Most babies wake up at the end of a sleep cycle if they are hungry, uncomfortable or if their breathing is obstructed. Research suggests waking up between sleep cycles to be a vital survival mechanism. If baby’s sleep state was so deep that she could not communicate her needs, then her wellbeing could be threatened. Therefore, parents should not feel pressured trying to get their newborn baby to sleep too long, too deeply, too soon. Between 3 and 6 months of age, a sleep pattern usually begins to emerge and baby may sleep for five hours or more.
For most parents, the two main problems are getting their baby to fall asleep and to stay asleep. Some babies fall asleep easily and stay asleep while others fall asleep easily, but wake up frequently. Some babies go to sleep with difficulty, but stay asleep, while others do not want to go to sleep or stay asleep. Babies that were good sleepers at six months of age may develop sleeping difficulties as they grow older and vice versa. There are all sorts of reasons why babies experience sleep difficulties, but knowing something about the different stages of sleep and what to do if your baby wakes up in the night can be helpful.
The one thing that the sleep experts all agree on is the need for a consistent, predictable, regular bedtime routine. It doesn’t matter what the routine consists of providing the same things happen every night. Your baby will soon learn to associate certain events and situations with bedtime, although it may take a week or two for her to develop new sleep habits. Once a routine has been established, stick with it consistently every night.
What routines have you tried for your baby sleeping routine?
