How to Encourage Your Infant to Sleep Through the Night
When a newborn baby becomes a part of your family, it is guaranteed that you will experience a lack of sleep. Newborns require feedings every two to three hours. However, the problem eases as the baby grows older and no longer requires such frequent feedings. The Mayo Clinic reports that the average three-month old sleeps five hours at a time. In some cases, an infant may still be used to awakening for middle-of-the-night feedings, and thus continue to wake throughout the night. There are ways to encourage your infant to sleep through the night so that both of you are better rested and happier.
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Instructions
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Ensure that your baby is active during the day. Although infants still take naps, too slow a pace of life throughout the day may cause your baby to be more awake at night.
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Create consistent nighttime rituals. Try to keep feedings, bath times, reading times and sleep times the same every single night. This way, your infant will begin to naturally adapt to the ritual and go to sleep more easily.
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Give your infant a pacifier to sleep with. According to the Mayo Clinic, a pacifier acts as a comforting mechanism and may help decrease the chances of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Keep in mind, however, that some infants wake up if the pacifier falls out.
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Attempt to put your infant in his crib before he falls into a deep sleep. This encourages your baby to develop the ability to fall asleep on his own. In turn, this reduces the chance of your infant waking up when he senses you are no longer in the room.
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Soothe your infant to sleep while she is in her crib. The Mayo Clinic points out that she may fuss for a bit before she falls asleep. If she continues to cry, massage her to sleep. Avoid picking her up, as she might have a difficult time getting used to sleeping in a crib, instead of in your arms.
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Avoid entering your baby's room at every noise you hear, unless you know that he needs you. According to the Mayo Clinic, infants cry out, stir and fuss randomly throughout the night. Constantly checking on your infant increases the risk of waking him up.
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Tips & Warnings
Infants have different sleeping patterns. Just as adults are early birds or night owls, babies may prefer waking early or staying up late. The Mayo Clinic recommends that you adjust your own schedule to accommodate your infant's.
Do not expect your infant to enter a deep sleep immediately after she shuts her eyes. According to Ask Dr. Sears, the average infant sleeps lightly for 20 minutes before she enters a deep sleep.
Do not place extra blankets, sheets, or stuffed animals in a crib. Although such items may seem like comforting mechanisms, a baby could suffocate if he rolls over and becomes entangled.
References
- Photo Credit Sleeping Baby image by sarkee from Fotolia.com
