Share your pearls of wisdom about babies' sleep with Pampers and you could win a £200 John Lewis voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

We’ve been asked by Pampers to find out what Mumsnetters’ pearls of wisdom are for getting your little one to sleep as much as they need.

Pampers say “Getting your baby to sleep as much as they need is the holy grail for parents, and everyone loves hearing their baby wake up in the morning with a giggle. Whether it’s teething, wind, or a damp nappy that’s disrupting those golden hours, every parent has their own tried and tested methods to help guarantee their little one has a restful slumber. Pampers Baby-Dry nappies with Micro PearlsTM stay up to 2 times drier than ordinary nappies, giving your baby the sleep they need to wake up giggling.”

Pampers are asking Mumsnetters to share their own pearls of wisdom for babies' sleep. They want you to post the useful nuggets of advice, the most valuable tips, which worked for your baby and which could help another baby to get a bit more shut-eye.

Whatever your top baby sleep tips are, Pampers would love to hear them.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will receive a £200 John Lewis voucher.

Please note your comments may be included on Pampers social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

PS: To be in with the chance of winning a pack of Pampers Baby-Dry visit facebook.com/PampersUKIre or tweet @Pampers_UK and use #BabySleep and nominate another parent to do the same to help more babies get enough sleep! See facebook.com/PampersUKIre for T&Cs.

Ignore comments from others. They will only make you feel worse. I think that rose tinted specs appear when it comes to recalling children's behaviour and sleep. Apparently I never tantrummed, I don't believe that!

My children were poor sleepers and it used to get me down when other babies were sleeping through. It starts to feel as it if it is something that you are doing wrong when really it is because we are all just different. Why should babies be any different?

We had a routine going from day one with both children but my DD needed a little extra a reassurance when she went to bed. We found out that providing she could 'smell' me she would be fine - so she slept with a worn t shirt of mine!

A relaxed and peaceful atmosphere is a must.

Bath bottle & bed always worked for me too

I think that for the most part, babies sleep or don't sleep despite what we do. A lot of it us down to luck and it's not us, it's them. So there's no point beating yourself up if your baby is a crap sleeper. Those parents with babies who sleep through from a couple of weeks old are just lucky.
Having said that, there are things that can help.
Right now, DD2 will go back to sleep (until about 6am) without making a fuss if I change her nappy and leave her a drink when she wakes at crazy o'clock. That'll do me.

I find that black out blinds have really helped my children fall asleep and stay asleep for longer!

Calm, relaxing music was always my best remedy.

not leaping up to go into ds's room at the first wail! he often settles himself.
a bedtime story routine, cleaning teeth etc, do in the same order every night.
he's a light sleeper so we have to be very very quiet.

DS1 (now 5) and DS2 (now 3) did not sleep through the night until they were 2 so I'm not very well qualified to give sleep advice.

However, if pushed I would advise not to stress about it. Take the Buddhist view of 'there is suffering', live in the moment as much as possible, don't think too hard and remember everything passes eventually.

This is the approach I'm taking with DD (nearly 4 weeks) and I'm finding acceptance makes the sleep deprivation far easier to deal with...

This too shall pass...baby, toddler, child mantra for all challenging phases but especially useful in the midst of sleep deprivation.

Routine helps here - when DD was younger it was bath, Night Garden and bed. Also it didn't matter how long she napped for, so long as she didn't wake up too late (ie after 3pm)

Routine. And making sure she settled on her own from (nearly) the start.
And luck!

Routine is key if you can - low lights, calming bath, baby massage etc and then they get to know what happens next.

We also found white noise apps invaluable. We all liked waves if I remember correctly!

My eldest son was a terrible sleeper and the only thing that sent him back to sleep was being breastfed. I don't think it was hunger, he just wanted to suck. I resisted giving him a dummy as I was an idealist, as is often the case with new mothers. However, by the time I had my second, my ideals went out the window and I gave him a dummy and he slept much better!

My little one always settles easily when he has a regular routine. Bath then bottle and he's usually away. If this routine gets upset, it often upsets his sleep too.

I feel babies sleep better in a clean, quiet room. Don't disturb them too often either, unless you have genuine concerns. If a baby knows you will jump as soon as it wants something then it can become restless, and act out for attention.

Routine and consistency! Bath, story, cuddles and put them in their cot awake so they learn how to self soothe.

Always had a routine and still do. We always have half hour before actual bedtime to wind down and relax so she is not giddy at bed time. Always have a small snack and a drink beforehand and then a story. 9/10 nights this works perfect but as we all well know being parents a full nights sleep is not 100%. All id say is be consitant

Getting into a routine always helps as well as establishing some rules e.g. strict bed times and making sure they're in comfy pyjamas.

That all the pish posted about routines and songs and sleeping in cots and putting down awake will not make the slightest difference if you have a naturally bad sleeper. Dd had the standard book, bath,feed routine from six weeks. Still has it at 18 months but she'll still wake umpteen times a night. We've also tried bubble bath, musical cues,white noise, dummies, teddies, pillows, black outs, massage. Basically anything and the only thing that saved my sanity was cosleep

Stick to routine and don't leave any questions unanswered or let them go to sleep upset as that keeps waking them up throughout the night.

We have always been fairly relaxed but do try to stick to a constant routine. If they don't go to sleep we get them up and try again a bit later. You just have to go with what is best for you and your family and try not to compare.

A routine, lots of cuddles and if they do wake go to them, rather than letting them come to your bed.

Also if you have space allow them to have double beds when they move out of their cots then if you have to get up and end up co-sleeping at least you are both likely to get some rest.

Keep him/her active for a half hour with a football, followed by a half hour session of in the night garden (watch anytime from youtube) and a bottle of milk.

Works a treat for a two year old ;)

We swaddled which helped for daytime naps. Then co slept. The first time we did my dd slept for 6 hours. It was bliss. Without co sleeping she'd wake every couple of hours.

Sleep (safely) in the same bed.

Alternatively take them to a festival and put them in a sleeping bag, worked for me.