Many babies have problems related to sleeping. A basic understanding of infant needs can help you care effectively for your baby. Ask your baby's pediatrician for specific advice regarding your child. Established management techniques can help many families with baby sleep issues.
Daily Activity
A proper daily schedule helps a baby sleep at night. This should include activity, exercise and meals in between naps of 1 to 3 hours. A newborn usually needs about 16 hours of sleep a day, while older infants need less. If a baby naps for more than 2 to 3 hours at a time, he may have trouble sleeping at night. Conversely, if a baby is kept awake for too many hours, he might become overly tired and have difficulty falling asleep.
Nighttime Routine
An established nighttime routine eventually helps your baby to understand that it is time for sleep. A nighttime bath, feeding, massage and quiet singing or music can lead to a good sleep for your baby. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital says that yawning, rubbing eyes, and avoiding your gaze are common behaviors that indicate a baby is getting sleepy. Mayo Clinic recommends that you put your baby in his crib while he is sleepy but slightly awake. This helps him to associate nighttime with falling asleep on his own. Staying with him for a few minutes and rubbing his skin while gently singing or talking with him can help. Avoid placing him in the crib and disappearing immediately.
Awakenings
When your baby awakens during the night, first consider if it is feeding time. If she hasn't eaten for 3 or 4 hours, she is probably hungry. If she has been asleep for a short time and is now awake and crying, wait about 3 minutes to see if she falls back to sleep on her own. If she continues to cry, check her for a wet or soiled diaper or other visible problem. Consider whether she may be hot or cold. Provide touch or speak or sing to him gently to let her know you are with her. This is critical to her development of trust. Not picking her up helps her to fall back asleep on her own.
As you provide care, a diaper change or feeding during the night, try to do it with soft lighting and a minimum of noise. This helps her to not become fully awake. If, despite your best efforts, your baby is wide awake at 3 a.m., it does not hurt to hold her, talk with her, and soothe her back to sleep. It can take many months for your baby to get on a set schedule.
Seeking Help
If your baby's awakenings are taking a toll on your physical or mental health, seek help from your partner, another family member or temporary hired help. Never care for your baby while angry or overstressed. Parenting classes can help provide new parents with the necessary skills to deal with parenting issues. Do not be afraid to ask for help or advice: babies don't come with instruction manuals and all of us can benefit from the knowledge and ideas of others.
