• You need to be realistic. With a young baby, you’ll be waking through the night to feed. During those first few months, sleep is important for most of us, try to sleep when your baby sleeps.    
• Plan naps as you can through the day as well – if you can, sleep when your baby sleeps. 
• Who can help? Ask yourself who can offer help such as watching the baby whilst you sleep. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
• If you are breastfeeding, having your baby in the same room as you can help reduce the impact through the night. You can gently bring your baby over near you and feed them.

• Sleep and Stress
• The Right Conditions
• Over Tired

Cortisol is the sleep/stress hormone which controls when you wake up. Cortisol levels should be as low as possible when you go to bed. During the night, cortisol levels gradually rise, and when they reach a certain level, you will wake up.

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Melatonin is the sleep hormone that triggers sleep. In the days of cavemen, at night-time, it became cool and dark – and that triggered the release of melatonin. Try to replicate these conditions about an hour before you want to sleep.

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If you are over-tired when you go to sleep, you will be stressed and your cortisol levels will be raised. If you go to bed very late and very tired, your cortisol levels will be raised and this will cause you to wake up earlier. That can be helped by napping as much as you can on and off through the day - sleep breeds sleep.

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Who can help?

If you’re worried about your child, a health professional in our team will be able to offer advice and support. You can Call Us on 0300 029 50 50 or Text Us on 07520 649887 to start a conversation. If your aged 11-19 you can text ChatHealth on 07480 635 443

**Monday to Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm excluding bank holidays**

Need More Information?

• Lullaby Trust, safer sleeping advice
• Family Lives, sleep for newborns and babies
• Understanding childhood, crying and sleeping in the first months of life
• NHS, how much sleep do kids need?
• NHS, sleep tips for teenagers
• NHS, how to get sleep
• NHS, sleep apps
• My baby's crying I.C.O.N. cope - advice for new parents who are struggling with a newborn baby.

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Delivering excellence in Children and Young People’s Services:
a partnership between Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council