Have you just brought your little bundle of joy home from the hospital? If the answer is yes, then we would firstly like to congratulate you on your adorable new addition to the family. Secondly, we would like to welcome you to the wonderful world of parenting together with all of its highs and lows (but mostly highs!). If you have a newborn, we have a feeling here at Children's Bed Shop that one of the number one thoughts on your mind right now is sleep and how to get more of it! The following guide will explain how to establish a bedtime routine from the outset, along with some safe sleep advice.

Although it is recommended that you keep your baby in the same room as you for the first six months, there is nothing to stop you from decorating and furnishing their bedroom with nursery furniture before they are born. Even if your baby doesn't sleep in their own room until they are slightly older, they will still spend a lot of time there, and you may even want to start the bedtime routine in their room.

You will need to have a look at some nursery cots first to see which one suits the style of your baby's bedroom and your requirements. You can change the mattress level of some nursery cots so that the mattress lowers once your baby starts standing and some nursery cots can even be converted into toddler beds. It is therefore important to take your time when browsing so that you can choose what is right for you and your little one! You will no doubt want to have a look at some nursery furniture and perhaps even some children's bedroom furniture like a bookcase for example, which will come in handy for book and toy storage later on.

When it comes to your baby's bedtime routine, you can try a few different things to see if it helps to improve the quantity and quality of your baby's sleep (and therefore yours!) You could start the routine by bathing your baby at around the same time every evening. You could follow on from this by giving your baby a relaxing baby massage and changing them into a fresh nappy and pyjamas. You could then either read them a bedtime story or sing a nursery rhyme, dim the lights, and give them a goodnight kiss and hug before placing them in their cot. Doing this helps create a calm environment which will ultimately help your baby to understand that it's time to go to sleep.

It is also important to follow a few simple rules to create a safe sleeping environment for your baby. You should lie your baby on their back when they sleep in their cot and you should not sleep with your baby on a sofa, armchair or in your bed. Your baby's head should never become covered with bedding. They should not be allowed to get too hot or too cold.

Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and remember that every baby's sleeping patterns are different, especially in the early days. You will sleep and feel well-rested again, we promise!