NOTE: The information contained in this section does not replace the care of a health professional. If you are in any doubt about the health or well being of your child seek professional assistance.

Maree answers your specific questions here each week. But for a general overview of her settling program from the Your Baby's Sleep section of the Huggies site, or for more detail, and a visual demonstration, It's Time To Sleep DVD&BOOK.

The Huggies Help Panel is proving to be a very popular section of the Huggies website. So much so that Maree received MORE QUESTIONS this week THAN SHE WAS ABLE TO ANSWER. We apologise if your question has not been answered this week, please try again next time, or look for the information you need in her area of the Huggies Website: Your Baby's Sleep.

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Question: He is good at sleeping during the day time but not at night time

"Hi there Maree. I am writing to enquire about my sons sleeping patterns. He is good at sleeping during the day time but at night time I put him down bout 7 - half 7 and he is awake again bout half 11. Once in a blue moon he will sleep the whole twelve hours, other times he will wake up every hour. I have run out of ideas and not sure what could be done to make him sleep better. Are you able to help me please?? "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
It really depends on his age on how long you should expect him to sleep. Take a look at 'Your Baby's Sleep' page go to the suitable age group for our settling techniques.

Cheers, Maree

Question: Any suggestions for getting away from the dummy?

"Hi,
Our little girl is 16 months old & not always sleeping through the night. For a couple of nights in a row she'll be up anywhere from 1-1/2 to 3 hours, then she'll have a couple of good nights sleeps before having another bad night.
Sometimes she wakes herself up when she's lost her dummy. Some nights I can slip another one in & she goes back to sleep, but other nights that doesn't work.

We have tried letting her cry in her cot, but she then gets too upset and takes a long time to settle back down. Have tried changing her, then giving her a cuddle back to sleep. Sometimes that works, other times she wakes up as I put her back down. After the failed attempt - which can take up to an hour - I then take her into bed with us & she'll eventually fall asleep so I transfer her back to her cot. She'll then generally stay asleep until morning. I have tried to not give her a bottle during the night as I don't want to encourage a night feed.

During the day I have found that sometimes cutting her nap short - hour to hour & a half - has helped her sleep at night. She generally only has the one sleep around lunch time. She does go down fine during the day & pretty much most nights - occaisionally we have problems but have found that's when her day sleep as been a little later than normal.

Is there anything else we could try as my husband & I really need her to sleep all the way through before we can think about having a second.

Also, is there any suggestions for getting away from the dummy?? We weren't too keen on giving it to her to start with but she likes to have something to suck and has never found her thumb - which I'm not a big fan of either.

Thanks,
Kate "

Maree Answers:

Hi Kate,
At present it seems you are trying lots and lots of different things in the hope that something will work but this often ends up confusing baby (and parents) even more.
It may also be time for the dummy to go.  Our settling program is hard to do but has repeitive techniques that teach baby to sleep independently. Babies and toddlers thrive on routine and while it can be really hard for a week or so you could all be sleeping through the night before long.

Cheers, Maree

Question: He is a very alert baby who struggles with sleep

"Hi Maree
I have a baby Louis who is now 9 weeks old. He is a very alert baby who struggles with sleep.
We are now seeing a pattern with a morning sleep but at night he wakes twice but again struggles to get back to sleep. I know Im not doing the right thing at present, but as I need to maintain some form of calm in the house with two older boys 9 and 13 needing their sleep, I let Louis suckle off the breast so that he is settled throughout the night.  This has been ok until now where i need some SLEEP myself. I'm constantly waking to check on him.

Any suggestions?
Kind regards
Julie "

Maree Answers:

Hi Julie,
You would expect baby to be feeding perhaps 4 hourly still but comfort feeding will result in sleep associations. The best thing you can do is follow a feed/play/sleep routine so you are not feeding baby to sleep, during the night replace  play with a nappy change.
Always settle baby awake into the cot this way he will learn to sleep independently and wake if he is hungry not because he needs the comfort to return to sleep.

Cheers, Maree

Question: My five month old baby has only ever slept at about 3hr intervals

"My five month old baby has only ever slept at about 3hr intervals during the night and only 45 mins three times a day if i am lucky.  This last fortnight I have weaned from breast to bottle, and I am finding he is only taking about 60 or so mls most feeds, during the night he feeds a bit better and goes straight back down, but just doesnt stay down for any longer than 3/4 hrs, they are regular waking times of bedtime 7pm, awake fed and down again 10pm, 2am, 4am, 6am, I have just introduced rice cereal today hoping this may help, bubs is definitely not under weight either. Any ideas that may help me get some sleep? "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
Constantly feeding through the night means he will take less during the day and it becomes a real cycle. I am thinking that you would probably be feeding baby back  to sleep each time also which results in baby waking to look for your comfort to return to sleep. I would highly recommend you follow our settling program and just offer one overnight feed (at about 6 months you might expect baby to sleep right through the night.) Baby needs to be settled awake into the cot so he learns to sleep independently.
You can get details for our settling program from  the website or from www.itstimetosleep.com

Cheers, Maree

Question: I'm happy to go to formula if this will help him to sleep longer at night

"Hi, I have a 5 mouth old baby, who wakes up between 2 - 3 times during the night.  He is also a little under weight, so therefore I get up every time to feed him, however I'm feeling very sleep deprived and in need of some advice on how to get him to eat more during the day and sleep longer at night?  He is breastfed and will only be on for around 5 minutes during the day feeds and 10 minutes during the night feeds on one breast.  Im happy to go to formula if this will help with his weight gain and sleep longer at night? Karen "

Maree Answers:

Hi Karen,
Definitely talk to your health nurse about the feeding and his weight for age and get her advise on that Constantly feeding through the night means he will take less during the day and it becomes a real cycle. I am thinking that you would probably be feeding baby back  to sleep each time also which results in baby waking to look for your comfort to return to sleep and therefore snacking 24 hours rather than having good long feeds during the day she may also suggest supplementing with some solids.  I would highly recommend you follow our settling program and just offer one overnight feed (at about 6 months you might expect baby to sleep right through the night. If baby is settled awake into the cot  he learns to sleep independently this way he wakes if he is hungry not because he needs comforting.
You can get details for our settling program from  the website or from www.itstimetosleep.com

Cheers, Maree

Question: She is very overtired by night bed time

"My baby doesn't have long naps during the day. She sleeps generally well from 8pm - 3-4am, then from that time for approx 4hrs then during day approx 3 naps of 1hr only. She is very overtired by night bed time. I wrap her and she wriggles herself out, i have tried wrapping her so her hand are near her face but she wriggles out more easily this way. I started giving her a dummie so now everytime she crys i wait a little while and go back in a give her her dummie. How do i get her to sleep longer during day sleeps. "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
It really depends on her age on how long you should expect her to sleep. Take a look at 'Your Baby's Sleep' page go to the suitable age group for our settling techniques.

Cheers, Maree

Question: How can I get my daughter to sleep through the night?

"How can i get my daughter to sleep throgh the night, when she was around 6 weeks she started to sleep through but that only lasted till 6 weeks later and now she in 6 months, and when she only gets up for one feed really rear i can't get her to go back to sleep, so any surgestions would be great "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
Up until 6 months you might expect baby to be having an overnight feed. Try following our settling program for 6 to 12months, it will take you step by step through the settling techniques. You can get details form the website.

Cheers, Maree

Question: Every time she has an epileptic fit her sleep routine goes out the window

"Hi Maree,
My daughter is 15mths old, at 10mths she was diagnosed with epilepsy after having an hour long fit. She was always a fairly good sleeper, however every time she has a bad fit her sleep routine goes out the window and she refuses to go to bed. we've had to resort to either taking her for a drive or rocking her to sleep in bed with us. can you suggest how to get things back on track? I dont want to resort to control crying because she gets beside herself and im scared it will set off another fit. "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
No I wouldn't recommend controlled comforting to you. She does need  some kind of routine and consistency though as toddlers and babies thrive on routine.Have dinner, bath quiet play, 2 stories and then pop her into bed, perhaps try sitting near her and gradually moving away.

Cheers, Maree

Question: He will only sleep for two hours at a time over night

"my son is six months old and will only sleep for two hours at a time over night, the only way to settle him back to sleep is to give him a bottle and even then he is still difficult to re-settle. He also wakes up very early (4-6am) and is impossible to get back to sleep at this time. Any ideas? "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
It would seem he is waking out of habit for this bottle and for things to change the bottle needs to go. Constantly feeding through the night means he will take less during the day and it becomes a real cycle. Offering the bottle to get him to sleep results in baby waking to look for that same comfort to return to sleep. I would highly recommend you follow our settling program  (at about 6 months you might expect baby to sleep right through the night.) Baby needs to be settled awake into the cot so he learns to sleep independently.
You can get details for our settling program from  the website or from www.itstimetosleep.com

Cheers, Maree

Question: Dow do I get him to sleep in his bed without falling asleep on me first?

"Hi Maree my name's emma i have a 5 week old little boy and recently after a couple of days out his little routine that he had for the last two weeks of sleeping 8pm-2am,3am-6am, 130am-230 pm with naps either side of his daytime sleep has become all over the place every day is different although he still is going to bed at 8 and im finding hes wanting to sleep with me or on me im not sure how to get him back into his routine and how to get him to sleep in his bed without falling asleep on me first. Thanks "

Maree Answers:

Hi Emma,
If you were to follow a feed/play/sleep routine then he would sleep and when he wakes you feed and then play and then watch for tired signs and then as soon as you see these you can wrap him and settle him awake into the cot using our patting settling techniques this teaches him to sleep independently. Try to have a feeding routine of say 2,6,10,2,6,10 (4 hourly) If he wakes and not due for a feed yet that's ok you don't have to feed staight away if he's not due, but if you still follow the order of feed/play/sleep then you will begin to get confidence in knowing what is a hunger cry and what is a tired cry and this way you avoid feeding an already tired baby off to sleep. During the night replace play with a nappy change and resettle him awake into the cot, if he is not due for a feed during the night resettle him. 
You can get details for our It's Time To Sleep settling program from the website or from www.itstimetosleep.com
I hope this helps.

Cheers, Maree

Question: As soon as he goes in his cot he screams

"No matter how long I try settle my seven month old at night as soon as he goes in his cot he screams. he will not ever got to sleep on his own,i still have to wrap him and rocking him is the only way. at night he doesn't sleep unless he is in our bed. I can't get him to sleep in his cot. "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
He only knows how to sleep with your comfort and if you want to change that you would need to teach him to sleep independently.
You may want to take a look at our It's Time To Sleep settling program it is very difficult and baby will protest the change of routine but the techniques are repetitive and will take you step by step through the settling program.

Cheers, Maree

Question: It' quite distressing for me to hear him cry

"Hi Maree, my baby boy Vijay is just over 3 weeks old. He gets lots of upset tummies and we think it's gas which we are tryimg to help him with. My problem is that Vijay won't go to sleep without a cuddle and even after a feed keeps doing the rooting reflex. I have been told to just put Vijay down for sleep and to let him cry. It' quite distressing for me to hear him cry and I tend to pick him up. My husband is a bit tougher and we obvoiusly doesn't agree with me picking Vijay up. I can't tell if his crying is tummy ache or just crying because he just wants to be comforted. Please help...because now I don't think Vijay is getting enough sleep.
Thank You
Vicky "

Maree Answers:

Hi Vicky,
Firstly talk to your health nurse or GP about relieving the wind pain. Wrapping baby can also help with this. The way you can tell if baby is in pain or in need of comfort is - If he cries when put down but stops when you pick him up this is not pain, this is looking for comfort. Of course it's hard to hear baby cry especially one so young. Our It's Time To Sleep settling program uses patting techniques and is all hands on and no leaving baby at all but teaches baby to setttle awake into the cot we also incorporate a feed/play/sleep routine.

If you were to follow a feed/play/sleep routine then he would sleep and when he wakes you feed and then play and then watch for tired signs and then as soon as you see these you can wrap him and settle him awake into the cot using our patting settling techniques this teaches him to sleep independently. Try to have a feeding routine of say 2,6,10,2,6,10 (4 hourly) If he wakes and not due for a feed yet that's ok you don't have to feed staight away if he's not due, but if you still follow the order of feed/play/sleep then you will begin to get confidence in knowing what is a hunger cry and what is a tired cry and this way you avoid feeding an already tired baby off to sleep. During the night replace play with a nappy change and resettle him awake into the cot, if he is not due for a feed during the night resettle him. 
You can get details for our It's Time To Sleep settling program from the website or from www.itstimetosleep.com

I hope this helps.
Cheers, Maree

Question: He doesn't stay in his wrap properly of a night time

"Hi my son is nearly 6 months old and his quiete the active little man. so active that he doesn't stay in his wrap properly of a night time and its becoming dangerous to keep on tryin to wrap him of a night. so i've been tryin to put him to bed with out a wrap which is great for the first hour or two then he moves and cries a bit, tryin to get himself into a comfy position. he loves sleepin on his belly but has trouble because he wants his head up a little bit so he sleeps on his hands but thats alittle uncomfortable am i able to give him a very flat pillow or something for he (and i) is having great difficulty getting a good sleep he usually sleeps the whole night??? "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
We don't recommend wrapping after 3 months but try a sleeping bag instead.

Cheers, Maree

Question: I'm against controlled crying but not sure what else to do?

"My 3 month old is used to being rocked to sleep and during the day only has catnaps of up to 30min. In evenings when put to sleep she'll wake up 2 sometimes 3-4 times every 30 min before she finally goes to sleep for the night. I'm against controlled crying but not sure what else to do to teach her to fall asleep on her own? HELP! "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
When baby is rocked to sleep she wakes on her light sleep and looks for this same comfort to return to sleep. If you were to settle her awake into the cot then she could learn to sleep independently. Controlled comforting is extremely difficult to do and not for everyone. Our settling techniques for newborn to 6months are all hands on and no leaving baby at this age. Sometimes if you understand why baby is having trouble sleeping then it's easier to make a decision as to whether to change the routine or not.

Cheers, Maree

Question: What would you suggest I do when he is awake for this time period?

"I have a newborn and he is quite unsettled. At times after a feed it takes about 2 hours to get him to bed and then it is time to feed him. What would you suggest I do when he is awake for this time period - do I extend his sleep and delay the next feed. "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
If you were to follow a feed/play/sleep routine then he would sleep and when he wakes you feed and then play and then watch for tired signs and then as soon as you see these you can wrap him and settle him awake into the cot using our patting settling techniques this teaches him to sleep independently. Try to have a feeding routine of say 2,6,10,2,6,10 (4 hourly) If he wakes and not due for a feed yet that's ok you don't have to feed staight away if he's not due, but if you still follow the order of feed/play/sleep then you will begin to get confidence in knowing what is a hunger cry and what is a tired cry and this way you avoid feeding an already tired baby off to sleep. During the night replace play with a nappy change and resettle him awake into the cot, if he is not due for a feed during the night resettle him. 
You can get details for our It's Time To Sleep settling program from the website or from www.itstimetosleep.com
I hope this helps.

Cheers, Maree