Your Baby’s Sleep Problems

One of the most difficult problems for parents of a new baby is trying to get their baby to sleep through the night. This can be a huge challenge as new parents must combat the effects of sleep deprivation while still trying to maintain their normal lives. This is a problem that can sometimes luckily be solved. For some babies this is a problem that extends close to the child’s first birthday. If you are a parent struggling to get your new baby to sleep here are some tried and true solutions to help deal with sleep problems in babies.

In the first few months, sleeping through the night for babies is considered to be only six straight hours. By the end of the first year, most babies will sleep between ten to twelve hours at night. Despite this seeming like an overwhelming challenge you can start by regulating your baby’s sleep patterns and teaching him good sleep habits early on. But you need to understand that at first you really can’t do anything to control a baby’s sleep patterns because he’ll sleep when and where he wants: If he’s tired, nothing will keep him up, and if he’s not, he’ll be awake. But there are things you can begin doing:

•Start by giving your baby a “transitional object”. There is a good chance this security object such as a blanket or stuffed animal will become a much-cherished possession that helps soothe your child to sleep. One great way to make a blanket or teddy bear a favorite is to keep it near you for a while so it becomes “mommy-scented”. Studies have shown that babies have a strong sense of smell, and when they startle awake, which they do often during the night, the smell of their mothers nearby can be very reassuring and help them go back to sleep.

•Separate being asleep from being merely sleepy. During early infancy, your baby may move quickly between states of sleepiness and alertness. Be aware of your baby’s cues and use them: If he falls asleep while eating or being carried, lay him down in a designated sleeping place. If he’s awake, encourage that wakefulness by socializing with him. If you can help him distinguish between being asleep and wakeful periods, you’ll help him associate sleep with a proper sleeping place.

•Work on separating day from night. Most newborns mix up day and night but will eventually sleep longer at night. To help your baby learn to use nighttime hours for longer sleep periods, try to distinguish between naps and bedtime. At night it is never too early to start to create bedtime routines like playing quietly, reading, taking a warm bath, changing into pajamas, singing, rocking, swaddling, and darkening the room.
It also helps if you can treat night-time meals differently than daytime ones. Your newborn needs to eat around the clock and he’ll awake several times during your sleeping hours. So it is important to keep those night-time feedings functional and less disruptive, many pediatricians suggest that parents make night-time feedings quiet and daytime ones social. For example when your baby starts to fuss and whimper in the middle of the night, go to him immediately and feed him before he really has a chance to wake up. Don’t talk or turn on the light, but simply keep the quiet, sleepy atmosphere you’ve set so that your baby understands it isn’t playtime. During the day, do just the opposite: Treat mealtimes as opportunities to coo, sing, talk to, and interact with your baby.

While it may seem difficult to see progress in helping your baby sleep over time with consistent use of these suggestions you and your new bundle of joy will be sleeping peacefully all night long.