"Newborns do not generally know the difference between night and day at first," says Dr. Michael Harper, pediatrician at Clark Memorial Hospital. "Remember that your newborn started life in complete darkness, and then spent time in the hospital's nursery where the lights are on 24 hours a day."
Generally, babies sleep an average of three hours between feedings at night, and nurse every two to three hours during the day. Until a wake/sleep pattern is developed, the need to feed usually outweighs the need to sleep.
"Babies have tiny stomachs and get hungry quickly," adds Harper. "Parents should not let their babies sleep too long without a feeding. Offering a feeding every three or four hours is ideal."
So how can parents train their babies to sleep through the night?
The most important step is to establish a "going-to-bed" ritual. This ritual helps the baby relax and get ready to go to sleep. Keep the routine simple and be consistent. A routine may be a bath, diapering, nursing, singing, and into the crib.
If the baby is fussy, try using your voice to calm him or her down. If the baby is fussy, try patting him or her on the back. If that does not work, pick the baby up, soothe him or her for a few minutes, and then put him or her back down. This may have to be repeated several times before the baby is ready to sleep.
"The sleep routine is effective, but may be hard for the first few nights," says Harper. "One of the parents may want to sleep in the baby's room for a few nights to reassure the baby when he or she wakes up. The essence of the training is to reassure your baby that you are there to comfort him or her, but that he or she must fall asleep in the crib."
Other ways to help a baby sleep through the night include:
Keeping the baby awake and active for 20 minutes after each feeding by providing visual and physical stimulation.
Establishing different locations for daytime sleep and nighttime sleep. For instance, if the baby is used to napping in a bassinet or playpen, try using the crib for nighttime sleep.
Giving the baby lots of rocking, cuddling, and singing. Studies have shown that babies who are carried around during the day are less likely to have colic and be fussy.
"A baby
needs to learn how to go to sleep in a crib so that he or she can go back to sleep alone
in the middle of the night," adds Harper. "If your baby is used to falling
asleep in your arms at bedtime, then he or she will need you in the middle of the night
also."
Dr. Harper also warns parents to stay away from a few practices that can be harmful to the
baby or impede the sleep process:
Do not let the baby sleep in your bed. You may accidentally suffocate your baby or he or she may become dependent on being with you to sleep.
Do not put the baby to bed with a bottle. This can cause tooth decay and dependence on feeding to sleep. It may also cause obesity as an adult.
Do not place anything in the crib or bassinette that may interfere with the baby's breathing, including plush toys and pillows. Also avoid objects with cords, ties, sharp edges or small pieces.
Do not place the baby to sleep on his or her stomach unless otherwise instructed by your pediatrician in order to prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDs). Instead place the baby on his or her back.
Do not shake the baby out of frustration or fatigue. This can cause severe brain injury and may result in death. Instead, put the baby to bed and take a break until you are composed.
A sleep routine is not a remedy. A baby may start waking up again in the middle night,
for example, if there is a change in the household routine, illness, or separation from a
parent. In addition, older infants and toddlers also have periods of sleeplessness. Each
child is different and may involve unique circumstances.
"Parents should be as patient as possible and remember that these are only guidelines
and not a recipe for success," concludes Harper. "If your baby seems overly
irritable or cannot be adequately soothed, your pediatrician should be consulted."
For more information on this topic or others, please call Clark Memorial Hospital at
283-2582, or visit our web site at www.clarkmemorial.org and click on Ask A Nurse to send a question to our Women's Health
Coordinator.
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