Baby Sleeping

SLEEPING BABY

• Tired Signs
• Self Settling
• Baby Day Night Rhythm

Tired Signs

Tired signs include your baby jerking, clenching fists, yawning and grizzling. Watch for these signals to see when your baby is tired, so that your baby does not become overtired. Your baby may be harder to settle if they become overtired or overstimulated.

Teething or sickness may sometimes upset your baby’s sleep routine until the discomfort subsides, and developmental milestones may also disrupt your baby's sleep.

Information available in this website eBabyCentre.com is provided for guidance only. Any health related concerns or queries should be directed to the appropriate healthcare professionals. This page features baby sleeping, sleeping baby

Self Settling

Once your baby becomes more aware of their surroundings, you may find it harder getting baby to sleep and settled.

Providing a routine for your baby will help them feel more secure, and will help them know what to expect. For example, if you give your baby a bath, followed by some 'quiet time' such as holding for a few minutes without stimulation before bed, and then followed by sleep, your baby will know once they have their bath and 'quiet time' it is time for them to go to sleep.

There are many techniques in which you can teach your baby to sleep. Some parents opt for the crying it out technique (which is not recommended for babies under 6 months), some will stay next to their baby whilst gradually moving further away each nap time until such time that your baby doesn't require you in their room. Others may hold their baby until their drowsy but not asleep and then put them down for a nap, other parents may choose to hold their baby or co-sleep. You may have to try a few different methods to find what works for you and your baby, every baby is different, and chances are, what works for one won't necessarily work for another. Remember if you choose to co-sleep research first how to do this safely.

The book, The No-Cry Sleep Solution, offers a gentle alternative to letting your baby crying in order to self settle as many parents can become quite distressed in watching their infant crying and screaming at every nap time.

Baby Day Night Rhythm

Some babies have their day night rhythms mixed up as they are not born with a day night rhythm and must therefore learn their day night rhythm.

To help your baby develop their day night rhythm you can:

• Feed your baby regularly during the day
• Establish a bedtime routine for your baby
• Place baby to sleep in a dark environment at night time, and in a dim but not dark environment during the day for daytime naps
• Avoid stimulating baby during night time feeding

Read articles on:

Newborn Babies and Sleep
Safe Sleeping for Babies
Sleeping Positions
Moving from Crib to Bed

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