Your baby may sleep from 10 to 18 hours a day, sometimes for 3 to 4 hours at a time. But babies don’t know the difference between day and night. So they sleep with no regard for what time it is. That means your baby’s wide-awake time may be from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
By 3 to 6 months, many babies are able to sleep for a stretch of 6 hours. But just as you think your baby is getting into a nice routine -- usually between 6 and 9 months -- normal developmental stages can throw things off. For instance, when your baby begins to associate bedtime with being left alone, she may start crying just to keep you around.
- Set A Bedtime Routine
Some parents start their baby's bedtime routine as early as 6 to 8 weeks old. Your baby's routine can be any combination of regular bedtime activities. The keys to success:
- Play active games during the day and quiet games in the evening. This keeps your baby from getting too excited right before bedtime.
- Keep activities the same and in the same order, night after night.
- Make every activity calm and peaceful, especially toward the end of the routine.
- Save your baby's favorite activity for last, and do it in her bedroom. This will help her look forward to bedtime and associate her sleep space with things she likes to do.
- Make nighttime conditions in your baby's bedroom consistent. If she wakes up in the middle of the night, the sounds and lights in the room should be the same as when she fell asleep.
- Put Your Sleepy Baby to Bed
Starting when your baby is 6 to 12 weeks old, soothe her until she is drowsy. When she’s on the verge of sleep, put her down and let her drift off on her own. Don't wait until she’s fully asleep.
This routine will teach your baby to soothe herself to sleep, and you won't need to rock or cuddle her to sleep every time she wakes up during the night.
- Lower Risk of SIDS
Every time you put your baby down to sleep, whether it's at night or for a nap during the day, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you do the following to lower the chances of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome):
- Always put your baby down to sleep on his or her back.
- Always use a firm sleep surface. Car seats and other sitting devices are not recommended for routine sleep.
- Your baby should sleep in the same room as you, but not in the same bed as you.
- Keep soft objects or loose bedding out of the crib. This includes pillows, blankets, and bumper pads.
- Do not use wedges and positioners.
- Offer your baby a pacifier at nap time and bedtime.
- Avoid covering your baby's head or overheating.
- Do not use home monitors or commercial devices marketed to reduce the risk of SIDS.
- Make sure your baby gets all recommended vaccinations.
- Give your baby supervised, awake tummy time every day.
- Don't smoke.
- Breastfeeding is recommended.
- If you're pregnant, get regular prenatal care.
- Crying It Out Method
I, personally, am against this method. Studies have recently shown that using CIO method leaves baby stressed even after they stop crying and fall asleep.
- Check In, Then Leave
Here’s an overview of how it’s done:
- Put your baby in her crib -- drowsy, but awake. Once you've finished her bedtime routine, leave the room.
- If your baby cries, wait a few minutes before you check on her. The amount of time you wait depends on you and your baby. You might start waiting somewhere between 1 and 5 minutes.
- When you re-enter your baby’s room, try to console her. But do not pick her up and do not stay for more than 2 or 3 minutes, even if she's still crying when you leave. Seeing your face will be enough to assure your baby that you are close by so she can eventually fall asleep on her own.
- If she continues crying, gradually increase the amount of time you wait before going in to check on her again. For instance, if you wait 3 minutes the first time, wait 5 minutes the second time, and 10 minutes each time after that.
- The next night, wait 5 minutes the first time, 10 minutes the second time, and 12 minutes each time after that.
Adopting this method might be difficult during the first few nights. But you’ll likely see improvement in your baby's sleep pattern by day 3 or 4. Most parents see an improvement within a week.
- Baby's Sleep Cycle
Help your newborn establish the sleep patterns of your dreams by following these simple steps now.
1. Recognize the Signs That Your Baby Is Tired
Your baby will let you know if she needs sleep. Watch for these common signs of tiredness:
- Rubbing eyes
- Yawning
- Looking away from you
- Fussing
Don’t wait until your baby is overtired to put her to bed. An overtired baby has more trouble falling and staying asleep. Try to stay a step ahead by looking for the signs that she’s getting sleepy before she's fussy and cranky.
2. Set Your Baby’s Day-Night Sleep Cycle
From the start, try to teach your baby that “nighttime is when we sleep, and daytime is when we have fun.”
During daylight hours, keep things stimulating and active for your baby. Play with her a lot. Try to keep her awake after she feeds, although don't worry if she conks out. Try taking baby out in the sunlight for at least 5 minutes during the day or opening up the blinds during the day. This helps cut down on their day/night confusion.
When it's dark, become a more low-key, boring parent for your baby. Feed her in a semi-darkened room. Cut down on all stimulation. For instance, keep lights low and noise soft. Gradually, she'll learn that daytime is fun time and nighttime is boring, so she might as well sleep when it's dark outside.
3. Separate Eating From Sleeping
After the first month, you don’t want to let your baby fall asleep while you’re feeding or rocking her, because you want her to figure out how to put herself to sleep.
She may eat a little, doze a little, and eat some more, a couple of times. If she goes to sleep and keeps sleeping when you’re feeding her, stop and put her to bed.
Some parents try to push more formula, breast milk, or baby food to try to make a baby sleep on schedule or sleep longer. This isn’t good for your baby. Just like you when you’ve eaten too much, your overfed baby won’t be comfortable enough to rest well.
Note: Never prop a baby bottle in your infant's mouth when you put her to bed. It can lead to choking and ear infections.
4. Don’t Wake Your Baby to Feed After 2 Months
If your baby is gaining weight properly, you don’t have to wake her at night for feedings after 2 months. Your baby needs to find her own sleep schedule. Once she’s eating more in the daytime, she doesn’t need to wake and eat at night.
Here are some instances where you should wake your baby:
- She is 0 to 2 months old.
- She is sleeping more in the day than the night. Don’t let her go more than 4 hours without eating.
Your baby’s pediatrician will give you advice for your baby. For premature or special-needs babies, you may need to adjust feedings.
Be a Patient Parent
Remember to keep your expectations realistic. For the first few months of your baby’s life, plan for unpredictable, sporadic sleep.
If your baby's sleep pattern changes suddenly, check for symptoms of illness. It could be a warning sign of an ear infection. Or it may simply be a new turn in her development.
Sources: Web MD
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