There are many different reasons why babies and toddlers do not sleep through the night. Feel confident in yourself to know whether your child is really distressed or just restless. Trust your instincts.
Try to establish a regular night time sleep routine for your child early on by putting them to bed at a regular time each night. Prepare a warm, comfortable place for them to relax in. Reading to your child at bedtime helps them to unwind, and gives you some special time together. If your child is scared of the dark, try keeping a night light on. Adult beds are not designed for babies and toddlers and do not conform to safety standards. Only breastfeeding babies should ever be fed in bed, and if so, should be positioned on the outside of the bed and returned to the cot after the feed has finished.
Bedwetting may be stressful for both of you and can wake your child. It is not easy to know why some children take longer to be dry at night than others. Try not to lose your patience or punish them, your child is not doing this on purpose.
Children learn at their own pace and praise and support will help.
Keeping your baby safe and healthy:
It's dangerous for your baby to sleep in your bed if you (or your partner):
It is very dangerous to fall asleep together on a sofa, armchair or settee and it is also risky to sleep a baby alone in an adult bed.
If your sleep is often disturbed, arrange for a trusted relative or friend to care for your baby or child so that you can get some sleep. Talk to your Health Visitor.
Your child's sleep may be disturbed by bedwetting. Between the ages of three and four they are likely to have the occasional accident but gradually more and more nights will be dry.