Monday, February 1, 2016

Baby Sleep Routine

Baby Sleep Fatern

Newborns:

Expect the initial 3-6 months of your baby's life to be in no way scheduled! Newborn babies sleep between 12 to 23 hours a day, with the average being 16? hours. Don't be concerned if your baby is sleeping more or less than you anticipated. Each baby has their own individual sleep patterns, as with us adults.

REM Sleep Patterns

Do be aware though, that as a newborn, much of a baby's sleep is REM (rapid eye movement). At the end of each REM cycle, your baby may awaken briefly with a fuss, twitch, or whimper, then fall back to sleep. That is normal. Nothing is wrong with your child; he/she just has a light sleep pattern, which will change with maturity. That sleep pattern will likely include irregular breathing; they may well even stop breathing for 10 seconds. Don't panic...rapid, shallow breaths along with pauses in breathing is usual because of your baby's immature brain. However, if there is blueness around the lips, rapid breathing in excess of sixty breaths a minute, or pauses in breathing that go over 10 seconds, call 911 immediately.



How feeding affects their sleep

Also be aware that breastfed babies need to be fed more often than bottle fed babies. Breastfed babies will likely be waking to eat every 2 to 3 hours until they are somewhere between 3 to 6 months old. In contrast, formula fed babies may sleep through the night at only 2 months.



Noise Level

Noise is something you really shouldn't worry about too much. If you always tiptoe around your sleeping infant and are as quiet as a mouse, your baby won't be able to sleep through any noise. So as long as you aren't yelling, don't turn the volume down. This will permit you to get chores done while they nap and give them a chance to be a heavy sleeper later on in life. The main point to remember about your newborn, is that they won't be on any kind of sleep pattern for the first couple months. Be sure to nap during the day while they do; you'll need it!

Six months and Older

When your baby is six months old, they should already have a natural sleep schedule appearing. Slowly enforcing a routine for your baby will help them learn to sleep more regularly. Be certain their naps are about the same time every day, and that they don't sleep too close to bedtime. Find a unique bedtime routine. Even as adults, a bedtime routine is a great way to get a good night's sleep. Consider a bath before bedtime or reading a story. Maybe you have a poem or prayer on the wall above his/her crib that you can read to her every night. Perhaps there's a favorite song that you like to sing. Pick one that is calming and comforting.

The Actual Sleep Moment

Laying your baby down in his/her crib for the night is certain to be a challenge. If your baby is used to falling asleep in your arms, they haven't yet learned how to self-sooth by falling asleep alone. That is an important skill to learn, so you will have to wean them off of this habit. As discussed earlier, simply having a routine will begin to help relax your child. Be sure your routine is a couple weeks old, so your child has fully adjusted. When its bedtime, lay them down with their favorite animals, favorite blanket, and anything else that is comforting. Now, walk away. Yep, I know it will be hard, but they will be alright. Most babies will stop crying after five minutes. If they haven't stopped, check and make sure they are okay, give them a hug, and leave. The first night will be hard, but eventually it'll get easier. Before you know it, you'll be able to read a story, tuck them in, and they'll fall fast asleep.

Still not Sleeping Through the Night

But if your baby is still waking up at night to feed, the above process will help solve this problem also. Teaching them to fall asleep by themselves at bedtime will make them feel secure enough to fall back asleep in the middle of the night. Make sure that your baby has plenty of milk before bedtime, so he/she won't be hungry, adhere to your schedule, and hopefully both you and your baby will get some good rest.

To learn more about what your baby needs, check out How To Put  A Baby In Sleep Here.,,
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7008864

Prolonged sleep – help baby to sleep through the night

Sleep problems

You are not alone if you are having difficulty getting your baby to sleep all night. About a quarter of children under five have sleep problems, particularly refusing to go to bed or waking in the night, and the two often go together

If your baby is constantly waking in the night it can disturb your own sleep patterns and you may find it much harder to cope with tasks the next day. Disturbed sleep because your baby has sleep problems may make you prone to depression. As your child grows, it's important to sort out sleep difficulties, because of the pressure sleep troubles puts on your mental and physical well-being, your relationships with your partner and between you and your child

There are different sleep strategies, from crying it out at one end of the spectrum to bed sharing at the other. It's up to you and your partner to decide which one best suits your family. 

Sleep strategies

The following tactics can help your baby to sleep well from as early as six weeks. But remember, whichever approach you take, consistency is key: 
  • Make daytime feeds social and lively and night-time feeds quiet. That way you’ll help her set her body clock so she can learn the difference between day and night.
  • Give her a chance to fall asleep on her own from about six to eight weeks. Put her down when she's sleepy, but still awake. Some experts advise against rocking or breastfeeding babies to sleep, even at this age, because your baby may come to depend on it. It's up to you to decide what's best.
  • Set a bedtime routine. Keep it short and simple: bath, diaper and pajamas, and a story or song. Finish the bedtime ritual in your baby's bedroom. It's important she learns her room is a nice place to be.
  • Give her a security object, such as a baby blanket or stuffed animal. A great way to make a blanket or teddy bear a favourite is to keep it near you for a while so it smells like you. Babies have a strong sense of smell, and when they startle awake, the smell of their mothers will calm them.
  • Let her cry it out. This is suitable once your baby is four or five months old. If she's crying after you've put her down, go to her. Pat her gently and tell her everything's fine, but it's time for sleep. Be gentle, but firm. Leave the room. Wait for a set interval, anything from two to five minutes, then check again. Do this repeatedly until she falls asleep, extending the time between each visit.
  • Cuddle up. If you plan to have your baby sleeping in your bed, comfort and rock her so she is ready for sleep as part of her bedtime routine. Lie down together and cuddle her, pretending to sleep, firmly letting her know it's bedtime.
  • Share the role of comforter with your partner, so both of you can help your baby fall back to sleep. Once your baby is old enough to do without night-time feeding, she can learn to be comforted by your partner. She might stop needing anyone when she learns there's no food coming!
  • Tune in to your baby’s needs: During the day, make her feel secure by spending time connecting with her. If she wakes in the night, try to work out why. Is her diaper full, are her pajamas comfortable, has she got a cold?
If your baby is still waking after you've tucked her in bear in mind that her age will have a lot to do with how well she settles, and you may have to be adaptable according to her stage of development. 

Sleep problems by age: newborn to three months

Babies at the start of this age range sleep for short periods and wake often in the night. You'll have interrupted nights for the first few weeks. But you can start work now on sleep habits that will pay dividends later.
  • If she falls asleep while eating or being carried, lay her down in a designated sleeping place, such as a crib, bassinet or a pack and play. If she's awake during daytime, encourage that wakefulness, and socialize with her. By distinguishing between asleep and wakeful periods, you'll help her associate sleep with a proper sleeping place.
  • For the first two or three weeks, it's possible that swaddling your baby might soothe her. For some it's the trigger for sleep, but others don't enjoy it.

Sleep problems by age: three to six months

  • If you have moved your baby to a crib, she may be finding it difficult to adjust. Read about ways to make the transition to her crib easier.
  • If your baby just won't settle, despite all your efforts, it's fine to give her a soother to help her drift off. Bear in mind, though, that if she wakes and can't find it, you might be back to where you started.
  • Don't be tempted to start your baby on solids before she's ready to help her sleep. It is not recommended to feed your baby solids before she is six months old.
  • Make sure your baby is not staying up too late. An over-tired baby can make for a difficult bedtime.

Sleep problems by age: six to nine months

About this age, babies who have never had sleep problems may start waking up at night because of separation anxiety. When she wakes in the night, she misses you and worries you won't return. 

Problems may also be linked with your baby reaching milestones in her physical and mental development. About now, she is learning to sit uproll overcrawl, and even pull herself up to a standing position.

  • If she's waking in the night to practice her exciting new skill of sitting up, you'll need to teach her how to lie down again. Then stick to your chosen routine for getting her back to sleep.
  • Your baby's sudden burst in development isn't the same as a growth spurt, so feeding her during the night won't help her sleep better. In fact, it may prolong the problem and make it worse. She’ll learn to depend on feeding to fall asleep.
  • Your baby's sleep may also be disturbed because she is teething. If she doesn't seem to be in pain, stick to your regular sleep routine. But if her gums are hurting, massage them gently with one finger or give her something cold to chew on. If things get really bad, give her the correct dose of infant acetaminophen for her pain.
  • If your baby is going to bed after 8:30 pm and she begins to wake during the night, you may be surprised to find that she's much more likely to sleep through the night if you move her bedtime earlier by a half hour.

Sleep problems by age: nine to 12 months

Your baby is old enough to sleep through the night, but she may be changing her nap habits and may still be suffering from separation anxiety. Be prepared to modify your routine as she grows.

  • Try moving her afternoon nap to an earlier time and making it shorter. Stick with your bedtime ritual and to be firm about going to sleep. Let your baby know that when it's bedtime, it's bedtime. If it helps, try setting an alarm clock to go off about five minutes before it's time to go to sleep. That way the mandate is coming from an external source, not you.
  • Try leaving the door to your baby's room ajar so she can hear you, and be reassured that you're nearby.




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Baby Sleep Music

Baby sleep music – getting baby to sleep

Music for getting baby to sleep will save you hours of sleepless nights 

Mom's and Grandma's have known that singing will put a baby to sleep since the beginning of time. Baby sleep music and baby sleep songs, lullabies and slow, repetitive music are the best way to help a baby sleep. Having a schedule, putting the baby to sleep at the same hour every night, and adding baby sleep music to the mix makes a perfect combination to help a baby sleep easily. It works – you can check reviews for the baby sleep music and lullaby albums and see all the parents who have written reviews about music being their lifesaver.

There are some things to listen for when you are deciding which of the many baby sleep music albums you want to buy.  In some the musician couldn’t resist putting a more lively song or two, and those won’t be as successful as others.   The music needs to be consistently soft, at a slow beat, and calming.

Of course, there are other things that are important to help a baby sleep – one is being on a schedule and going to bed at the same time each night.  But if you do that and add in playing music, songs, or sounds that are conducive to sleep, you will have a winning combination.

Every parent has their routines and beliefs about how they care for their babies and what they considered acceptable and unacceptable when they put their bundle of joy down for a nap or the night. Some mommies and daddies prefer to have their homes and surroundings silent when they put their little ones down. However, others think having baby sleep music on is beneficial and soothing to their children.


Lullabies have been used to sing babies to sleep for generations and many parents find that playing relaxing music for sleep is one of the few ways to get their babies to sleep at night.

Countless studies have been conducted about music especially in relation to sleep. In babies and small children, music has been used as a therapy for premature babies to help them gain weight.

Playing music for your baby can also help you bond with each other. Classical music is often regarded as the number one option in best sleep music, especially for babies and small children since it is often calming and soothing and without vocalizations that can be distracting and disruptive to sleep patterns.

How Will Music Help Baby Sleep:

Child experts agree that music can help babies and young children sleep. Dr. Trevor Holly Cates of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians says that music can help a child relax and prepare for sleep. Renowned pediatrician Dr. Sears says that music can help children stay asleep longer. Lullabies have helped soothe children back to sleep for centuries.

Familiarity
Children sleep better when they are familiar with the music. Dr. Sears says that sounds of waterfalls, oceans or medleys of lullabies can help remind babies of the sounds children heard while in the womb. Lisa Huisman Koops, an associate professor of music education at Cleveland’s Case Western Reserve University, says that infants recognize music that they heard while in utero. She also says that it is important for children to grow up in a home where the family enjoys music and associates different kinds of music for different aspects of the day, such as lively music during the day and relaxing music during sleep times.

Routine
Listening to music can help a child more when it is built into his routine. Maureen Healy, an author and specialist in how to help highly sensitive children, in an article for Psychology Today, says that having a routine helps your child get into a relaxed state of mind. The Mayo Clinic recommends playing the same music when you want your child to sleep. This technique can help train your child to sleep when he hears this music. Add music to other parts of a child's routine, such as reading a book or taking a bath.



Types of Music
Different kinds of music may have different effects on children's sleep patterns. Dr. Sears recommends using white noise, such as a tape recording of a ticking clock, running water, a fan or air conditioner to calm your child during his naps. Pinky McKay, an author and international board certified lactation consultant says that white noise or music that incorporates the rhythm of the maternal heartbeat can have soothing effects on the child. Healy recommends playing calming music, like Tibetan Singing Bowl, which she says have been proven to calm a child's central nervous system.

Considerations

Music may not help all children sleep. Different children may react differently to music when it is used as part of their nap time routine. Koops warns that music may become a "sleep crutch" for some children and that it may be disruptive when it goes off. Dr. Sears recommends using a continuous-play tape to deal with this problem.

http://before-igo-to-sleep.blogspot.com/ breaks down the main reasons that music helps you & your baby be able to sleep:

Helps our body to relax – Along with our mind, our body has to be able to relax in order to get to sleep. This means our heart has to be able to beat at a slow, steady pace so that our muscles and body can relax. Music can help if it is slow and matches the rhthym of a calm heart because it can subconsciously slow our breathing so that we reach a semi-meditative state and our muscles stop being tense and relax.

Calms down an overactive mind – Have you ever noticed how your thoughts seem to become abstract and random just as your drifting off to sleep? This is your mind becoming relaxed. It stops focusing on the here and now, but instead starts to delve into the apparent chaos of the subconscious mind. To help your mind get there, it needs to be able to relax. While using music to assist with meditation is a relatively new approach (meditation is traditionally done in complete silence), adopting the practices used by meditators to relax their mind and body can be an effective way of overcoming insomnia. Soft, relaxing music can enable you to calm the mind and to free it to think more freely and in a less ‘present’ active state.

Blanket out background noise – If you live in a busy street, with noisy flatmates or family members watching the TV until late at night, background noise can be a real problem when you are trying to get to sleep. Music can be helpful in providing a blanket of soft noise to replace the background sounds that might be jarring and keeping you awake at night. Another option is to listen to ‘white noise’ that provides a continuous stream of sound that can mask distracting background noise that’s disturbing you from reaching the land of nod.
To find the best baby sleep music Click Here!

Baby Sleep

Baby Sleep Funny

Go to sleep little baby... is all I can say and with lol while watching this funny sleeping baby.
When Baby is about to sleep this is how they react..
I just want to share these sleeping baby gif that I found @ giphy.com/

















If you got problem on how to get your baby to sleep? Just Click Here!

Go To Sleep Little Baby

Wishing Go To Sleep Little Baby

Taking care of babies is not an easy job to do. You should have all the patience and proper training needed to make them happy, alert and have them a good sleep.

Did you know that In the first few days, newborns can sleep from 16 to 20 hours a day?
The gender of the baby, or whether he is breast or bottlefed makes no difference. It is very important in the early days to feed your baby frequently. As some newborns don't have the energy to wake and ask for food, I recommend that breastfed babies should go no longer than three hours in the day and five hours at night without a feed. This benefits your breast milk supply as much as the baby's needs. Formula-fed babies can be given their bottle every four hours during the day and may be left for six hours between night feeds.

By week two it is important to be developing some sort of sleeping and feeding routine. For years health professionals have been debating the pros and cons of a routine, but the one factor they always agree on is that babies feel safe and secure when they know when and what things are going to happen.

The reason I recommend establishing a pattern by two weeks is to allow you enough time to establish your baby's routine before things can start to go wrong.

The two most important rules when it comes to babies and sleep are:

* 1. Always put your baby down for a sleep or nap in the place you intend him to wake up; and

* 2. Try to teach your baby the skill of self-settling as early as possible. This means going to sleep without aids, such as rocking, patting, feeding or even the use of a dummy.

My experience indicates that babies don't start to surface between sleep cycles (the process of drifting between light and deep sleep) until they reach about eight weeks. Newborn babies can be aided to sleep and they will still sleep for long periods, however at about eight weeks, daytime sleeps change.

If you have aided your baby to sleep, you will notice that he will only catnap during the day. At about five to six months your baby will also begin to surface between night sleep cycles.

An adult changes sleep cycles about every 90 minutes, however in babies it can be as little as every 20 minutes. Babies cannot be expected to resettle until they have learned to self-settle in the first place.

Usually, a baby of six months will show the first signs of a self-settling problem by waking at about 5:00am. Then he will begin to wake at 11:00pm, and by the time your baby is one year old he will be waking at 9:00pm, 11:00pm, 1:00am, 3:00am and 5:00am! The sooner you solve the waking problem the better. Go to the top

Prevention is the best way to avoid these problems

If your baby is younger than eight weeks old, establishing a good, proven routine will prevent these issues. If you have an older baby with a sleep problem, the Save our Sleep" website contains different articles for varying ages. For babies younger than eight months there are different versions of passive settling.

For those older than eight months, I do not recommend controlled crying, as walking in and out of the room will only tease your baby. It will make him emotional and he will continue to sob after falling asleep.

Rather than this 'cry yourself to sleep' method, I recommend the 'laying down approach'. Again, there are different approaches for different ages. Go to the top

Some common problems which occur in the first year can be solved with a feeding and sleeping routine. These include:

* Colic
* Catnapping
* Night waking
* Dummy or wrap dependency
* Early waking
* Adjusting to daylight saving
* Car seat tantrums

Tips to create a good sleeper

* Have a consistent routine
* Always put your baby to sleep where he will wake up
* Never aid your baby into slumber
* Make sure your baby is not too warm or too cold
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2365160