Have you got a little champ who is really not keen on going to bed? Big dramas, tantrums and a lot of crying at bed time? Here are a few different strategies you can try out:

* Options - give your little one a range of options about what order they want to do things (before going to bed) such as reading a book, brushing teeth, putting on the jammies, etc. Also ask them to choose a book, etc. It's essentially a distraction technique and is aimed at getting you out of a deadlock situation.

* No sleep - tell your little on that she doesn't HAVE to sleep ... she just needs to have the lights off and stay in her bed. Get some "glow in the dark" stars or animals which can present the perfect reason for switching off the light. Chances are once they are lying on the bed for 15 minutes (trying to stay up) they'll be asleep anyway.

With Ava’s first night at home, we had her bassinet setup, nice new sheets and blankets, and right by the bed… Andrea and I had envisioned that Ava would happily sleep in the bassinet next to her parent’s bed peacefully… Ava had other idea’s, and who could blame her?!?! She has just spent the last 40 weeks inside her mother, why would she then want to spend anytime away from her mother.Andrea knew from the nights in hospital that Ava liked to sleep next to her, so this is what’s so at the moment… I’m not thinking it spells trouble just yet; she is just too little to be manipulative.

I’m afraid I’m no good, I can sleep through a Rock Concert, and do not hear when Andrea gets up, during the night and morning to sooth a screaming Ava. I would be willing too, I just need to be poked awake.

I hope we get some use out the bassinet…

In our little breastfeeding community we recently realized that somehow we ended up with the short straw when it comes to our babies sleeping through the night. Our bottle feeding friends seem to have very few sleepless nights or even any disruptions at night. How unfair to follow nature's way and then get nocturnal stress as a pay back.

Perhaps it's a developmental stage thing – most of our babies in the group are now between 7 and 10 months old. Even the ones who used to sleep through the night have started waking up frequently. It's the age of pain and gain for babies. On the one hand they have to put up with a lot of pains (teething, digestion, bruises) and on the other hand there are exciting new ways to explore their environment now (crawling, walking, rolling). Maybe that's why they just can't sleep at night – or not as long as they used to. On top of that there is the attachment to the breast and closeness to mum for comfort and nourishment. So what to do to get a peaceful night?