Doing things at the same time and in the same way each day will give your child a sense of security. A good routine can take the form of a warm bath, getting into night clothes, a feed or drink of milk, a cuddle, a story and a darkened room. These events will soon become a familiar signal to your child, telling them that it's time to sleep.

Babies often cry when they are put down. If your baby cries, try and wait for a few minutes before going back into the room - they will often settle by themselves. Tying an item of your worn clothing (like a T-shirt) to the bars of the cot may also help your baby to settle, as your familiar smell will reassure your baby that you are close by.

We all drift in and out of sleep several times during the night and may wake up briefly. Toddlers need to be taught how to go back to sleep on their own, rather that rely on you or other props, for example being given a drink or having the television on. Keep the bedroom quiet and dark (use a night light if your child is afraid of the dark). Your child will learn that these things mean that it's time to sleep.

Getting your child into bed is one thing, but getting them to stay in bed is quite another! They will probably try all sorts of tactics to get your attention, such as wanting a snack, a drink or the toilet. Leave a beaker of water on the bedside table and give them a last snack before they go to bed. If they need to go to the toilet, keep all interaction to a minimum. Then say: “Time for bed,” and calmly and gently guide them back to bed.

If your child wakes up and calls out for you in the night, check that they are well, then say: “It's time to sleep” and leave the room. It's important not to chat to them or give them any unnecessary attention. You may have to repeat this over several days, but if you are consistent, unnecessary calling out will eventually stop.

It's natural for children to sometimes want to climb into mum and dad's bed at night, but most parents would rather their child slept in their own bed for all of the night. To put your child off this habit, first calmly and firmly return them to their own room. Then say: “Time for bed, ” and leave the room. You may need to repeat this process several times a night over the course of a couple of weeks, but eventually, they will get the message.

A common concern for many parents is that a baby or toddler crying in the night may wake other children in the household. This worry is understandable, especially if you have an older child who needs their sleep in order to get up for school in the morning. However, in reality, siblings often sleep through the fuss, or wake but quickly go back to sleep again. If their sleep is disturbed, you can move them into your room while you are off teaching their brother or sister how to sleep.

If your child wakes before you in the morning, try giving them an alarm clock and tell them that they can come into your room only when it goes off. If they get up before that, they can play quietly in their room. Alternatively, you can set up a lamp with a timer and tell them that when it comes on, it's okay for them to get up. Reward them with a sticker for every morning that they manage to stay in their room until the rest of the family is ready to get up.

Babies and toddlers may wake in the night because of the discomfort of teething, a cold or a stuffed up nose. If your child is teething, homeopathic granules or teething gel can give some relief. If your child feels unwell and you need to give them frequent attention, try sleeping in their room rather than bringing them into bed with you, which can set up a sleep association that may be difficult to break later on.

If your child wakes in the night with a nightmare, sit with them until they are calm. Listen to their fears and then reassure them that they are safe and that everything is okay. If they are afraid of monsters lurking in the dark, presenting them with a spray bottle filled with water and telling them it's a magic monster zapper works wonders! If nightmares are frequent, talk to your child and try to find out if anything is worrying them.