Baby and Sleep

baby sleep, sleep problem, baby bedtime, baby care

Everything you need to know about Baby and Sleep in the first six months

Baby and Sleep

There is nothing more frustrating than being dead tired yourself and having your baby just refuse to sleep. Experts agree that if you want to avoid sleeping difficulties, it's vital to develop a predictable bedtime routine in your baby's first year.

In your baby's early weeks, of course you should let him set the pace, but your baby should be ready to settle into a routine between the age of three and six months. This is the ideal time to develop a bedtime routine, where you put your baby to bed while he is awake and he learns to settle himself to sleep.

Sleeping Through

Sleeping through is a confusing expression as it implies sleeping soundly without stirring all night. In fact, humans of all ages have brief waking periods during the night, including baby who sleep through. It really refers to the stage when baby put himself back to sleep instead of fully waking and crying after these brief waking periods. The age at which baby do this can vary tremendously, but generally speaking, if your baby still wakes frequently at night after six months and you are finding it difficult to cope, you may wish to seek help.

Developing a Bedtime Routine

Here are some steps you can take to start settling your baby into a bedtime routine:

• try put your baby to bed at the same time and in the same place every night.

• help your baby distinguish between day and night by using familiar routines such as having a warm bath, changing into his night clothes, reading, singing nursery rhymes and darkening the room. Have a different routine for the day, for example, put your baby to sleep in a different room.

• treat day and night feeds differently. Make day feeds sociable, talk to your baby and play with your baby. Night feeds should be quiet and uneventful. Try to feed your baby even before he has the chance to wake up properly.

• put your baby to bed while he's drowsy but not asleep. Try to not over stimulate your baby just before putting your baby to bed.

• put something which smells of you (e.g. a breast pad) in the cot with your baby as this can be comforting.

• keep background noise low, but don't aim for total silence, as it's a comfort for your baby to hear that you are still around.

Solving Baby Sleep Problems

Once your baby is over six months of age you can start to actively shape his sleeping habits using one of the following routines. Many parents feel that by the time their baby is this age, they have had enough of nighttime waking and use one of the following techniques to help their baby learn to sleep by themselves. However, there is absolutely no reason to follow these methods if you're happy with things as they are

The checking bedtime routine

This is an excellent way to help your baby, aged six months or over, to go to sleep alone. Results can be quick, in as little as a week for some people, but you must stick to it.

1.   Tell your baby it's time for sleep, that you are going to leave the room, but you won't be far away, then go. Even a young baby will understand what you mean by your tone and actions.

2.   If he cries, wait five minutes, then return. Don't pick your baby up or take your baby out of the room. Don't turn on any lights, play with your baby or reassure your baby. Just stroke his hand or face until he is calm. Then repeat the message and leave the room.

3.   If he continues to cry, leave it a little longer (say 10 minutes), before returning. Continue the pattern until he falls asleep.

The gradual retreat method

This is ideal if you are a mum who usually cuddles your baby in bed or stays with him until he falls asleep:

1.   Sit by your baby's cot holding his hand until he falls asleep. Continue to do this for a week.

2.   For the next week, sit by your baby's cot without holding his hand, until he falls asleep.

3.   The following week, sit at the end of the cot until he falls asleep.

Continue to move away from the cot in small stages, a week at a time, until you reach the door. Sit at the open door for a week. By now he should be able to sleep without you being there in the room.

< previous                    next >

Related Links on BABY CARE

Sitemap

Home :  Index    

Baby Development :

• one and two months

• three and four months

• five and six months

• standard of weight and height

Baby Health Care :

• Common Illnesses 1 : Cold, Cough, Croup, Diarrhea

• Common Illnesses 2 : Ear infections, Fever

• Infectious Disease : Chicken pox, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Roseola, Whooping Cough

• Common Problem : Scalp, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Mouth

• Other Issues: Vomiting, Constipation, Natural Medicine

• Immunization

Baby Skin Care :

• Common Skin Rashes : Eczema, Nappy rash, Miliaria, Seborrhoeic dermatitis 

• Common Skin Blemishes : Milia, Dry skin, Cradle cap, Cheek rashes.

• Common Skin Marks : Port wine stains, Strawberry marks, Stork bites, Mongolian blue spots

Baby Massage : Baby Massage

Baby Stuff : Baby Stuff

Soothing & Sleeping :

• Soothing 1 : Crying, why is baby crying, how to soothe

• Soothing 2 : When soothing fails, soothing equipment

• Sleeping 1 : Sleeping Trough, developing a routine, solving sleep problems

• Sleeping 2 : Co sleeping, Baby's bed, SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

Baby's Nappy : 

• Nappy

• Nappy Rash

Baby Bath : Baby Bath

Breastfeeding :

• Breastfeeding and breast milk 

• Breastfeeding Problems and Solutions

• Breastfeeding Issues

• Bottle Feeding

Free Download: Baby Care Ebook

copyright @ 2007-2009 | baby-care.amalico.com | Baby Care:
baby health care, baby common illnesses, baby care ebook, baby diaper, breastfeeding, breast feeding,
Baby skin care, BABY bath, baby development, Baby massage, bottle feeding, baby sleep, sleep problem, baby bedtime