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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: She keeps turning over. Is it safe for her to sleep on her belly?

"my daughter is nearly 10 months but 2 months premi i put her back when i put her in her cot she just turns herself over i can do it again and again and she will just turn back over is it safe for her to sleep on her belly? "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
SIDS do say the risks are reduced from about 5 to 6 months on. Do make sure you make up the cot safely and sleeping bags are also great. Check their website for details.

Cheers, Maree

Question: She has begun waking up about an hour after we put her down

"Hi there!  My baby is nearly 11 months, and recently she has begun waking up about an hour after we put her down for the second time (after her dreamfeed).  She crys for 5-10 minutes, and if I leave her, she goes back to sleep by herself.  I can't think of any reason why she wakes, and wondered if you have any ideas?
Thanks. "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
Do make sure she is going into the cot awake after the dream feed or else she will wake looking for this comfort.

Cheers, Maree

Question: My son then wakes at 2am on the dot (without fail) and screams

"Hi Maree,
Our pediatrician has told me that our 5 month (21weeks) son should be sleeping through from about 7/7.30 pm to around 6am, however my darling son isn't !! I have been trying his routine for a week and half now and the day is ok basically 2 up then 2 down with playtime and solids incorporated. The night however is a nightmare - I give a feed at 5.30/6 pm then a dream feed at 10.30pm, my son then wakes at 2 am on the dot (with out fail) and screams the house down until I feed him ( breast feeding only). I have been giving up at 4 am after being awake since 2 am and tryed everything to get him to settle ( he self settles himself at all other times)PLEASE HELP !!! What should I do ? I am sooo sleep deprived its not funny .... Thanks Leonie "

Maree Answers:

Hi Leonie,
Well your pediatrician is obviously quite educated in this area but we say don't expect baby to sleep right through until 6 months.
After this time if baby is not sleeping through we offer a 10pm rollover feed. Always make sure you settle baby awake after the feed so he is learning to sleep independently and when he is ready to sleep through he knows how to and not relying on your comfort to sleep. Try following our It's Time To Sleep settling program.

Cheers, Maree

Question: Can you reccomend any tips for weaning him off the wrap?

"Hi I know that you don't reccomend wrapping after 3 months but i have always wrapped my 4 month old son. The problem is now he is fighting the wrap so i leave it off during the day when he has shorter sleeps but what do i do of a night. He always will wake himself by waving his arms and legs about but as soon as is wrapped goes back to sleep. Can you reccomend any tips for weaning him off the wrap. Thanks "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
This is his sleep association and you might want to try using our settling techniques for settling and resettling.

Cheers, Maree

Question: He will only sleep during the day if he is in the baby bjorn

"My 10 week old baby will only sleep during the day if he is in the baby bjorn. I try him in his bed and he screams until I pick him up. I have even let him cry for a few minutes as well as standing there so he can see me. He is fine when I pick him up he stops crying straight away. He sleeps better at night but can go all day with a 20 minute nap here and there. It is becoming frustrating as I have a 2 1/2 year old as well.
Thanks Selina "

Maree Answers:

Hi Selina,
This is his sleep association and if you want to change this you may have to persist with implementing some settling techniques.
Try our It's time To Sleep settling program it teaches baby to sleep independently.

Cheers, Maree

Question: After this feed she doesn't want to sleep, it's like she thinks it's morning!

"My daughter is 9 weeks old and has started sleeping 4-5 hours during the night, compared with sleeping 2-3 hours previously if we were lucky!

The problem is, her longest stretch of sleep starts between 5pm-7pm, meaning she is ready to get up around 10pm-3am.  After this feed, she doesn't seem to want to sleep, it's like she thinks it's morning!  Is there anything I can do to change her sleep pattern so she goes down after 9pm and wakes up early morning?  I'm finding it very difficult spending time with my husband and getting things done in these time frames! "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
Having a new baby is so time consuming you just can't believe it till you go through it. Try to follow a feed/play/sleep routine and try to have a feeding routine of 2,6,10,2,6,10 and always settle baby awake into the cot so she is learning to sleep independently. During the night replace play with a nappy change and resettle if not due for a feed.
You can get information for 'Your Baby's Sleep' or www.itstimetosleep.com

Cheers, Maree

Question: When he's in his wrap he rolls less, but still occasionally does

"Hi Maree,
Firstly, I used your It's Time to Sleep program when my 16-week old was 5-weeks old - it worked a charm on the first effort.  At 12-weeks-ish we tried to do away with his wrap and had a week of bad day naps (nighttime sleep was unaffected).  We've given him the wrap through the day or when he has trouble falling over night. He started to roll last week and since then rolls to his tummy when he wakes.  He seems to have forgotten how to roll front to back now so he lies crying into his hands frustrated.  He does this in play too.  When he's in his wrap he rolls less, but still occasionally does.  What are we to do? "

Maree Answers:

Hi,
Try a sleeping bag they are great and give him extra tummy time during play to strengthen his neck.

Cheers, Maree