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Recognizing A Baby’s Sleep Patterns
by: Adwina Jackson
It’s true, the number one milestone most parents seek
look forward to is the day (or night) their newborn starts sleeping through
the night.
You don’t have to suffer endless night after night without
sleep however, even with a newborn.
Baby’s actually follow certain sleep patterns, and if
you get to know what these patterns are you’ll start sleeping more soundly
and better the times you do have a chance to get some sleep!
Baby’s don’t actually sleep at the same intervals adults
do. They actually sleep very unsoundly. Their sleep is full of interruptions
because their sleep cycle is not yet fully developed, thus they wake more
often during the night.
Generally grown adults spend about six hours every night
in deep sleep. This is the really restful phase of sleep you require to
feel fresh and new in the morning. Usually time permitting another 2 hours
are spent in light sleep.
Baby’s generally have twice as many light sleep cycles
as adults though, and their deep sleep cycles are much shorter than adults.
Baby’s also have to LEARN how to fall back asleep, it
is not a skill that comes naturally. Whereas adults might zonk out the
moment their head hits the pillow, a baby will actually lie there looking
for something to soothe them back to sleep.
Newborn’s actually sleep a lot, approximately 16 to 18
hours every day, but they don’t enjoy this sleep all at the same time.
Most baby’s will sleep in increments of only two to three
hour intervals. Sometimes their internal sleep clocks are also confused
from being in the womb, and they mistakenly believe that night is day and
day is night. This means that they’ll spend more of their time sleeping
during the day than at night!
Here’s the good news, your baby’s sleep patterns will
eventually changes, usually by about the time they are 12 weeks old. They
will start sleeping about 14-16 hours per day, and many of those hours
will be spent sleeping at night.
What can you do in the meantime to feel more refreshed?
- Sleep when your baby sleeps. No matter what time of
day, take a nap whenever your baby does catch some zzz’s.
- Open the blinds and keep things bright during the day.
This will help change your baby’s clock around so they spend more of their
time sleeping at night and not during the day.
- Sleep near your baby at night. This will help comfort
them and allow them to sleep more easily. There are many co-sleeper products
available that allow you to sleep with your baby safely at night. Consider
trying one until your baby is about 12 weeks old, when they are old enough
to start sleeping on their own.
- You can teach your baby to be a good sleeper with a
little time and a little patience, armed with a little bit of knowledge
about their sleep patterns!
About The Author
Adwina Jackson is a wife and mother of a young boy. She's
also the editor of Inspiring Parenting, an online source of valuable parenting
information. Please visit http://www.InspiringParenting.com
for helpful and free parenting info. Observe your children's health, growth
and development by clicking the website
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