HOW HE'LL SLEEP NOW -
This page is about baby sleeping
pattern. About now, many mothers become alarmed because they feel
their babies aren't sleep enough. It's quite natural, however, for your baby to
sleep less during the daytime. Many babies take only a short nap between breakfast
and their noon meal, and may stay awake the entire interval between their
afternoon nap and bedtime.
At about nine months, some babies start dropping out their morning nap, while
some children may take two naps a day until they're fourteen or fifteen months
old. Even though the afternoon nap becomes very short in comparison with the
morning nap, the morning nap is usually the first to go.
The need for sleep varies between children. Some youngsters don't seem to need
an afternoon nap and will start dropping it around 3 to 31/2 years of age.
Insist, however, that your child continue with a rest period during the afternoon even though he doesn't sleep. A quiet activity such as looking books or coloring
will keep him from becoming restless.
On the other hand, if he wants to sleep, let him.
If baby gets fussy and irritable, or sleepy at any time, put him in his bed for a nap. Close the
door to his room, so he won't be distracted by family activity.
NIGHT WAKEFULNESS
During this five-to-eight-months
period, it's common for babies
to awaken and cry at night. Parents often think hunger is frequently associated
with this night crying, especially because the baby's milk intake has now
decreased.
But in most cases, hunger has nothing to do with this wakefulness.
Its more likely that the baby awakes at night, looks around at the dark room,
doesn't see his mother or any other familiar figure, and starts to scream. The
minute the mother walks into the room and says a word or two or picks him up,
he immediately stops crying.
One explanation offered by a psychiatrist is that up until he's five months old,
the baby feels he is a part of his mother. After the five-months period, he begins
to realize that he is an individual but that he needs his mother for protection.
if the baby does awaken at night, don't-immediately rush to him with a bottle or
a drink of water. Feed him one night, and he'll expect it the next night, and
the next, and pretty soon you'll have a nightly problem on your hands.
When he does cry more than momentarily at night, check on him. He may have an
arm or leg caught, may be uncovered and cold, or he could be ill. Pick him up
for a minute and comfort him, but put him down again. Rocking, walking the
floor, or taking him to bed with you which is a dangerous habit) may soon become
a nightly event. one you'll wish you'd never started!
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