How to Identify Sleep Problems in Infants
During months of sleepless nights, every parent of a newborn entertains the idea that perhaps the baby is suffering from a sleep disorder. While some infants experience sleep deprivation and apnea, most babies just have shorter sleep cycles that make them prone to frequent waking. Because their sleep cycles are only 50 to 60 minutes long, light sleep that babies often awake from occurs every hour. Whether your baby has normal sleep patterns or true problems, observing your infant's sleep should help you identify areas of concern.
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Instructions
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Record how long your child is actually sleeping. While infants require plenty of sleep, they might be getting sufficient sleep if you count their daytime sleeping as well. Newborns, 1 to 3 months old, require about 15-1/2 hours of sleep. Babies at 6 to 9 months need slightly more than 14 hours. As babies reach their first birthdays, they need about 13-3/4 hours of sleep per day. If your baby is sleeping enough through the day and night, she probably does not suffer from sleep disorders.
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Watch for patterns in your child's sleep disturbances. Teething or illness can cause frequent disturbances through the night. Cognitive and physical gains in development, occurring around 7 to 9 months, can create anxiety that inhibits sleep in babies. These are passing stages that probably do not warrant concern.
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Observe your child sleeping. Sleep apnea is a common childhood malady that causes sleeping difficulties by disrupting a child's breathing. Babies under 6 months old often experience periodic breathing, which includes varying breathing patterns. While brief pauses in an infant's breathing are normal, a pause of 20 seconds or more requires medical attention.
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Tips & Warnings
Develop a consistent bedtime routine with your infant to promote healthy sleeping habits.
Contact your child's pediatrician if you think your infant has sleeping problems. Always place your child on her back to sleep to reduce her risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
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