When your Baby Sleeps-baby Care

Young babies spend up to 14 hours of any 24 hour period asleep. Unfortunately, this doesn't often coincide with their parents sleeping pattern, because it takes a few months for babies to learn the difference between night and day.

How Babies Sleep

The way babies fall a sleep differs from adults, adults can crash suddenly, whereas babies sleep lightly for about 20 minutes, then go through a transitional stage before reaching deep sleep. Nothing will wake them until they've had enough sleep. This means that babies who are simply put down will not necessarily go to sleep peacefully. You may need to nurse your baby to sleep for quite a while, so try to be patient, particularly at night, when you're longing to go back to bed yourself.

Where Should A Baby Sleep

Where a baby sleeps isn't important to him to start with. He won't automatically fall asleep when put into a darkened bedroom, light doesn't bother him at all. He's much more likely to be disturbed by being too hot or too cold. Your baby will be happiest going to sleep hearing your voices and the household noises that he is used to in the background, so let him sleep in a bassinet or carrier in which ever room you happen to be.

Using A Baby Monitor

If you leave your baby in another room, set up a baby monitor so that you can hear him as soon as he wakes. He may feel disturbed by the silence when you leave the room and this could make him more fretful, leave the door open so he can hear you moving around­unless you have a cat that may climb in to the crib. Avoid going back in to the room once your baby is asleep, your smell could wake him, so resist the temptation to check him too frequently.

Encouraging Longer Periods Of Sleep

A young baby needs food at regular intervals, so he'll wake for a feeding when his body tells him to. The way to encourage your baby to sleep for a stretch (four, then rising to five or six, hours) during the night is to make sure he's taken in sufficient calories to last. that long. This means feeding him when ever he shows he's hungry during the day. As he steadily gains weight, he can go longer between feedings and by about six weeks he could be sleeping for at least one period of about six hours hopefully during the night. When he wakes for a night feeding make as little fuss as possible. Feed him in bed, if he needs changing, do it quickly in dim light. Don't make this a time for chatting and games, he'll learn that waking at night doesn't bring any special privileges.

Rescue Package For A Sleepless Baby

Night after night of broken sleep is wearing for parents and a young baby who perhaps only catnaps during the day makes it hard to catch up. Use this checklist of strategies to reduce unnecessary fatigue.

Be aware of background noise

Don't shield your baby from the sounds of your home. They won't disturb his sleep, in fact some babies are soothed by the rhythmic noise of household appliances.

Keep him close to you

At night, put your baby's crib next to your bed so that you can take him in to your bed to feed him. Then put him back in his crib afterward with minimal disturbance.

Play music

Babies respond well to soothing music (classical is best). Keep certain pieces for when your baby shows signs of tiredness.

Carry him in a sling

Rhythmic movement can hasten sleep, but your baby may wake up when you stop moving. Carry him around in a baby sling when you're in the house, when ever possible. As well as being relaxed by the constant movement, your baby will be comforted by your body and your smell if he is this close to you.

Give him plenty of fresh air

Fresh air is said to tire babies out. In fact, it's probably the stimulation they receive from the sounds and sights outside, or simply the movement of trees or branches, that makes them sleepy.

Father

Understanding the way your baby's sleep patterns work will help you to tune in to his and your partner's needs.

Being realistic

Your new baby will probably sleep less than you think. He spends 50-80 percent of the time in light sleep, when he wakes very easily. His sleep cycle-light, deep, light is shorter than an adult's sleep cycle, so he's vulnerable to waking each time he passes from one sleep state to another. He's programmed to wake up for all kinds of reasons when he's wet, hot, cold, unwell because his survival depends on it. It's good to know that light sleep is likely to make your baby more intelligent because the brain remains active and it enhances brain development.

Having a sleep routine

Your baby has to be deeply asleep before he'll settle down, so try a tranquillizing sleep routine gentle rocking, quiet songs and talking. He's deeply asleep when his eyelids don't twitch and his limbs feel limp. Lay him down and gently pat his shoulder at about 60 beats a minute for a few minutes.

Getting home late

If your baby is asleep when you get home from work, ask your partner if your baby can nap in the afternoon so that he's awake later. Be patient if this isn't possible. Try getting up earlier and spending time with your baby before work.

Mother

If you find you're trying to get your baby to sleep as much as possible, ask yourself why.

Does your baby need to sleep?

Trying to get your baby to sleep when he doesn't need to is pointless. He's longing for your company, so talk and play with him instead, put him in a baby chair so that he can watch what you're doing. Research has shown that even young babies are very receptive to interaction with their parents, and with increased stimulation over all, your baby is much more likely to sleep more soundly and for longer.

You need rest, too

You may become over wrought if you're suffering from lack of sleep. Being overtired builds resentment and makes you irritable and likely to get things out of proportion. If you're exhausted, express breast milk so your partner can take on the night time feedings for a couple of days so that you can get some rest.