ParentWatch - Article

Sleep patterns for babies are as individual as their thumbprints. On the average, newborns sleep 16 hours a day and wake up two to four times a night, though sometimes they might reverse this pattern. By about three months, most babies need about 15 hours of sleep, ten of which occur at night. Many 6-month-old babies sleep through the night; however, breast-fed babies and those with colic may take a little longer to achieve this.

It's a good idea to establish a consistent bedtime ritual early on - perhaps reading to your child, playing soft music, sitting with a favorite stuffed animal, and then putting him into his crib when he's sleepy but not yet asleep. If you stop feeding him before he drifts off, he will learn to "self-soothe" - that is, to realize that he can calm himself down, perhaps by sucking his thumb, or nuzzling with his stuffed animal, a "transitional object" that he associates with the comfort he receives from you. If he fusses a little, let him be. But if he starts to cry, he needs attention, especially in the first three months.

What about babies who cry before falling asleep or wake up crying in the middle of the night? Experts propose many different strategies. Sample the options, and choose the technique that seems right to you. Remember that your intuition of what will help your child sleep better is often the right thing.

Often, no sooner does your child solve her sleep problem - allowing you to have your first full-night sleep in months - than she wakes up squalling at 3 a.m. as if she were a newborn. Commonly nine-month-old babies wake because of separation anxiety. This is when your child's beloved transitional object becomes very important: make sure it's placed in her crib where she can see it.

The road to learning to sleep comfortably through the night is bumpy at first, but gradually evens out. You can help your baby enjoy going to sleep by being consistent when dealing with sleep problems, and staying calm. Remember, the goal is to have your child think of sleep as one of the most pleasant and refreshing parts of her life.

About the authors:

Stanley Zwick, Psy.D., has seventeen years experience working with children and their families, in public schools and in private practice. Dr. Zwick, who has lectured and run workshops on topics such as Communicating With Your Child, Child Temperament and Child Behavior Management, is currently having that experience put to the test with his newborn daughter.

Roberta Israeloff, a former contributing editor to Parents Magazine and a member of The Author's Guild, has authored several books and articles on parenting and family issues. Roberta has numerous radio and television appearances to her credit and has just completed co-authoring her latest book, "Raising a Thinking Preteen", with Dr. Myrna Shure.

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Sleep Patterns for Babies by Stanley Zwick, Psy.D. & Roberta Israeloff Sleep patterns for babies are as individual as their thumbprints. On the average, newborns sleep 16 hours a day and wake up two to four times a night, though sometimes they might reverse this pattern. By about three months, most babies need about 15 hours of sleep, ten of which occur at night. Many 6-month-old babies sleep through the night; however, breast-fed babies and those with colic may take a little longer to achieve this. It's a good idea to establish a consistent bedtime ritual early on - perhaps reading to your child, playing soft music, sitting with a favorite stuffed animal, and then putting him into his crib when he's sleepy but not yet asleep. If you stop feeding him before he drifts off, he will learn to "self-soothe" - that is, to realize that he can calm himself down, perhaps by sucking his thumb, or nuzzling with his stuffed animal, a "transitional object" that he associates with the comfort he receives from you. If he fusses a little, let him be. But if he starts to cry, he needs attention, especially in the first three months. What about babies who cry before falling asleep or wake up crying in the middle of the night? Experts propose many different strategies. Sample the options, and choose the technique that seems right to you. Remember that your intuition of what will help your child sleep better is often the right thing. Often, no sooner does your child solve her sleep problem - allowing you to have your first full-night sleep in months - than she wakes up squalling at 3 a.m. as if she were a newborn. Commonly nine-month-old babies wake because of separation anxiety. This is when your child's beloved transitional object becomes very important: make sure it's placed in her crib where she can see it. The road to learning to sleep comfortably through the night is bumpy at first, but gradually evens out. You can help your baby enjoy going to sleep by being consistent when dealing with sleep problems, and staying calm. Remember, the goal is to have your child think of sleep as one of the most pleasant and refreshing parts of her life. About the authors: Stanley Zwick, Psy.D., has seventeen years experience working with children and their families, in public schools and in private practice. Dr. Zwick, who has lectured and run workshops on topics such as Communicating With Your Child, Child Temperament and Child Behavior Management, is currently having that experience put to the test with his newborn daughter. Roberta Israeloff, a former contributing editor to Parents Magazine and a member of The Author's Guild, has authored several books and articles on parenting and family issues. Roberta has numerous radio and television appearances to her credit and has just completed co-authoring her latest book, "Raising a Thinking Preteen", with Dr. Myrna Shure.

Sleep Patterns for Babies