Sleep problems: Birth - 4 years

Sleep problems: Birth - 4 years

12:59 (GMT+2), Wed, 20 July 2011

Problem:
Your baby wakes at night and stays awake for long periods

Solution:

Birth – 12 months

Don't wait until your child is very upset before attending to her needs.
Keep stimuli (including talking) to a minimum while attending to your baby's needs.
Feed your baby in bed, and both you and she will soon fall asleep again.
Take a warm, deep candle-lit bath with your baby – you might not feel like it, but half an hour's bath beats a frustrating two-hour pyjama parade anytime!
Have restful music on hand and play it in the background.

12 – 24 months

Have a camp cot and a few special toys on hand next to your bed. Switch on a light and leave your child to play until, in tiredness, she calls you for a cuddle or a drink. You can even doze during this time.

Problem:
Your baby wakes frequently during the night (also see above)

Solution:

Birth – 6 months

Many babies need to feed frequently and complying with this while lying down yourself, and even sleeping, is the best way to serve both your interests.
Once again, evaluate possible birth- and family trauma. Chamomile tea and plenty of loving care are useful for baby and parent alike.
If your baby seems to be switching day and night, gradually (over a period of 10 – 14 days) reverse things. Make your baby wait about 15 – 20 minutes before giving her a feed at night (rock her, use a dummy, etc. during this period) and offer daytime feeds a short while before she demands them. The more milk infants take in during daylight hours, the less they need at night.

6 months – 4 years

Most babies sleep well before midnight and your best bet is to do so too – the earlier you go to bed, the more rested you will be and the better you will be able to cope in the early morning hours. Pre-midnight sleep is physiologically the best and, as an inexplicable cherry on top, the earlier you retire, the better your baby sleeps!
Avoid watching TV, especially for a few hours before your baby falls asleep – the brain is stimulated and irritated by the pulses emitted from your TV and babies exposed to these tend to sleep badly.
Take into account just how many things happen in your baby's life (like teething, colds, growth spurts) which may well affect her sleeping pattern.
Don't try to keep your tired baby awake during the day in the hope that she will fall asleep better at night and stay asleep – this tactic almost always backfires.
Should your baby wake after you've gone to sleep, bring her through to your bed or make a blanket-roll bed next to your bed. Chances are she will sleep far better with this arrangement.

By Sister Lilian

Sleep problems: Toddler protests

sister lilian, sleep, baby, toddler, co-sleeping

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