How to set a good sleep pattern for your baby
Caring for a newborn brings a
lot of joy and excitement, but it also comes with sleep deprivation. It's a
fact: newborn babies just can't sleep through the night.
The good news is that between
the ages of 3 and 6 months, babies usually develop a regular sleep pattern and
can sleep until dawn. As your baby's brain matures during the first few months,
you will likely notice that sleep patterns begin to form. Help your newborn
establish the sleep habits of your dreams by following these simple steps right
now.
Recognize signs that your child is tired
Your baby will tell you if he
needs to sleep. Look out for these common signs of fatigue:
- Rubbing eyes
- Yawning
- Looking away from you
- Fussing
Don't wait until your child is
too tired to put him to bed. An overtired child has a harder time falling
asleep and staying awake. Try to be ahead of the game, looking for signs that
they are starting to take a nap before they become fussy and grumpy.
Set your baby's daytime and nighttime sleep cycle
As soon as your baby is 2
weeks old, try to teach him that "at night we sleep and during the day we
have fun."
Throughout the day, keep
things stimulating and active for your child. Play with them a lot. Try to keep
them awake after feeding, but don't worry if they take a nap.
When it gets dark, be a more
careful parent to your baby. Feed them in a semi-dark room. Reduce all
stimulation. For example, turn off the lights and low noise. Little by little
they learn that the day is a time of pleasure and the night is not, so they may
well sleep when it is dark outside.
Separate eating from sleep
After the first month, you
don't want your baby to fall asleep while you are feeding or rocking him
because you want him to know how to fall asleep.
They may eat a little, take a
nap, and have a few more meals. If they fall asleep and continue to sleep while
you feed them, stop and put them to bed.
Some parents try to increase
the amount of formula, breast milk, or baby food to get their baby to sleep on
time or longer. This is not good for your child. Just like you, when you
overeat, your overfed baby won't feel comfortable enough to rest well.
Note. Never put a bottle in
your baby's mouth when you put him to bed. This can lead to choking, ear
infections and tooth decay.
Do not wake the baby for feeding after 2 months
If your baby is gaining weight
well, you don't need to wake him up at night to feed him. Your child should
find their own sleep schedule. Once they eat more during the day, they don't
need to wake up and eat at night.
Here are a few times when you
should wake your baby up:
- They sleep more during the day than at night and skip daytime feedings.
- Do not let them go without food for more than 4 hours. You may need to wake your baby up to feed him at night, but it's probably better to try changing your baby's daytime habits rather than keep waking him up every 4 hours at night.
- Your child's pediatrician will give you advice for your child. For premature babies or children with special needs, feeding adjustments may be required.
Be a patient parent
Remember that your
expectations must be realistic. In the first months of your baby's life, expect
unpredictable and irregular sleep patterns. Try to sleep when the baby sleeps
as this may be the only rest you will have for a while!
If your child's sleep patterns suddenly change, check for symptoms of illness. This may be a warning sign of an ear infection. Or just a new turning point in their development.