How to Increase Sleep in an Infant
You may be feeling sleep deprived from your infant's inability to sleep through the night and need for frequent feedings. When infants are very young, their tiny stomachs can hold only a limited amount of food, which leads them to wake often to eat. Other causes of wakefulness can be a wet diaper, loneliness, upset stomach or general restlessness. You can learn to increase your infant's sleep time by following a few tips.
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Instructions
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Limit your infant's daytime naps. Don't allow him to nap for more than two hours at a time. Play, sing or read to him to help keep him awake, which might increase his sleep during the night. Just keep in mind that the younger the infant is, the more sleep and nap time they require.
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Give your infant a pacifier, special blanket, stuffed animal or soft toy to hold on to while sleeping. Allowing him to sleep with a meaningful object will teach him how to comfort himself when he wakes during the night and help him quickly fall back asleep on his own.
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Encourage your infant to be active during the day. Surround him with toys, household noises and games and include him in family activities. Keeping your infant mentally and physically stimulated during the day will help him become tired at night and sleep until morning.
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Follow a low-key bedtime routine each night. Focus on calming activities at the end of the day instead of ones that could excite your infant. Relax him by reading to him, cuddling, singing or giving him a bath to help his body clock learn that nighttime is for sleeping.
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Put your infant to bed when he's drowsy but still awake. This will teach him to associate his bed with the process of falling asleep at night, according to the University of Illinois Extension.
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Avoid excess stimulation during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes to show your infant that the night is meant for sleep, not play. Use a soft voice, low lights and calm movements to help your infant get back to sleep.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't share your bed with your infant during sleep. This will make it more difficult for your infant to fall asleep in his own bed.
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- Photo Credit sleeping baby image by Maya Kruchancova from Fotolia.com
