The Mayo Clinic says that newborn babies often only sleep an hour or two at a time, but at 6 months of age, many babies can sleep nine to 12 hours at a time. This is because older babies don't wake to eat as often and begin to consolidate their sleep time into a larger chunk at one time. There are many ways you can help your baby sleep and the Mayo Clinic recommends consulting a pediatrician if you are concerned about your baby's sleep habits.
Change Attitude
According to Dr. Sears, you should not force your baby to go to sleep but try a variety of things to help him learn to fall asleep at the right times, including bed time and nap time. The goal regarding sleep is to help him develop good sleep habits that will carry him through life. When you adjust your attitude to coincide with this belief you may be more successful at getting your infant to sleep when you want them to. Dr. Sears maintains that forcing a baby to sleep will encourage him to associate negative feelings about sleep and may make him more resistant to going to sleep when it is time. The Mayo Clinic says that a good amount of physical activity, stimulation during the day, and consistent naps that don't last too long, can make it easier for babies to sleep and make the attitude shift towards sleep easier for you.
Vary Sleep Location
Different babies sleep better in different places depending on where they feel most comfortable. Dr. Sears says that experimenting with your baby's sleep location can help you find the place where your infant will get the best quality and quantity of sleep. This can include a crib in a separate bedroom, a crib in your room or in bed with you. Finding where your baby is most comfortable can help you achieve success when getting him to go to sleep.
Consistent Routine
Having a routine that your baby can associate with time to sleep, can make it much easier for you to get your child to go to sleep. The familiarity of the routine provides a baby with the comfort needed to fall asleep. Dr. Sears says that good sleep routine components include a warm bath, gentle rocking, nursing, stories or singing. Lowering the lights can also help with the routine. Finally, the Mayo Clinic recommends putting your baby to sleep when he is drowsy, but not yet asleep, so that he can learn to put himself to sleep.
