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One of the biggest challenges facing parents is establishing solid sleep patterns with infants. The sleeping and waking habits of every baby are as different as each child. Parents can follow some general guidelines to help promote and provide healthy sleeping patterns that will benefit babies and parents alike.

It is important to realize that infants, especially newborns, need to eat at regular intervals, including the middle of the night. Sleeping for long periods of time (more than 4 to 6 hours), does not generally allow for this necessary nourishment. Overall, breastfed babies might need to eat more often, but it is important for parents to discuss any nutritional issues and expectations with their pediatricians.

Babies have similar levels of sleep as children and adults, but just experience them in different ways. There are various patterns of drowsiness, deep sleep, and light sleep, and in babies these tend to come in shorter periods of time than in older children and adults.

A baby who is sleeping well for a 4 to 6 hour stretch of time is probably experiencing a phase of deep sleep. Natural needs for nourishment and comfort tend to wake babies from this state. It may be difficult for a baby to return to deep sleep, even after those needs are met, just as with adults once a full night of sleep or a long nap has been taken it is not easy to return to that deep sleep state quickly.

A baby who sleeps deeply for 4 to 6 hours at night and then is restless for several hours afterward, even if it is 2 a.m. can challenge a parent’s need for sleep. It can be helpful for parents to encourage consistent sleep patterns by following a few steps.

It is important when a baby wakes during the night to change the diaper and burp the baby, even if he is tired or falls asleep while eating. Burping will help prevent gas in the stomach and guard against the baby waking earlier than usual because of it. At night it is important to do these activities as quietly as possible, with as little light as needed. This will signal to the baby that night is a quiet time to rest.

If a parent has a baby who continues to be restless after being fed, changed, and burped at night, he or she might need to address other needs or issues. Some bottle fed babies require bottles specifically designed to create less air flow in efforts to reduce gas buildup in stomachs. Some products, such as Mylicon, are available to use in the night feeding bottle to help reduce gas. However, it is imperative to speak with pediatrician before using. Moms who breastfeed need to pay attention to their own food and beverages consumed to look for patterns and see if certain ones affect their baby,s digestion.

Sleeping habits will grow and change as babies do. Establishing healthy sleep patterns will promote longer periods of deep sleep in babies. Parents should remember to be consistent, calm, and patient as they encourage these positive sleep habits. Sometimes the old rule of sleeping when the baby sleeps is the best way to combat parental fatigue and give enough energy to Mom or Dad to ensure they can maintain the hectic schedule of parenting an infant.

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