Baby Sleep and Settling videos

These videos offer a range of strategies that will help your baby learn to sleep independently.

It is recommended that you watch these videos in this order to understand your baby’s current sleep patterns and how to address concerns with the right strategy.

In the first 12 months babies' bodies and brains develop rapidly. This video helps you to understand your baby’s development and sleep patterns as they grow.

By learning about your baby, you will understand their cues and be able to introduce healthy daily routines that support positive sleep patterns.

Key Points:

1. Feed, Play, Sleep cycle
2. Be attuned to your baby’s cues rather than precise timings
3. Introduce a positive evening routine
4. Consider a rollover feed approximately 3 hours after baby’s last feed of the day

Additional resources:

• raisingchildren.net.au/babies/development
• raisingchildren.net.au/babies/sleep
• tweddle.org.au - Sleep and Settling Fact Sheets available in fourteen languages  - We recommend: Factsheet 3
• tweddle.org.au - Sleep and Settling Fact Sheets available in fourteen languages  - We recommend: Factsheet 8

Safety is the first step to consider when sleeping your baby.

This video explores the safe sleep guidelines and the ideal environment when setting up your baby’s sleep space.

Key Points:

1. Review the sleep space for potential risks of dangers
2. Setting the scene for bedtime
3. Consider having a comfortable chair in the room for feeding and a cuddle
4. Babies sleep better when the room is darkened
5. Ensure there is a working smoke alarm that is less than 10 years old in the room(s) where baby sleeps

Additional resources:

• raisingchildren.net.au/newborns/sleep/sleep-safety/safe-sleep-environments-for-babies
• Red Nose - Six Safe Sleep Recommendations
• Red Nose -  Safe Environment
• Red Nose - How to create a safe nursery
• kidsafe - Home Safety

Learning about your baby and their tired signs will help you respond to their sleep and settling needs. Understanding the right time to put your baby to sleep helps your baby to learn to settle independently.

This video explores the daily patterns of your baby and different states of consciousness. It demonstrates how to recognise when your baby is ready for sleep, ideally before they become overtired.

Key Points:

1. All babies are different
2. Follow feed, play, sleep
3. Look for early tired signs in your baby and prepare for sleep
4. What happens during the day will influence night time behaviour

Additional resources:

• raisingchildren.net.au/babies/sleep/understanding-sleep/tired-signs
• tweddle.org.au - Sleep and Settling Fact Sheets available in fourteen languages  - We recommend: Factsheet 8

Responsive settling is a common strategy that responds to your baby’s needs by providing comfort and being present throughout the settling process.

This video explains responsive settling, which relies on consistency and persistence to gradually build the independence for your baby to self-settle.

Key Points:

1. Introduce a positive bedtime routine
2. Place your baby in the cot when drowsy
3. Sit beside the cot, and if required, give gentle reassurance starting with patting and shooshing
4. Up to 20 minutes is typical for a baby to settle. However, there are no set time limits
5. Consider ending the experience after 3 attempts or when your baby stops responding to your efforts to calm
6. Be consistent and build on the experience over time

Additional resources:

• raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/sleep/better-sleep-settling/responsive-settling-at-6-18-months-reducing-settling-help
• Better Health Channel- Solutions to sleep concerns (11) - babies 6 to 12 months
• tweddle.org.au - Sleep and Settling Fact Sheets available in fourteen languages  - We recommend: Factsheet 8
• tweddle.org.au - Sleep and Settling Fact Sheets available in fourteen languages  - We recommend: Factsheet 11

Parental Presence is a strategy for babies who depend on your presence to feel secure to fall asleep.  When your baby wakes and knows you are there, it gradually builds trust for them to resettle back to sleep.

Key Points:

1. Sleep on a mattress in your baby's room for 7 – 10 consecutive days for all sleeps
2. During the settling process minimise interaction with your baby to break the link between their sleep behaviour and your attention
3. If your baby becomes distressed, soothe with gentle words or patting
4. If your baby is not responding, pick them up and give them a cuddle
5. When your baby calms, you can reattempt Parental Presence or go back to the last technique that settled your baby. Then try Parental Presence again at the next sleep
6. After 3 consecutive nights of your baby sleeping through without needing your help to resettle, you can return to your own room

Additional resources:

• tweddle.org.au - Sleep and Settling Fact Sheets available in fourteen languages  - We recommend: Factsheet 11
• Better Health Channel- Solutions to sleep concerns (11) - babies 6 to 12 months

The Camping Out strategy is ideal for babies who depend on their parent’s comfort and presence to fall asleep.

This strategy allows you to leave the room once your baby is asleep and is particularly helpful for babies displaying behaviours of separation anxiety.

Key Points:

1. Introduce a positive bedtime routine
2. Place your baby in the cot when drowsy
3. Sit in a chair beside the cot. Use patting and shooshing as required to settle your baby to sleep. Once asleep you can leave the room
4. If baby wakes during sleep, repeat step 3
5. Allow a minimum of 3 nights at the cot side, gradually reducing the amount of patting and shooshing during this time
6. Once your baby is responding to this new way of settling, start to move your chair gradually away from the cot towards the door. Stay in the chair until your baby falls asleep then leave the room
7. If your baby wakes, return your chair to the position that last settled your baby
8. Allow a minimum of 2 nights for each movement of the chair towards the door
9. Pace this strategy to suit your baby’s needs 

Additional resources:

• raisingchildren.net.au/babies/sleep/solving-sleep-problems/camping-out
• Better Health Channel- Solutions to sleep concerns (11) - babies 6 to 12 months
• tweddle.org.au - Sleep and Settling Fact Sheets available in fourteen languages  - We recommend: Factsheet 11

Self care is essential for maintaining your overall health and well-being. Self care is often overlooked when you are busy caring for others.  
This video explores simple ways to nurture your own mental, emotional and physical health.

Key Points:

1. Find a few minutes each day to invest in self care. This will help you work towards reducing feelings of stress and anxiety
2. When feeling overwhelmed, reach out for help through family and friends or contact a health professional
3. If you are concerned about your mental health, or that of someone close to you, contact a health professional

Our free Maternal and Child Heath programs offer different options and supports for families to address sleep concerns for children aged 0-5 years.

To receive sleep and settling information:

Email: mchsleepprogram@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Phone: Ballarat Maternal and Child Heath service on 5320 5720
In person: Visit the sleep drop-in clinic on Tuesday mornings at Parent Place (39 Sturt Street, Ballarat) to be connected with more support.