Names and Trends -

 by: Sarah Veda

It’s not unusual for newborns to have unusual sleeping habits, particularly for them to want to sleep during the day, and stay awake at night. Remember, in the womb its dark all the time, so night and day mean nothing to them. If your baby’s sleeping habits need some adjustment, here are some ways to get him on track.

· Don’t keep quiet during the day when he’s sleeping – When he sleeps during the day (and all babies will) leave the door to his room open, and go about your normal daily routine. Keep the television or stereo on. This will accomplish two things. First, he will learn to sleep even through noise, which is important, since this child will be taking naps in your home for four or five years. Secondly, he will get the idea that the daytime is not the right time for long periods of sleep.

· If he sleeps more than three hours at a stretch, wake him. Babies should nap during the day, of course, but more than three hours is not a nap. To get him awake, try holding him upright and tickling his feet. If that doesn’t work, take off his shirt. The chill will wake him. Don’t leave him uncovered for long, though. Once he is awake, sing or talk to him to keep him that way for a while. This is a great time to put him on a mat for some tummy time if it’s not feeding time.

Now, of course the second half of this problem is the staying awake at night. This is going to take some time, and babies usually make some significant adjustments within about three weeks, though you will be getting up for feedings at least once at night for a bit longer. Some things you can do to make him more likely to sleep longer and better during the night are:   (continued...)

Getting Your Baby On A Sleeping Routine
  Page 2