Sleep is probably the one thing we parents discuss constantly and the thing we dread about having a newborn. Most bleary-eyed parents know that babies don’t sleep through the night!

So how can we help our children get to sleep, whether they are babies, toddlers, schoolchildren or teenagers? We talked to Lisa Lamb, better known as the Night Ninja, on the Brummie Mummies podcast.

She's a sleep consultant who is appearing at the upcoming The Baby Show at the NEC and has loads of tricks up her sleeve for helping everyone in the family get a good night’s rest.

Read more: How much sleep your kids should be getting - from babies to teenagers

"If you are struggling with your little one's sleep, I have three quick fixes I'd look at first," said former school teacher Lisa. "My first thing is to set up a morning routine."

Listen to all of Lisa's sleep tips on the Brummie Mummies Podcast:

"Look at what time you are waking your baby up or whether you are just letting them wake up at different times. If you're being woken up lots in the night, it's tempting to think let's have a little lie-in if the baby is sleeping in. I totally understand that.

"But then you end up in a circle, catching up with yourself every day. Instead, wake them up at a regular time because this will help you to know when their first nap will be. If they are waking up at different times that nap will always be a different time and you'll feel you're not getting into a routine.

"Some babies struggle with that whereas if you wake them at the same time each day then your baby will naturally start to put themselves into a sleep routine.

"The next thing is naps. Naps are a massive thing. Daytime naps really help with night time sleep. Look at how much sleep they need for their age and how long they can stay awake before they need sleep to work out how long the naps should be.

"Then it's about setting up a bedtime routine. For babies up to three months, do a 10 to 20 minute routine. Start with a bath because it's so different to everything else in their day. So when they get older, it sparks the sensation that sleep is coming and they need to wind down.

"Then maybe do a nice massage, get them into clean pyjamas, read a nice story or have a singsong - choose three or four things and do them every night. You may think they're so little, this doesn't really make sense because they don't understand. But, as they get older, they will really learn that this means sleep is coming and it will make their journey into sleep easier.

"When it comes to toddlers, spend around 30 minutes winding down. Do the same kind of thing as for babies. We're all so busy every day, the bedtime routine is half an hour where we can switch off and spend time with our little ones and literally give them all our attention. It's a really nice bonding time.

"So my three tips are morning routine, naps and bedtime routine. Even for us adults, it's good to wake up and go to sleep at the same time each day."

For Lisa, she found her experiences changed between being a new mum and a mum of three. She said: "I could stay at home with my first and I was a school teacher so I was very into routine. Her sleep was good because I worked hard on it.

"I wouldn't go out and jeopardise her nap and I'd make sure we were at home at bedtime. By the time I got to my third, I was a lot more relaxed. I knew it didn't have to be so strict and that we could be more flexible. I was a lot more chilled with it."

Find out more about Lisa via her Night Ninja website

Brummie Mummies Podcasts

Get discounted tickets to The Baby Show with Brummie Mummies

The Baby Show with Lidl GB runs from May 12 to 14 at The NEC in Birmingham. We’ve got an exclusive ticket offer just for you! If you book before midnight on Thursday May 11, you can get a ticket for £16 per person * (instead of £25 per person) plus a Mystery Goody bag that you collect at the show.

Visitors can try, compare, buy and save from over 350 leading and boutique brands showcasing their latest products and exclusive offers. You’ll be able to get all your baby essentials, including buggies, car seats, nursery furniture, carriers, clothing, feeding equipment, baby monitors and more.

Lisa is one of lots of top baby experts taking part in Q&As, panel discussions and presentations on the free Live Talks Stage, where you'll be able to get advice on everything from sleep and breastfeeding to first aid and weaning. Book your discounted tickets here using the code BRUMMIE2.

* T&Cs apply. Only one email address can be used to register for a £16pp ticket and one Mystery goody bag. Excludes £2.50 transaction fee. Find out more about the show via The Baby Show website

For family tips and advice, follow our Brummie Mummies Facebook page and Instagram page, sign up to our Brummie Mummies newsletter and listen to our podcasts

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