/she doesn't become dependent on you to fall asleep
• Help him/her to learn how to settle and soothe him(her)self by sucking his/her thumb, or cuddling a favorite blanket or small cuddly toy, which is always put in her cot with her(him). Most babies discover such as “comfort object” for themselves, and it works wonders, but once the favorite is established, make sure that you always have a duplicate handy for the inevitable night when it can’t be found at bedtime
• Give him/her a massage between bath and bedtime. This should make him/her feel relaxed and prepare him/her for sleep.

Related Topic

Overcoming sleeping problems in your baby

Overcoming baby's sleeping problems: Night waking

Lots of babies, especially newborns, are night owls. During the day, they sleep, wake to feed, then after a little while, go happily back to sleep. At night, however, they seem much more unsettled, stay awake for longer, and often cry much more. Things usually get better when your baby is a few weeks old, but if they don’t you can try to reset her biological clock by helping her differentiate the night from the day.

• Try to wake him/her at the same time each morning, however tempting it is to let his/her sleep longer, so you get some rest for a few more minutes.
• Try waking him/her when he/she has slept for about four hours during the day, an even if she doesn't seem to want to feed, play with him/her and talk to him/her. When he/she wakes at night, keep the light dim and be a quiet and soothing as possible.
• Don’t panic and change his/her bedtime routine. Night waking is usually a temporary issue, and resolves itself in most cases.

Daytime sleep

During the day, don't close his/her curtains when you put him/her to sleep and don't try to keep the house unnaturally quiet.

Related Topic

Overcoming sleeping problems in your baby