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All babies are different. Some sleep right through the night from the time they are a few weeks old while others can be waking every couple of hours for years. This article details some basic guidelines but, ultimately, parents need to follow their instincts and go with what works for them and their baby.

Everyone knows babies need to sleep a lot. It is normal for newborn babies to sleep approximately 16 hours in a 24 hour period. Babies cannot regulate their own sleep and depend on their parents to ensure that they are put to sleep when they show three or more tired signs. Overtiredness leads to miserable babies that are more difficult to settle. Babies show they are tired by clenching their fists, yawning, grizzling, rubbing their eyes or frowning.

It is a good idea to make a bedtime schedule at night so baby knows it is time for sleeping. Limit play in the hour before bed and start getting baby settled for sleep by having routines such as reading a bedtime story, having night bath, changing into pajamas and having a supper feed.

Authorities recommend putting babies to bed awake so they learn to get themselves to sleep. I found it worked best for me to feed my baby until he fell asleep in my arms then put him to bed half waking. This way he was very settled, secure, content and nearly asleep when I put him down. I would leave the room directly so I was not present when he fell asleep. He slept right through by the time he was a couple of weeks old and was able to resettle himself to sleep.

It is important to differentiate between day and night so baby learns that night is when he has his main sleep. At night close the bedroom curtains, keep the room dark and quiet, keep voices low and attention minimal. Wrapping or swaddling at night works very well for most young babies as it replicates the restriction of the womb and makes them feel secure.

Dummies or pacifiers are best avoided unless baby will not settle any other way. Dummy sucking can be a notoriously difficult habit for a baby to break but, more importantly, they can actually make more work for the parents. Initially dummies can give parents instant relief from crying but a baby who needs his dummy replaced every time he wakes causes ongoing unnecessary interruptions for parents. It is much easier to establish ways for babies to resettle themselves.

Babies wake many times during the night and will, more often than not, put themselves back to sleep. When baby wakes at night, wait for a few minutes to see if he will resettle himself. If baby does need help resettling; keep feeds business-like and lights dim. When he is are over 3 months night feeds can start being phased out. If baby does not need a feed, he does not need to be picked up. All he requires is quick reassurance which can be given by playing a musical mobile, singing softly or giving baby a soft pat or rub.

Babies can be very early wakers. If baby wakes too early in the morning; encourage him to play quietly by himself or bring him into the adult bed. Leave a toy for baby to play with in the morning or have something like a musical mobile attached to the side of the cot which he can turn on himself. It is good to aim to take babies out of the cot in the morning before they cry. This lets them know that they do not need to cry to get attention and gives baby a happy start to the day.

Learn more about this author, Leanne M Wormald.
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