Bedtime bottle helps baby sleep

A BOTTLE at bedtime really could help babies sleep better. Infants fed just before they fall asleep slumber for an extra hour before waking up during the night, a study has found.

But parents be warned – taking a baby back to your own bed after they wake up could cut the amount of time they sleep by almost 20 minutes. The better option may be to check in on them without picking them up, which is linked to babies sleeping for an extra 15 minutes at night.

Good sleep in babies is linked to a healthier weight and better behaviour.

Dr Mirja Quante, from the University of Tuebingen in Germany, said their research of 313 US parents found ‘that a bottle before bed’ helps babies sleep for longer.