Newborn infants have irregular sleep cycles, which take about 6
months to mature. While newborns sleep an average of 16 to 17
hours per day, they may only sleep 1 or 2 hours at a time. As
children get older, the total number of hours they need for
sleep decreases and they also begin to sleep for longer periods
of time. However, different children have different needs. It is
normal for even a 6 month old to wake up briefly during the
night, but these awakenings should only last a few minutes and
children should be able to go back to sleep easily on their own.
Here are some suggestions that can help you establish good sleep
habits so that everyone can sleep better at night:
1. Try to keep her as calm and quiet as possible.
When feeding or changing your baby during the night, avoid
stimulating her or waking her up too much so she can easily fall
back to sleep.
2. Don't let your infant sleep as long during the day.
If she sleeps for large blocks of time during the day, she
will be more likely to be awake during the night.
3. Put your baby into the crib at the first signs of
drowsiness.
Ideally it is best to let the baby learn to relax herself to
sleep. If you make a habit of holding or rocking her until she
falls asleep, she may learn to need you to get back to sleep
when she wakes up in the middle of the night. This may interfere
with her learning to settle herself and fall asleep alone.
4. Avoid putting your baby to bed with a pacifier.
Your baby may get used to falling asleep with it and have
trouble learning to settle herself without it. Pacifiers should
be used to satisfy the baby's need to suck, not help a baby
sleep. If your baby falls asleep with the pacifier, gently
remove it before putting her in bed.
5. Begin to delay your reaction to infant fussing at 4 to
6 months of age.
Wait a few minutes before you go in to check her, because she
will probably settle herself and fall back to sleep in a few
minutes anyway. If she continues to cry, check on her, but avoid
turning on the light, playing, picking up, or rocking her. If
crying continues or begins to sound frantic, wait a few more
minutes and then recheck the baby. If she is unable to settle
herself, consider what else might be bothering her. She may be
hungry, wet or soiled, feverish, or otherwise not feeling well.
6. Ideally, by a few weeks of age a baby should sleep in a
separate room from his parents.
As children grow older and become toddlers, many parents are
faced with a new set of sleep problems. It is common for
children this age to resist going to sleep, especially if there
are older siblings who are still awake. However, remember
toddlers and preschoolers usually need 10 to 12 hours of sleep
each night. If your child's sleeping time does not approach this
level, talk to your pediatrician.
Following are some tips that can help you encourage your
toddler to maintain good sleep habits and ease the transition to
bedtime.
1. Make sure there is a quiet period before your child
goes to bed.
Establishing a pleasant routine that may include reading,
singing, or a warm bath. A regular routine will help your child
understand that it will soon be time to go to sleep. If parents
work late hours, it may be tempting to play with their child
before bedtime. However, active play just before bedtime may
leave the child excited and unable to sleep. Limit television
viewing and video game play before bed.
2. Try to set a consistent schedule for your child and
make bedtime the same time every night. His sleep patterns will
adjust accordingly.
3. Allow your child to take a favorite teddy bear, toy, or
special blanket to bed each night.
Such comforting objects often help children fall
asleep-especially if they awaken during the middle of the night.
Make sure the object is safe. A teddy bear may have a ribbon,
button, or other part that may pose a choking hazard for your
child. Look for sturdy construction at the seams. Stuffing or
pellets inside the stuffed animal may also pose a danger of
choking.
4. Make sure your child is comfortable.
Check the temperature in your child's room. Clothes should
not restrict movement. He may like to have a drink of water,
have a night-light left on, or the door left slightly open. Try
to handle your child's needs before bedtime so that he doesn't
use them to avoid going to bed.
5. Try to avoid letting your child sleep with you.
This will only make it harder for him to learn to settle
himself and fall asleep when he is alone.
6. Try not to return to your child's room every time he
complains or calls out.
A child will quickly learn if you always give in to his
requests at bedtime. When your child calls out, try the
following:
- Wait several seconds before answering. Your response time
can be longer each time to give your child the message that
it is time for sleep. It also gives him the opportunity to
fall asleep on his own.
- Reassure your child that you are there. If you need to go
into his room, do not stimulate the child or stay too long.
- Move farther from your child's bed every time you reassure
him, until you can do this verbally without entering his
room.
