To celebrate the launch of its NEW Baby Sleep collection, leading experts in sleep, This Works, share how to prepare even the littlest members of the family for sweet dreams.

The phrase ‘sleeping like a baby’ has always been associated with long nights of peaceful sleep, but as any new parent will tell you, that is rarely the case with babies and young children. Whether it’s sleep training or sleep regression, late nights or early mornings, restlessness from teething, terrors, or pure stubbornness – there are countless reasons why children struggle to sleep, which in turn can impact the whole family.

No matter how ‘normal’ it is, it can be incredibly isolating if your child is keeping you up at night so to celebrate the launch of its latest collection Baby Sleep, This Works expert scientific Advisor Professor Gaby Badre and CEO and mum of three, Dr Anna Persaud explains some of the science behind the sleeplessness and share some of their top tips for making bedtimes easier for families.

ThisWorks baby sleep bottom balm 50ml RRP: £10 / €13

Understanding Your Newborn’s Sleep

Even before we are born, our lives are governed by our internal circadian rhythm. A newborn instinctively mimics their mother’s sleep pattern learnt in the womb and generally, will sleep during the night – albeit in shorter bursts. But within months, babies start developing their circadian rhythm and so without a proper sleep routine, they may become less inclined to follow their parents’ preferred sleep patterns.

“Little is known about exactly when or how a baby’s biological clock develops, but the consensus is that it is best to try and establish a sleep routine between two and six months,” explains Professor Badre. “But before you officially start sleep training, to maximise your newborn’s sleep you should make sure they are warm, well-fed and get them used to sleep in the dark. Our circadian rhythm is entrained by day and night, light and dark. It is never too early to reinforce that pattern and there is evidence to show that infants as young as one-month-old can be affected by light, so try to avoid turning on bright lights, the TV or other devices when you are trying to get baby back to sleep at night-time.”

ThisWork baby sleep gentle wash 250ml RRP: £15 / €19

Baby’s First Sleep Routine

“From around the three-month mark, parents should have some habits for their baby to reinforce the development of their circadian rhythm. Try to keep your baby active during the day when they are not napping to help them start differentiating between day and night,” recommends Professor Badre. “This is also the time to start positively reinforcing a bedtime routine to give your baby signals that it is time to sleep – such as bathing, massage or singing a lullaby.”

This Works Baby Sleep is a collection of natural, vegan bedtime products featuring four gentle bath and body care products and a new baby sleep pillow spray to use in the lead-up to bedtime helping families follow a bedtime routine. Dr Anna Persaud explains, “We know a healthy sleeping pattern helps to reduce stress, anxiety and promotes resilience over general wellbeing, which is why we have developed Baby Sleep, to help establish healthy sleep patterns from a young age and create positive habits through a bedtime routine that parents can consistently follow.” 

ThisWorks baby sleep body lotion 250ml RRP: £18 / €22

Sleep and the Senses

As well as the basics of the routine structure, there are ways that you can stimulate their senses in a way that relaxes the brain and signals that it is time to sleep.

“The sense of smell has direct access to part of the brain that stores memories, so if a scent comes to be associated with something comforting, such as a parent, it can help induce calm,” explains Professor Badre. “A natural fragrance such as lavender which is proven to promote sleep added to bath water or scent near a baby’s cot can help establish a scent-memory which will soothe and comfort throughout childhood and beyond.”

ThisWorks baby sleep pillow spray 75ml RRP: £19.50 / €23

This Works new baby sleep pillow spray (RRP €23/ £19.50) contains a functional fragrance including a 98% natural Superblend of Lavender, Vetivert, Camomile and Lemon Balm Extract that’s proven to settle baby down for better, longer, more restorative sleep as well as regulating sleeping patterns and minimising wakefulness and disturbances in the night – helping you get better sleep too.

Touch can also be a calming influence and is the main way of communicating with babies before they can understand language. Enjoy a pre-sleep mini massage with baby sleep massage oil (RRP: £12 / €16), a non-greasy, 100% natural body oil with Lavender, Camomile and Sweet Almond Oil helping to relax, calm, comfort and soothe baby gently into sleep and establish a healthy bedtime routine. Or if you prefer a lotion, apply baby sleep body lotion (RRP: £18 / €22) to give a gentle massage – infused with calming essential oils and skin-protecting Shea Butter & Aloe Vera helping to pave the way to a peaceful night’s sleep.

ThisWorks baby sleep massage oil 50ml RRP: £12 / €16

 This Works is available from Dunnes Stores, Cloud10 Beauty, Shaws Department Stores, Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Meaghers, McCabes, McCauleys, Avoca, Carraig Dunne and select Pharmacies Nationwide.