There is nothing else out there that can melt your heart and create sweet smiles like a sleeping baby.
Unfortunately babies can be absolutely notorious for being wide awake and ready to go at night time and ready to rest and sleep during the day. This is great for teenagers and would be fine if the rest of the world operated like this however we all know that is not the case! Babies don’t tell time, have no appointments, job or commitments apart from eating and pooping so what makes them sleep when they do and what exactly does a baby sleep pattern look like?
How is a Baby’s Sleep Pattern Different than an Adult’s?
Sure, babies sleep a heck of a lot and even more so while in the newborn stage. It is common for your newly born baby to sleep as much as 16 to 18 hours a day but sadly for us bleary eyed parents, this sleep is seldom between the typical hours or 6pm and 8am!
A baby’s sleep pattern is much shorter than an adult’s and this is why babies continually wake. When an adult wakes from sleep we know to simply roll over and go back to sleep, a concept not yet learned and understood for a baby. A baby has not yet learned how to go back to sleep. It may seem strange to learn that this is a learned behavior, but it’s true. Until your new baby learns how to fall back to sleep, he or she will more often than not need you to help them get back to the land of nod.
A baby sleep pattern also has double the amount of light sleep cycles than an adult’s. For the sleep deprived adult desperately trying everything to lull their precious bundle to sleep, this can be excruciating. Because of the many light sleep cycles, babies wake up very easily. You’ve rocked, cuddled and finally little Jr. nods off. You slip off to the nursery and just as Jr. touches the mattress he wakes up! Back to the rocking chair! Understanding this aspect of a baby sleep pattern will at least help you keep your patience, if not anything else.
How Can I Help my Baby Sleep Better?
Naturally, your baby’s sleep pattern will mature as your baby matures. Ideally, by the time your bundle of joy reaches 7-12 weeks of age, a regular sleep pattern will have been established. As an added bonus and with a bit of luck this will be between the hours of 10 pm – 7 am. There is some hope for new parents that by the time baby is 6 months old, your baby’s sleep pattern will include up to 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Ahh sweet bliss!
If your baby is fussy, make sure that the diaper is clean, that he or she is comfortable and warm/cool and has been fed to satisfaction. Since crying is the only means of communication, a fussy baby could have one or even several things wrong. A comfortable baby is more likely to fall asleep. If his or her face is red or if the hair is damp, baby is too warm. None of us are especially comfortable when we are too warm and this goes the same for babies. Take off a blanket or turn down the heat and watch as your baby’s sleep pattern comes naturally.
If your baby is having sleep problems then take a look at The Baby Sleep Solution audio program. It’s the quickest way to solve your baby sleep problem – guaranteed!
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