Sleeping like a Baby

Parenting & Children — By 88DB Knowledge on August 8, 2012 4:55 pm

Many of us have always wondered – why is it called “sleeping like a baby” when we know babies wake up in the middle of the night? The answer is not so much the quantity, but rather the quality of sleep – babies sleep deeply, which is why when they get awoken in the middle of the night, they cry, because it is quite a shock to them.

Babies develop sleep patterns as they grow, which means that infants have very different sleeping needs and behaviours than babies that are four months or older. Here, we aim to help you understand your baby’s sleep habits, so both you and your baby can enjoy a good night’s rest.

Beware of Bad Advice

As you will soon find out, several people – be it family members or friends – have their own opinion and advice on how to handle sleep issues with your baby. Take everything with a pinch of salt and patience (as it is well-meaning) and at the end of the day, go with your instinct and do your own research. Read up on baby books or search online for information to get your facts straight. This is a bonding process between you and your baby, and no one is able to tell you what’s best for you both bar yourself, because every situation is unique.

The Biology of Baby Sleep

The equation is simple during the first few months – when baby is tired, baby will sleep. That’s it. You really have no control over this. You cannot do anything to put him/her to sleep and vice versa. However, what you do have control over is knowledge and the baby’s surroundings. A newborn needs to feed every 2 – 4 hours, because his/her tummy is very tiny. Being on a liquid diet and going through growth spurts also makes digestion quick. As such, feeding time is frequent. But you can look at times and plan things around your baby’s habits based on this. Mind you, it’s not fail- proof or an exact science, but it gives you something to work with. For example, after a feed, you know you have at least a 2-hour window to do things like laundry or chores.

Sleeping “Through the Night”: Truth or Fiction?

Babies sleep through the night around 3 – 4 months of age. Depending on how much sleep you need yourself, this may be a myth. For a baby, 5 hours of sleep is considered a full night’s sleep. So if he / she falls asleep at 8pm, they will be awake by 1am. As will you. So unless you can function normally on just 5 hours of sleep a day, sleeping through the night is a debatable.

But fret not. As baby gets older, sleep will be easier and become more predictable. In the meantime, you can try the following practices to help with the process:

Establish a set bedtime and regular nap times and stick to them.

If you notice your baby has a nap at certain times, make note to ensure that they are in a conducive environment at these times. This will help regulate sleep patterns, making them more focussed and predictable so you can plan your day around them.

Establish a night time routine.

A warm bath, followed by a relaxing massage with lavender or baby oil and a feed, does wonders to help baby (and you) sleep through the night. Make it a routine by doing it the same time every night. By adhering to this, the baby’s sleep clock will be able to anticipate when it is time to rest and adjust accordingly.

Wake the baby up.

We know they look cute when they sleep, but waking them up at the same time every morning helps set the clock as well. Take note of the time when the baby generally wakes up. For example, if the baby is normally up at around 6am, make sure he or she are always up at that time. If not, wake them up gently by taking them out of the cot.

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