sleep


Info about Sleep


How to Deal with Night-Waking in Babies


Very young babies, particularly those who are breastfed, will wake at regular intervals throughout the night chiefly because they are hungry or wet. An infant can only take in so much milk at one time; when that's digested, your baby will be ready for more, and will soon let you know it. When feeding is going on around the clock, interrupted sleep is inevitable, but there are various ways in which you can minimize the disruption to yourself and start to teach your baby the difference between day and night.


 Use a night-light.


 In the very early days, keep the baby's crib or basket in your room so you can respond before a whimper turns into a full-throated cry, waking everyone in the vicinity. However, I would suggest that you don't keep the baby in your room for too long. You may find yourself waking unnecessarily when she makes the slightest noise, and it may well make separation an issue later on. Three months is a suitable age to move a baby into her own room.


 When the baby wakes, feed her, but don't talk to her or stimulate her with play. Get across the message that night is different from day. Burp her, change her diaper, and settle her down.


 If your baby is sleeping, but you haven't gone to bed yet, don't tiptoe around the house trying to keep everything as quiet as possible. A sudden loud noise may wake a baby, but normal household sounds won't.


 Share the load. If you are bottle-feeding, work out a rotation so that your partner shares some of the night feedings. If you are breastfeeding, express some milk.


 Once the baby is fed, he may well fall asleep in your arms. If he doesn't, put him back into his crib and let him settle himself to sleep. If the whimpering carries on, try a gentle rub on the back or the tummy, but don't pick him up again unless he starts to cry in earnest. It may be gas that is bothering him, in which case, ease him over your shoulder and pat his back.


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