Baby sleep guide

25 guides · Safe sleep, sleep training, night waking

Sleep deprivation is genuinely hard, and it is okay to find it so. These 25 guides cover everything from safe sleep basics to sleep training approaches, co-sleeping safety and surviving the regressions. It does get better — and understanding what is normal makes the nights easier to bear.

Safe sleep and SIDS

• Safe baby sleep: reducing the risk of SIDS — back to sleep, a clear flat cot, room temperature and smoke-free
• Safe sleep for babies: the evidence-based guidelines — back to sleep, firm flat surface and what the AAP recommends
• Outdoor napping and fresh air for babies — the Scandinavian tradition of pram naps and what the evidence says
• Safe bedding for babies: what the evidence says — firm mattresses, no loose items and what to avoid
• Safe sleep for babies: the evidence-based guidance — back-to-sleep positioning and room-sharing basics
• Separate sleep spaces for babies: what the evidence says — evidence on safe infant sleep in a separate crib

Newborn sleep

• Newborn sleep: what is normal in the first weeks — total hours, night waking, feeding patterns and day/night routines
• Swaddling a baby: technique, benefits and when to stop — safe technique, hip health and when to stop
• White noise for babies: does it help and is it safe? — what NHS guidance says about sound and sleep environment
• Overtired baby: signs and how to help them sleep — spot the signs and learn calm ways to help them settle
• Dummies and pacifiers: pros, cons and safe use — benefits, downsides and safe-use guidelines from NHS
• Swaddling your baby: how to do it safely and when to stop — which wraps work and when to stop as your baby grows
• White noise for babies: whether it works and how to use it safely — safe volume levels and recommended distance from baby

Sleep training

• Baby sleep by age and wakeful phases — how much sleep babies need at each stage and why regressions happen
• Building a bedtime routine for your baby — simple calming steps from newborn to 12 months, based on NHS guidance
• When to move your baby to their own room — NHS guide on room sharing for the first 6 months and safe transition
• 4-month sleep regression: what it is and how to cope — why sleep changes at 4 months and tips for getting more rest
• 8-month sleep regression: what is happening and what helps — why sleep disrupts in the 6-12 month window and routine strategies
• Sleep training: what different approaches involve and what the evidence says — cry-it-out, Ferber, pick-up-put-down and the evidence behind each

Co-sleeping

• Family bed sharing: what the evidence says — a balanced look at bed sharing: the research, the risks and harm-reduction
• Co-sleeping: risks, benefits and safer alternatives — known risks, any cited benefits and the NHS position
• Co-sleeping in families: safety, tradition and evidence — balancing multigenerational household traditions with evidence-based guidance
• Co-sleeping: traditions, safety and what the evidence says — Mediterranean family-bed traditions and what the evidence shows
• The family bed: co-sleeping practices and safety — the Japanese kawa no ji tradition and cultural roots of the family bed

All sleep guides

• Night feeds: how to get through the first weeks — practical strategies for surviving night feeds with a newborn

Frequently asked questions

How much should a newborn sleep?

Newborns typically sleep 14 to 17 hours a day, spread across short stretches of 2 to 4 hours. This is completely normal — their stomachs are tiny and need refilling often, so long consolidated sleep is not possible yet.

How do I get my baby to sleep through the night?

Most babies are not ready to sleep through until around 4 to 6 months, and many take longer. A consistent bedtime routine, watching for tired cues, and a calm wind-down environment all help. There is no one method that works for every baby, so go gently and do what works for your family.

Is it safe for baby to sleep on their side?

No — NHS and AAP guidance is to always place your baby on their back for every sleep, including naps. Once your baby can roll both ways independently, you do not need to reposition them during the night, but always start them on their back.

When do babies sleep through the night?

Most babies start having longer sleep stretches somewhere between 4 and 6 months, though many do not settle consistently until 9 to 12 months or later. The range is wide and normal — try not to compare your baby to others.

What is sleep training?

Sleep training refers to approaches that help babies learn to fall asleep on their own. Methods range from gradual check-ins (like the Ferber method) to staying in the room as your baby settles. Most experts suggest waiting until at least 4 to 6 months before starting, and there is no single right approach.

How do I stop co-sleeping safely?

Move gradually — start with a bedside cot so your baby is close but in their own space, then slowly increase the distance over days or weeks. A consistent bedtime routine, a familiar comfort object, and patience with the transition all help. If your baby is older, brief reassurance check-ins can ease the change.