Baby Sleeping

• 1.    How Babies Sleep 0-36 Months.
  2.    Bedtime Routines-The Basics.
  3.    Baby sleeping strategies.
  4.    Baby Sleeping and Breast Feeding.
  5.    Bedtime Crying---Methods including; the Crying-down method, the Core night method and the Controlled crying method.
  6.    How parents can cope with sleepless nights.
  7.    Why your baby won't sleep--Broken Routine.
  8.    Sleeping problems.

  1.    How Babies Sleep | Baby Sleeping Patterns.
  From your baby to your neighbors’ baby, sleep patterns are often different.  Every baby will develop his own pattern that best suits him for the time being.  But as he gets older you can incorporate different sleeping methods to help your baby differentiate night and day, and to help you finally get a good nights rest.  Below are some examples that the average baby sleeps during the day and night.

  Age	Day Time	Night Time
  1 Week	8 Hours Sleep	8.5 Hours Sleep
  1 Month	6 Hours Sleep	9 1/4 Hours Sleep
  3 Months	5 Hours Sleep	10 Hours Sleep
  6 Months	3 1/2 Hours Sleep	10 1/2 Hours Sleep
  12 Months	2 1/2 Hours Sleep	11 1/4 Hours Sleep
  24 Months	1 1/2 Hours Sleep	11 1/2 Hours Sleep
  36 Months	1 Hour Sleep	11 Hours Sleep

  Since all babies take around 3 months to develop their own consistent pattern, you might want to take that time to plan different nighttime methods to help your baby sleep all through the night.
  Keep in mind that purposely keeping your child awake during the day does NOT mean they’ll sleep for longer periods during the night.  They’ll just end up fighting the overtiredness and become cranky and whiny.

  2. Bedtime Routine-The Basics.

  As common sense would have it…babies are only able to sleep peacefully when they’re nappies are dry, they are full from their feeding session and they’re not too hot or too cold.  So before putting you baby down for a nap make the appropriate changes to best suit you little one.  Check for the obvious symptoms of a too hot or too cold baby-icy fingers, toes and nose, meaning he’s too cold-or sweaty neck and red face, meaning he’s too hot.  If you notice these and don’t make any changes then your baby will not fall asleep and stay asleep.  Or if your baby does fall asleep and wakes frequently those symptoms should always be sighted first before making any other attempt at getting him to sleep again.
  A nursery night light that glows different colors depending on the room temperature is a good idea in helping you recognize the temperature of the room, which in turn helps you adjust your baby’s atmosphere so you can make him comfortable and happy.  .If your baby’s room is too hot or cold, open a window or turn up the heat a bit.  This will help sooth him and make him more comfortable for his nap.
  Because babies, at the start of this age range, sleep for short periods and wake often in the night, you'll have to resign yourself to interrupted nights for the first few weeks. But you can start work now on sleep habits that will pay dividends later.
  A comfortable baby is a happy baby!!!

  3.  Baby Sleep Strategies

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  In every approach you take to help your baby sleep well, you must always be consistent.  Babies depend on consistency to help them learn and adapt.  You can start incorporating your unique tactics with your baby as early as six weeks.  Below are some examples that you can use to help your little one sleep well, always keeping in mind that whichever approach you take, you’re going to be consistent with it so it has to be something that is appropriate for you and your baby.
  A.)  If your baby wakes after you've tucked him in, bear in mind that his age will have a lot to do with how well he settles.  And you have to be adaptable according to his stage of development.
  I.) Make daytime feeds social and lively and night-time feeds quiet.  This helps him set his body clock to tell the difference between day and night.
  B.) Give him a chance to fall asleep on his own from about 6-8 weeks. Put him down when he's sleepy, but still awake. It is advised against rocking or breastfeeding your baby to sleep, even at this age, because they may come to depend on it.
  C.) Set a bedtime routine. Keep it short and simple: bath, nappy and pajamas, and a story or song. Finish the bedtime ritual in your baby's bedroom. It's important he learns his room is a quiet relaxing place to be.
  D.) Give him a security object, such as a baby blanket or stuffed animal. A great way to make a blanket or teddy bear a favorite is to keep it near you for a while so it becomes mom-scented. Babies have a strong sense of smell, and when they startle awake, the smell of their mothers will calm them.
  E.) Let your baby cry it out. This is suitable once your baby is four or five months old. If he's crying after you've put him down, go to him. Pat him gently and tell him everything's fine, but it's time for sleep. Be gentle, but firm. Leave the room. Wait for a set interval, anything from two to five minutes, and then check again. Do this repeatedly until he falls asleep, extending the time between each visit.
  F.) Cuddle up. If you plan to have your baby sleeping in your bed, comfort and rock him so he is ready for sleep as part of his bedtime routine. Lie down together and cuddle with him, pretending to sleep, firmly letting him know its bedtime.   He will grow bored when he knows your not playing and then he’ll eventually fall asleep.  A wise idea after he falls asleep is to put him in his own bed but next to yours. 
  G.) Share the role of comforter with your partner, so both of you can help your baby fall back to sleep. Once your baby is old enough to do without night-time feeding, he can learn to be comforted by your partner. He might stop needing anyone when he learns there's no food coming!
  H.) Tune in to your baby’s needs: During the day, make him feel secure by carrying him in a sling, giving him lots of face talk, and lots of play time.  
  I.) Make daytime feeds social and lively and night-time feeds quiet.  This helps him set his body clock to tell the difference between day and night.
  J.) Breastfeeding your baby to sleep could be a healthy, enjoyable night-time routine for you both, but if your baby learns to depend on being fed to sleep, it could store up problems for later.   All babies wake up a number of times throughout the night. Most just doze off again. If you regularly feed your baby to sleep, however, he'll need that same cue to help him drop off. This is true whether your baby sleeps in a cot or shares your bed. Although it may be much easier to breastfeed during the night if you and your baby are co-sleeping, it will result in more middle-of-the-night awakenings for both of you.

• Establishing a routine
  The most important thing here is to be consistent!!
  Meaning doing the same thing over and over and over again, ensuring it’s at the same times and the same methods.
  When you take your baby to bed, after his night time ritual-bath, pajamas, etc.,  talk quiet, give cuddles and kisses, put on a night light with sound, close the curtains, give kiss good night while gently rubbing hand, then say goodnight while leaving the room. Your baby will recognize all of this as "Time to Sleep"

  4. Baby Sleep & breast Feeding

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  Most breastfed babies take longer than formula-fed babies, to develop a pattern of sleeping through the night. This is because breast milk is easier to digest than formula milk, so babies get hungry more quickly and wake more often.  Breastfeeding may be comforting as well as nourishing, but it doesn't take long for a baby to make a connection between feeding and sleeping. With a routine of breastfeeding your baby to sleep, he will not know, or want to know, another way of falling asleep.  Again take approaches that you can be consistent with to incorporate sleeping tactics with your baby, to help him sleep well.

  Help him fall asleep on his own
  If he has already formed this sleep association, don't despair. It's never too late to start teaching sleep habits. Some commonly used habits are;
  A.) Separating breastfeeding from the bedtime routine, feeding him earlier in the evening.
  B.) Breastfeeding at the start of his bedtime routine or decreasing the amount of time that you feed him at bedtime. 
  Keep in mind that you should make these changes only at bedtime, then once your baby starts falling asleep on his own, he’ll begin soothing himself back to sleep at night.

  How breastfeeding moms can get more sleep
  If you feel that you may not be getting enough rest, then ask your partner or a family member or even a friend to help during the night time feedings or awakenings.  Just because you breast feed your baby doesn’t mean that you have to be the only middle-of-night parent.
   Instead, consider this alternative:
  Express some milk using a breast pump before you go to bed or throughout the day and freeze it.  Then your partner or whoever is helping that night can take out a bottle and thaw and warm for him to give to baby when baby wakes.  This way you get your rest and your baby gets the nutrients he needs.

• 5. Bed Time Crying.

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  If your baby cries for no apparent reason at night, don’t worry, most babies do this and it is completely normal. But making an attempt to give him some cool (boiled) water is wise, as crying increases body temperature making them thirsty.  If the crying continues, speak to your baby calmly. Stroke their hand but try not to lift him from the cot. Let him know your still around and over the course of a few nights your baby will learn and become accustom to you leaving the room.
  Crying down
  The crying down, or crying out technique involves leaving your baby to cry, and although it's very difficult to listen to a young baby cry itself to sleep, it will definitely prevent serious sleep problems in the future.  As apposed to going in and picking up your baby every time he cries-which can cause him to become dependent on that, letting him cry it out will firmly be letting him know, that he needs to sleep.
  Crying down with a baby under six weeks usually lasts between five and 10 minutes, although with some babies who have become over-tired and fight sleep, it can last up to 20 minutes. If you find the crying hard to ignore try and wait for five to 10 minutes before going in to your baby.
  You can then enter your baby's room and reassure him with a soothing touch or quiet voice. This should be kept to between one to two minutes before leaving him. You should then wait about 5-10 minutes before returning. Try to repeat this procedure until the baby learns to sleep on his own. 
  If you go into the room every time he cries he will then expect you to go to him EVERY TIME, so try not to give in, or else he won’t learn to sooth himself to sleep during the night.
  The core night
  The core night method is a method that mainly is used for a baby over six weeks, who weighs more than 10 pounds, has fallen into a good daytime routine and is settling well in the evening. And provided he's putting on enough weight each week.
  You'll know it's the right time to start thinking about this method when your baby's still waking in the night looking for a feed but not feeding well in the early morning.
  The core night works on the principle that; once a baby sleeps for one longer spell in the night over several nights, he shouldn't be fed again during the hours slept in the course of the core night. Once you've seen that your baby can last a certain length of time without a feed, you can use this opportunity to help him to sleep longer. If he wakes during these hours, he should be left for a few minutes to settle himself back to sleep.  (Refer to the Crying down method)
  If he doesn't settle, try patting him, offering him a dummy or a sip of water, giving him the minimum of attention. If your baby still won't settle, give him the smallest feed that gets him through until the early morning.
  Controlled crying
  Controlled crying is when you do your night time routine and set your baby in his crib and then leaving the room and not returning what-so-ever during intervals.  Controlled crying is the most effective way to sleep-train babies over 6 months. 
  It is an intense technique and takes a lot of commitment and perseverance but can be very successful in getting your baby to sleep through the night. If your baby is still feeding in the night, however, it's a good idea to try the core night method to ensure he isn't crying from genuine hunger.
  Start controlled crying in the evening on the first day. The same procedure should be carried out no matter how many times your baby or toddler wakes up in the night.---------------------------FOR AUTHOR!!!---(THIS SECTION DIDN’T REALLY GIVE ME A GENERAL EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE METHOD OF CONTROLLED CRYING BASICALLY CONSISTS OF.  SO I HAD TO MAKE UP SOME PARTS OF WHAT I THOUGHT IT MEANT.  BUT PLEASE REVISE THIS SECTION WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE)------------------------THANKS: TRISTA

  6. Coping with Sleepless Nights

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  As a parent you are going to encounter sleepless nights and become very exhausted. This is all part and parcel of becoming a parent. A baby who is not in a routine takes even more of a toll on you and things can get much tougher.   That is why you must consider these unique tactics mentioned above to help you and your little one settle comfortable into a routine.
  A baby will sleep plenty during both the day and night as discussed above so there is nothing wrong with taking some power naps through the day while baby is sleeping. You need to keep your self as refreshed as possible for normal day to day living.   This will make it easier for you to cope with and adapt to this new extension of the family.
  If your child wakes and you just want that extra 10 minutes, invite the baby in bed with you. But don’t make too much of a habit with this method as they might get used to your bed and it will cause problems at a later stage.

  7. Why your baby wont sleep | Broken bed time routine.

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  The time will come when your baby begins to teeth or has a cold, which will have him waking frequently during the night, and being fussy during the day.
  It’s also very common after your baby has had an immunization jab that sleep routines will be broken as his immune system reacts.
  A baby will adapt to consistent routines as we’ve mentioned earlier.  If you’re in the habit of breaking / changing the routine (Not keeping to it) then it’s likely your baby will quickly get out of the routine and the hard work will have to start again. Also a change in decoration, a rearranged nursery, can all disturb a routine.  
  If you go on holiday, keeping to your usual routine is almost impossible due to holiday activities, different time zone's etc. Once you return home and your baby begins to feel comfortable again you can begin to reintroduce the baby's sleep routine.

  8. Sleep problems by age:

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                                               Newborn to three months
  A newborn baby may fall asleep while eating or being carried.   Lay him down in a designated sleeping place, such as a Moses basket, cot or pushchair. If he's awake, encourage that wakefulness, and socialize with him. By distinguishing between asleep and wakeful periods, you'll help him associate sleep with a proper sleeping place.
  For the first two or three weeks, its possible swaddling your baby might soothe him. For some it's the trigger for sleep, but others don't enjoy it. Don't swaddle him after a he's a month old, because it can restrict his mobility, causing him to become fussy.
                                             Three to six months
  If you have moved your baby to a cot, he may be finding it difficult to adjust. Make the transition for him easier by giving him his security item and soothing him to sleep while you put him to sleep.   Bear in mind that if you incorporate a security item with your baby you need to have it around all the time or you might just have to go back to square one. 
  Don't be tempted to start your baby on solids before he's ready, to help him sleep. It is not recommended that babies are fed solids before they are six months old.   Also by making sure your baby is not staying up too late, you can avoid making him over-tired, which will save you from a difficult bedtime.

                                               Six to nine months
  About this age, babies who have never had sleep problems may start waking up at night because of separation anxiety. When he wakes in the night, he misses you and worries you won't return.
  Problems may also be linked with your baby reaching milestones in his physical and mental development. Meaning he has discovered how to sit up, roll over, crawl, and even pull himself up to a standing position.  All these milestones are so very exciting to your baby and he may wake through the night to practice his new skills.  Especially the new skill of sitting up. 
  In this case you need to teach him how to lie down again, and then follow with your chosen routine for getting him back to sleep.
  Your baby's sudden burst in development isn't the same as a growth spurt, so feeding him during the night won't help him sleep better. In fact, it may prolong the problem and make it worse. He’ll learn to depend on feeding to fall asleep.
  Your baby's sleep will also be disturbed because he is teething. If he doesn't seem to be in pain, stick to your regular sleep routine. But if his gums are hurting, massage them gently with one finger or give him something cold to chew on, such as a partially frozen flannel. If things get really bad, give him the correct dose of infant pain reliever, or rub baby orajel on his gums.
  If your baby is going to bed after 8:30 pm and he begins to wake during the night, you may be surprised to find that he's much more likely to sleep through the night if you move his bedtime earlier by a half hour.

                                                      Nine to 12 months
  Your baby is old enough to sleep through the night, but he may be changing his nap habits and may still be suffering from separation anxiety. Be prepared to modify your routine as he grows.
  Try moving his afternoon nap to an earlier time and making it shorter. Stick with your bedtime ritual and to be firm about going to sleep. Let your baby know that when it's bedtime, it's bedtime. If it helps, try setting an alarm clock to go off about five minutes before it's time to go to sleep. That way the mandate is coming from an external source, not you.  Also try leaving the door to your baby's room ajar so he can hear you, and be reassured that you're nearby.
  If your baby’s sleep difficulties are disrupting your sleep and you feel you can’t cope, talk to your doctor or health visitor.

  9.    Night Time Wear & Accessories

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  Babies can tend to wake themselves up with their uncontrollably moving arms and legs, wrap your baby in a blanket which is both a tad loose but also firm.
  As your baby gets older and starts to move more, it’s highly likely they will kick their blanket off and wake up cold. To stop this try using the all in one sleep suits or even the sleep blankets to stop this happening.

  Click here to buy sleep suits or click here to buy sleeping bags.
  Another great product to use would be baby bath time solutions. Johnson's® has created a nightly routine that is proven to help your baby fall asleep easier and sleep through the night better. Before bed, treat your baby to a warm bath using Johnson's® Bedtime Bath®, then gently massage skin with Johnson's Bedtime Lotion®. Each product releases NaturalCalm™, a patent-pending blend of gentle and soothing aromas. Your baby will drift off to a better night's sleep. Johnson's® Bedtime Bath® has our exclusive No more Tears® formula and is clinically proven mild, allergy tested and formulated to keep baby's skin feeling soft.  A scented formula from Johnson’s that has been ranked top seller is the lavender scented bubble bath and oil.  Lavender is well known for relaxing yourself and works for mom’s and their babies.