As a new parent, you are thrust into irregular sleep patterns as your baby demands feedings around the clock. Initially, his small stomach can only hold enough food to satisfy him for three to four hours, according to HealthyChildren, a website associated with the American Association of Pediatricians. HealthyChildren indicates that approximately 90 percent of babies sleep through the night--approximately six hours--by the time they are three months old.
Time Frame
According to BabyCenter, when your baby will sleep through the night is anybody's guess. Babies vary in all of their developmental areas, sleep being one of them. Some babies will begin sleeping through the night around six weeks, whereas many others are five to six months before they sleep through the night. Still others, much to the chagrin of the parents, will continue with night wakings into the toddler years.
Features
According to William Sears, M.D., et.al. in "The Baby Sleep Book," a baby's sleep is different from an adult's sleep. While your baby is sleeping, her brain is growing and developing thanks to various hormones and increased blood flow which happens with REM sleep. During your baby's sleep, she will spend more time in the REM stage. REM sleep is a lighter sleep, and has the additional role of acting as a protective feature. A baby who is having trouble breathing because of a stuffy nose, or who needs to wake for a feeding will have her sleep interrupted to answer her physical needs.
Function
According to Dr. Sears, waking up happens for a variety of reasons and can depend upon the stage of development your baby is in. Hunger is one reason. Most babies don't stop night feedings for at least six months. Breastfed babies may go even longer than that.
Developmental milestones can interfere with sleep. A baby just learning to roll, sit up, crawl or walk is prone to waking up at night so she can practice.
Experiencing pain from teething can start as early as three months of age. With no distractions, the ache of budding teeth can disrupt her already light sleep.
She misses you. She spent nine months in your body, is cuddled and fed during the day, and the lack of your presence at night may upset her.
The temperature may be uncomfortable. Dr. Sears suggests dressing your baby in cotton when putting her to bed. Most babies can sleep in the same temperature an adult would feel comfortable sleeping in. If your baby is a newborn or premature, add one additional layer to what you may have. By feeling your baby's belly or back, you will feel if she seems cold, or sweaty and too hot.
Tips
You aren't completely at your baby's mercy when it comes to getting a full night's rest. There are some things you can try that will help your baby develop good sleeping habits, and get you the regular rest you need.
According to BabyCenter, by the age of six to eight weeks, try putting your baby down drowsy, but still awake to allow him to get used to falling asleep on his own.
BabyCenter also recommends developing a routine before bedtime each night. This often includes a bath and a feeding. Having part of the routine take place in your baby's room helps her to see that her room is just another comfortable part of your home, not just a place she is banished to for sleeping.
Recognize when your baby is tired. An overtired baby can have increased difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Once you begin to notice a pattern of her sleepy times, try to start her routine early enough that you are able to get her in bed to meet up with her sleepiness.
Considerations
Dr. Sears warns of GERD, gastroesopogeal reflux disease, and its effects on sleep. GERD starts in the early weeks of life, so if your baby has been sleeping well but suddenly stops, it's unlikely to be GERD. Disrupted sleep is a major feature of GERD and your baby can experience restless sleep, wake frequently with a scream that says she is hurting, sleep better in an upright position and even experience prolonged stopped-breathing episodes, according to Dr. Sears.
If you are concerned about your baby's night wakings, it's well worth it to consult your baby's pediatrician. You may come away with tips for making nighttime easier, the reassurance that your baby is fine or a medical explanation for her wakings, such as GERD, in which case you can begin addressing her symptoms to make her more comfortable.
References
- HealthyChildren: Sleep
- BabyCenter: Baby sleep basics: Birth to 3 months
- "The Baby Sleep Book"; William Sears, Robert Sears, James Sears, and Martha Sears; 2005
