Sleeping

A new born baby’s lifestyle is very simple and consists of two things, eating and sleeping. She will sleep for between sixteen and nineteen hours a day in bursts of between three and five hours, waking for a feed. There is no differentiation between night and day. Your baby can wake up several times during the night. Sometimes she will go back to sleep by herself. On other occasions she will wake you up too!

By the time they are between four and six months this pattern has changed. Many babies of this age are able to sleep for longer stretches, sleeping for between six and ten hours and staying awake for several hours. Most of their sleeping will take place at night.

How Can I Develop A Routine?

Start to differentiate between night and day. In the daytime put your baby down to sleep in her pram or carrycot. At night time, put  her to sleep in the cot in a quiet, dark, undisturbed room. An effective bedtime routine should be calm and repetitive. Make sure your baby has had a bath, been fed and has a clean nappy. Developing a routine can take a little time so try not to be discouraged if it doesn’t seem to suit immediately.

Where Should My Baby Sleep?

For the first six months, your baby can sleep with you so you can hear her cry. She can sleep in a crib, cot, Moses basket or with you. Be aware that your sleep may be more disturbed with her in the room. As she becomes more mobile it may be time to move her into her own room.

She Won’t Sleep!

Many parents worry that their babies are sleeping fitfully through the night. Make sure she does not oversleep through the day time, this could mean that by night time she is still restless.

Ensure that the routine before bed is relaxing, restful and quiet. Try not to let your baby become overexcited or physically energetic. Alternatively, maybe she’s not tired enough. Try to introduce more energetic activities during the day. This could include active playing and swimming.

Try to remain persistent and predictable with the sleeping routine. Just as a regular routine is important for adults getting a good night’s sleep, it’s central to a sleeping baby.

What Is SIDS?

SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It kills three hundred and sixty babies in the UK every  year. The causes of SIDS are still unknown but there are some things you can to that are believed to prevent it. These include:

• let your baby sleep on her back with her head at one end and her feet at the other end of the cot.
• ensure she is tucked in underneath the sheets and blankets
• invest in a high quality baby mattress. It should be flat and support the baby and her developing back bones
• check the room temperature. An ambient temperature should be around 17 –19°C. Always use sheets and blankets or a baby sleeping bag, never a duvet and pillow with a baby under twelve months.
• don’t fall asleep with your baby on a sofa or in a chair
• don’t smoke in the vicinitiy of your baby
• consult your GP if you suspect your baby is unwell