| If you are the parent of an infant, you'll | | | | a.m. She's tired and ready to go back to bed |
| want to try to stay awake long enough to read | | | | by 9:00 a.m. Baby sleeps until 11:00 a.m. |
| this article. New parents often suffer from | | | | She's tired and ready to go nighty night |
| sleep deprivation, sometimes for the entire | | | | again around 1:00 p.m. Baby sleeps until |
| first year of their baby's life and even | | | | about 3:00 p.m. She wakes and is bright-eyed |
| beyond. | | | | until around 5:00, when she needs a short |
| | | | "cat-nap" of around 20 minutes to half an |
| Here are some tips that should help get you | | | | hour. Baby is ready for the crib again around |
| on the right track: | | | | 7:30 or so, and this time should sleep for a |
| | | | longer period of time. She will most likely |
| - First of all, if your baby is less than 6 | | | | continue to wake up once, perhaps twice |
| weeks old, there's not much you can do except | | | | during the night until she gets to be closer |
| persevere. It often takes babies a good six | | | | to eight months, when once per night should |
| weeks to recognize the difference between | | | | be about it. |
| night and day. Their sleep patterns are so | | | | |
| erratic that there's just no point in trying | | | | Until your baby is 8-9 months old, she should |
| to train them at this young age. Just try to | | | | not be awake for more than two hours at a |
| sleep when your baby sleeps and get through | | | | time. I know this doesn't sound like a lot of |
| this initial stage as best as you can. | | | | awake time, but if you spend a day observing |
| | | | your baby, I think you'll find that she does |
| - During the first four months of your baby's | | | | tend to follow this pattern. Once she's been |
| life, she will likely spend the better part | | | | up for close to two hours, you'll recognize |
| of the day's 24 hours sleeping. She's also | | | | signs that she's getting sleepy. |
| very portable, so enjoy this while you can, | | | | |
| before you get into napping routines and are | | | | Making sure that your baby gets adequate rest |
| house-bound. She'll sleep just about | | | | during the day, and maintains a consistent |
| anywhere, through just about anything. Don't | | | | and appropriate schedule for her age will, in |
| try to limit her sleep during the day, as | | | | turn, help to ensure that a more manageable |
| this will not help her to sleep more at | | | | night time sleep routine takes hold. An |
| night. Sleep begets sleep. Your baby cannot | | | | overtired baby will not sleep well during the |
| get enough of it. | | | | night. Many parents are afraid that having |
| | | | baby sleep so much during the day will result |
| - Once baby approaches the age of four | | | | in sleepless nights. Not so. Sleep begets |
| months, a more clear sleep routine develops. | | | | sleep. Further, if you instill good sleep |
| A typical schedule for a four to eight month | | | | habits at an early age, you're doing your |
| old is as follows: Baby wakes up around 7:00 | | | | child a favor for the future. |