Health Visiting

COPING WITH DISTURBED NIGHTS

Disturbed nights can be very hard to cope with. If you have a partner, get them to help.

If you are formula feeding, encourage your partner to share the feeds. If you are on your own, you could ask a friend or relative to stay for a few days so that you can sleep.

If you are breastfeeding, ask your partner to take over the early morning changing and dressing so you can go back to sleep. Once you are into a good routine with breastfeeding, your partner could occasionally give a bottle of expressed milk during the night.

Current advice is that the safest place for your baby to sleep is on their back in a cot in a room with you for the first six months.

Particularly in the early weeks, you may find that your baby only falls asleep in you or your partner’s arms or when you are standing by the cot.

Your guide to breastfeeding
Your guide to maternal mental health