hELPING BABT SLEEP

Sleep is obviously very important for an infant’s growth and development and for your sanity, so helping your baby sleep is a valuable skill to have. The important things to remember about helping your baby sleep are to have a routine and to be prepared to encounter common sleep problems.
As simple as it sounds, experts agree that “a clam and pleasant ritual winds down the day’s activities” which helps to “promote sleep” for your baby (Cooper, pg. 82). A ritual or routine doesn’t have to be anything complex or specific. In fact, it’s better not to make it too drawn out so your little one won’t expect anything long. Something as simple as a nice bath and a change into comfy baby clothes can get your baby ready to sleep. You could have them say goodnight to the family, read a story to them, say their prayers, or you could even give them a little massage. Once baby associates these things with sleepy time, it should be no trouble getting them to bed.

Try as you may, it’s inevitable that you and baby are going to run into some common sleep problems, so it’s best to be prepared. Recent studies show that “up to 60% of children in the United States are sleep deprived” (Lee, pg. 74). Since sleep is an absolute necessity for a baby’s growth and development, these problems have to be corrected as soon as they show. One problem that seems to be the most common is a baby that won’t sleep through the night either from hunger, bad dreams, or a confused body clock. It’s important to remember that babies sleep around 15 hours a day in their first year. This sleep is divided into three or four periods, so it’s normal for a baby to wake once or twice in the night. Also, newborns must be fed every few hours, so you can’t expect a full night of sleep from them at all. Aside from this, if your baby is having constant trouble there are several things you can try. The best thing to do is make sure baby’s sleeping conditions are the most supportive of sleep. This means keeping your infant’s room temperature around 65 degrees Farenheight (Cooper, pg. 83), and make sure that the crib has proper bedding. The best solution to all of this, however, is to establish and maintain your baby’s schedule.