A bedtime routine was definitely one of the most important elements of my baby survival guide. Even though my baby didn’t start to sleep through the night until he was nine and a half months old, the bedtime routine we created became something that not only my baby relied on, but my husband and I also.

I found that following a similar pattern of events every night in the lead up to my baby’s bedtime, provided cues to my baby that night time (and therefore a longer stretch of sleep) was imminent. A bedtime routine sends clear messages that it is time for bed and therefore allows babies to settle more easily.

As you progress through your routine each night, it gives your baby time to wind down. We don’t just jump into bed and expect to go to sleep do we? We normally have a process or a routine that we go through to help us go to sleep (e.g. Have a shower, brush our teeth, jump into bed, toss and turn a little until we’re in a comfortable sleep position). It’s the same for your baby. A night time routine allows your baby to know what to expect.

My husband and I also found it great, because we always had some time to ourselves in the evening. Before we implemented a routine, our baby was going to bed at different times every night and often really late in the evening. The routine was imperative in keeping our sanity. Looking after a baby is so full on, you need sometime in the evenings to relax before you go to bed and then get up and do it all again the next day.

I felt it very necessary to cover colic in the baby survival guide because when my baby had terrible colic, I couldn’t find any really useful tips for dealing with it. I really had to find out the hard way.

Colic is normally diagnosed in babies that cry intensely for extended periods of time and cannot be settled. They often pull their legs up to their chest as if they are in pain and normally have their fists clenched. Their faces go bright red with all the screaming and honestly look like they are in terrible pain. These crying episodes often begin in the early evening and go on for many hours

My baby had terrible colic. He once cried from 3:30 in the afternoon till about 11:30 that night. But I had a lot of trouble trying to find anything out about how to treat it. Some people don’t even believe that colic exists. I read a few books and articles stating that colic was just an ‘unsettled period’ in the evening and was mostly due to over stimulation. Supporters of this position believe babies receive so much stimulation during the day, that by the time evening rolls around, they are just over stimulated and can’t handle it anymore and just crack! Others believe the old ‘baby wind’ theory and try and encourage you to do all sorts of things to relieve your baby’s wind. This left me really unsure of where to turn, so I pretty much tried everything. Here are a few things that worked for me:

• Take your baby outside.
• Sing to your baby.
• Carry your baby in a sling.
• Put your baby in a motorized swing.
• Give your baby a warm bath.
• Don’t over feed your baby.
• Get your baby checked by a doctor for excessive wind or reflux.
• Share the comforting with someone else.
• Try to relax and remember it won’t last forever.

Babies cry for many reasons. It is your baby's most powerful means of communication. Babies cry with their whole bodies, including their legs, so that the normal leg action of a baby is often misinterpreted as wind.

It is normal for babies to have AT LEAST one unsettled period per day. It usually occurs in the evening but can happen at any time. During these times, your baby may want to feed frequently and often seems to be snacking. This often causes mothers to be worried about their milk supply but it is the cause of the problem. These frequent feeds 'put in order' for the next day and should be welcomed as they will ensure your continued milk supply. Do not offer formula as it will upset this delicate balance. As you get to know your baby better and they get to know you, you will develop skills to manage these unsettles times better.

Regurgitation is common and may occur in about 40% of babies under three months. Most babies with regurgitation or reflux are healthy and grow well. By 6-10 months, as your baby spends more time during the day in an upright position, the condition usually settles. Breastfeeding is not the cause and does not make the condition any worse.

Active toddlers can be quite handful at times. Babies tend to become hyperactive during this age and become very curious and try to poke their noses at the most unexpected places in your home. They can get hurt in most baby-proofed homes too and no toys seem to keep their attention longer than a few minutes. They are so enthusiastic to learn about everything and have such a short attention span that they cannot just keep still. They do grow up and can be controlled better as their ability to concentrate increases. Till then, here are a few tips that will help you to make your new crawler or walker sit still for longer periods of time:

• Changing the position of toys or using them in new and innovative ways may attract children more. For example, balls can not only roll but bounce too.
• Forbidden territories make babies more curious. So, if they want to make mess in the kitchen, put them in a tub with lots of whipped cream to play with and enjoy. You can also catch some funny and naughty photographs of your child at this time.
• Interactive games with children such as ‘Peek-a-boo’ with parents are thoroughly enjoyable for most babies.
• Read bedtime stories to your child as he watches the pictures. This will increase his attention span much more than watching TV.
• You can keep your child interested in his old toys by hiding some playthings for a week while the child continues to play with other toys and then bringing them back and hiding some other toys for a week.