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Poor advice and parental anxiety are two of the most common reasons why parents and infants lose sleep and struggle with sleep deprivation for weeks, months, even years together sometimes, according to child health nurse and Sunshine Coast author Rowena Bennett.

The Queenslander's new book "Your Sleepless Baby: The Rescue Guide" talks about various sleeping problems and also guides parents through a step-by-step process so that they can identify and find a solution to their baby's issues, reports Fraser Coast Chronicle.

"When a sleep problem first presents, parents typically worry that their baby is suffering from a medical condition like colic, acid reflux or milk allergy or intolerance. Consequently, many parents spend months searching for a medical solution to their baby's distress," Rowena was quoted as saying by the website.

"A number of studies have shown that less than 5% of irritable, sleepless babies have a medical condition. The distress displayed by healthy, thriving babies is usually due to sleep deprivation owing to the parents' infant settling practices."

"Parents in general are unaware of the influence they have over their baby's sleep. As a result many parents accidentally encourage their baby to learn sleep habits that lead to disruptive sleep for everyone in the household. Once learned, poor sleep habits can be challenging to change."

"Most sleep problems experienced by well babies can be resolved by encouraging sleep habits that support the baby to self-regulate his sleeping patterns. This enables them to get the amount of sleep their little body needs without reliance on others. Better sleep for baby means better sleep for parents."

Rowena, a child health nurse, a mother and grandmother herself, has firsthand experience and an in-depth knowledge of a situation where lack of sleep can create havoc for a baby's health and the family in turn.

"I've dedicated my career to helping parents and their babies, and it gives me great satisfaction to know I can help families with this very common and challenging problem," Rowena said.

"Every baby deserves to sleep well, and so does every parent."

Rowena consults parents worldwide on baby care problems, including sleep problems through a website run by her, www.babycareadvice.com.