By this age, your baby should be well on the way toward an
established sleep pattern. Most likely the pattern includes at
least two naps a day, plus at least 7 or 8 hours of nighttime
sleep.
During these months, your baby will learn to roll over and
position himself or herself for sleep. Toward the end of this
period, your little one may be able to stay awake or be kept
awake by surroundings, so this is the time to instill good sleep
habits by sticking to a bedtime routine.
How Long Will My Baby Sleep?
While the average number of hours slept per day at this age is
14, the range of normal is quite wide, with some babies sleeping
only 9 hours and others sleeping as much as 18.
The average amount of daytime sleep now is 3-4 hours. Some
babies will nap 20 minutes, others will sleep much longer than
average.
Remember that your baby would rather be with you than anywhere
else. So your tot may need more sleep, but wakes after a 20-minute
nap because he or she would just rather be playing with you than
sleeping. As your baby becomes a toddler and starts resisting naps,
it's still a good idea to have a period of quiet time, for both
of you.
Naps usually help prevent a baby from becoming too cranky to
sleep well at night, allowing your baby (and you) to enjoy the
waking hours more. Most babies this age like to nap once in the
morning, then again sometime after lunch.
If you feel the naps are interfering with your baby's
bedtime, you can wake the baby from an afternoon nap a little
earlier. But if your baby is overly tired, he or she will not sleep
well at night.
How and Where Should My Baby Sleep?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that healthy
infants be placed on their backs to sleep, not on their stomachs.
The incidence of
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
has decreased by more than 40% since this recommendation was first
made in 1992. It's now also recommended that premature infants
sleep only on their backs.
Until your baby is rolling over unaided and picking a position
for sleep, place your little one on his or her back to sleep. It is
thought that some babies sleeping on their stomachs may have a
greater tendency toward sleep obstruction and rebreathing their own
carbon dioxide because they're less likely to rouse themselves
to change head positions. Another possibility is that they may
suffocate on softer bedding if they are lying face-down.
Many cultures endorse
cosleeping
. But studies indicate that there is a greater incidence of SIDS in
households where the infant slept in the bed with the parents. Use
of substances that decrease the parents' awareness, such as
alcohol, also may allow a parent to roll over onto the baby.
Always keep safety in mind. Make sure your crib meets current
safety standards. Don't put anything in the crib that can
interfere with your baby's breathing - stuffed animals,
blankets, or soft pillows can fall on a baby's face and block
breathing. Although bumper pads are widely used, their
safety has been questioned. One study from the U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission found a number of accidental
deaths appeared to be related to the use of bumper pads in cribs
and bassinets. The Canadian Pediatric Society has recommended
against the use of bumper pads since 2004. If you do use bumpers,
it's best to use the kind that secure at the top and
bottom. Also, avoid items with ties or ribbons that can wrap
around a baby's neck, and objects with any kind of sharp edge
or corner.
If you do use bumpers, remove them once your baby is pulling up
using the sides of the crib. Bumpers can give your baby a dangerous
"leg up" for climbing out of the crib and falling. Babies
can also get tangled in hanging mobiles, so remove them as well.
Don't forget to look around for the things that your baby can
touch from a standing position in the crib. Wall hangings,
pictures, draperies, and window blind cords are potentially harmful
if left within your baby's reach.
Encouraging Sleep
You have probably already established a bedtime routine and are
staying with it. If you haven't established one, start now.
Soothing activities that lead up to "night-night" time
can help relax your baby. A warm bath followed by stories or
singing will signal transition to sleep, and these same activities
can be used at bedtime for years.
You'll probably want your baby to start falling asleep on
his or her own. This may mean performing your nighttime routine and
putting the baby into the crib while he or she is still awake. If
the baby cries, stay away for a few minutes. Your baby may settle
down and go to sleep. If the crying continues, go back in and
soothe the baby for a moment, without picking him or her up. This
may go on a few times until your baby figures out that the crying
is not getting anywhere. Expect that this may be a difficult
exercise for you, simply because it's distressing to hear your
baby cry. Try to remember that if you know your baby is safe, a
little crying now so that you can all sleep better later is
ultimately the healthier choice.
Even a baby who has already been sleeping through the night
(anywhere from 7 to 12 hours) will occasionally awaken in the wee
hours. After ruling out teething pain, illness, or an extremely
soiled diaper, it's best to let your baby struggle back to
sleep on his or her own. Give your baby a few fussy minutes before
you respond, then after seeing that everything is OK, leave your
baby alone to fall back to sleep. Don't forget that any
cuddling, feeding, or talking you do may prompt your baby to wake
each night for this attention.
If your baby is waking up many times each night, perhaps there
is an external reason. Is your baby too big for the bassinet? Move
him or her to a full-size crib. Do you still have the baby in your
bedroom? Your little one may be sensitive to your presence and may
need to be put in his or her own room to get a good night's
sleep. Is the baby's room too warm? Too cold? Too dark? Explore
these possibilities.
Another common sleep "problem" at this age is the
early riser - the baby who begins to babble or cry for you before
the crack of dawn. There is probably nothing you can do to prevent
your baby from waking when ready, but a few safe toys in the crib
may soothe your baby for a while longer and a window shade to keep
out the first light of day may let you get another few minutes of
sleep.
When to Call the Doctor
If you have ruled out external reasons for nighttime waking and
you still think your baby's not sleeping enough (or is even
sleeping too much!), don't hesitate to call your doctor.
Teething pain is a common reason for sleep problems at this age,
and the doctor may be able to suggest some ways to relieve your
baby's discomfort. Perhaps there is an illness involving no
other symptoms besides sleeplessness, or maybe your doctor can help
you find ways to enhance your nighttime routine with your baby.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: August 2008
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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