Sleep consists of two cycles, rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep and non-rapid eye movement, or NREM. Infants complete a single sleep cycle about every 50 to 60 minutes, according to the University of Michigan, providing plenty of opportunities for your child to wake up. The secret to getting sleep as a new parent is not to prevent your baby from waking up, but to help him get back to sleep on his own.
Develop Sleep Associations
Some days rock your baby to sleep, other times lay her in his crib and rub her back. Switch parents so that the same one is not always putting her to bed. While some structure makes bedtime easier, if the situation is overly rigid, it can make your baby feel that she cannot go to sleep unless everything is the same, every night. Creating several routines that your baby associates with bedtime makes life easier on you and baby.
Routines
During the first few months of an infant's life, the baby naturally sleeps and wakes throughout the day and night. To help your baby understand when it is bedtime, add routines during the day, such as cluster feedings, and during the evenings, such as extra cuddling and bath time.
As your baby becomes more active, he may want to interact with you during the day, and naturally stretch the time out between meals. This leaves him hungry overnight. Institute cluster feedings if your baby wakes up hungry during the night. Watch the clock and make sure he eats every two to three hours during the day.
During the evening, consider wearing baby in a sling or cuddling him in your arms in a low-key manner. Many babies quickly learn to associate a warm bath with bedtime. Don't forget to switch these duties with the other parent to prevent baby from becoming too dependent on one of you.
Be Predictable
Even babies who don't need to get up in the morning to go to day care do better with a reasonably regular nap time and bedtime. This prevents your baby from playing until exhausted, and collapsing into sleep, which doesn't help her develop healthy sleep patterns. Regular bedtimes and nap times along with regular meals also create a schedule that makes your baby's world more predictable, helping her develop trust and confidence.
Consider White Noise
Some babies sleep while the vacuum cleaner is running, while others are startled awake by the creaking of the crib mattress. Running a fan or white noise machine can prevent your baby from being startled awake and the familiar sound can help him soothe himself back to sleep when he does wake up.
Decide on Plan
Crying it out, putting baby in the crib after she falls asleep in a parent's arms and putting a drowsy baby in his crib and rubbing her back until she falls asleep are all effective. Not returning to the room if she wakes up during the night, returning and comforting without picking her up, picking her up and taking her into bed with you are all acceptable ways to handle your baby waking up in the middle of the night. It is important to choose a style that you and your spouse are comfortable with, and be consistent.
