Any parent can attest as to how difficult it is to get enough sleep during the first few months of a baby's life. Sleepless nights are typical for a lot of parents because newborns are still yet to normalize their sleeping pattern. Newborns spend most of their timeresting. They can sleep for a total of 16 hours a day, but usually in one or two hours per interval. Though this is typical, a child's sleep pattern will become more consistent as the nervous system matures. As time goes by, your little one will also be able to sleep longer in between feedings.
At three months old, most babies can sleep up to five hours during the night time. By the time they turn six months old, it may be possible for babies to sleep longer. A baby's sleep pattern is tremendously affected by the number of feedings he needs throughout the night. However, at an early time, there are techniques that may be done to help promote sleep for your baby.
It may help if you have some activities throughout the day with your infant. This can be simply done by spending time with your baby singing, talking and playing. Your child can greatly benefit from these types of stimulation. You can also allow your infant to get used to household noises while you spend time with him. These may include the sound of running water, clock ticking and the sound of various household activities. Activities throughout the day can help in promoting better sleep through the night time.
Parents must also establish a bedtime routine. It is important that your child can associate these activities with sleep. You can chooseactivities that are relaxing like baths, singing or reading stories prior to bedtime. Playing your baby's favorite bedtime songs can additionally help induce sleep. Although these may sound so easy, it can greatly help in promoting sleep.
Putting your little one to bed once he is almost asleep can help your child associate the bed with sleep. Avoid putting your baby on his stomach while sleeping simply because it is linked with SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome. A good position is to put your little one to sleep on alternate sides. This should prevent respiratory secretions to pool in one lung or the other.
A pacifier can help in settling infants but parents need to be prepared for middle of the night crying periods once the pacifier falls off. The use of pacifiers can also lessen the risk of SIDS. It is common for a parent to instinctively pick up the baby from the crib when he fusses. Though doing so may be good, occasionally it is better to allow the child to settle down for a few minutes. For many infants, stirring at night time is normal and they are just trying to settle down. However, you need to ensure that your baby is not hungry or uncomfortable simply because stirring or wriggling at night, can also be a sign of your baby's discomfort.
Although babies typically wake up for middle of the night feedings, parents should try to maintain his "sleeping atmosphere". While feeding or changing diapers, maintain the dim lights and prevent jerky movements. Your little one can easilymistakenight care for play time if you don't maintain the calmness in the room.
Babies may have really erratic sleep patterns. This may be rather tiring for parents who are trying to adjust to the demands of parenthood. Parents need to be supportive during this time while the infant is adjusting to the outside world. Your child may need constant rubs in the back or cuddling, in order to feel secure enough to go to sleep. Often all it requires is a parent's presence so that the child can go back to sleep. Caring for infants may be rather demanding, but the bright side is that, it will soon come to pass. As infants become older, they will also adapt to sleeping habits which should allow parents their much needed rest.
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