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