Is he ready to sleep?

If you can pick up on the clues that tell you your baby is ready to sleep it will be easier to help him settle in his cot or crib. Throughout the day and night there will be ‘sleep windows’ - drowsy periods when your baby is more ready to fall asleep. If you can recognise these times you can use them to help establish good sleep habits:

• Look out for signs that your baby is tired and put him down to sleep then - it will be easier for him to fall asleep at these times
• Start to get him ready for sleep when he is still in an active phase so that he can enjoy his bath and be dried and dressed just as he is beginning to feel drowsy
• If you miss one drowsy period you may have to wait an hour or so for another, as the whole cycle takes about this long to complete