Sleep: your new baby and toddler

Put your babies to sleep at the same time in the same room

Keeping your baby and toddler on the same night sleep schedule is always a good idea to developing a healthy sleep pattern. This is not always possible and it may be better suited to sleep you toddler first and your baby half an hour later. You will be the best judge of which will work the best for you and your routine.

When you have worked out the best option for you and your babies, you will find that if one baby does wake it, will not wake the second child.

Put your little ones to bed drowsy, but not asleep

Help them learn to fall asleep on their own by letting them drift off once they're in bed, rather than just before you put them down to sleep. This allows them to settle themselves to sleep.

For the first several days, your children may negatively respond to each other at night. Most likely, your oldest child will go to bed fine, so place them to bed first then half an hour later you can put baby down to sleep.

Baby may awaken or upset your oldest child so you may need to start the process of teaching your oldest to sleep heavier this takes some getting used to for him, just remember to reassure him. Soon the oldest will just stir when baby wakes.

Do make sure though that an unchecked toddler is not able to "feed" unsuitable toys through the bars of the cot, which could be a hazard to smaller children. On the whole, being together at night-time will enhance your children's relationship and could be a source of increased comfort and security while they are both very young.