All About Sleep

Getting an infant to rest can present a problem for many parents. Tricia O'Brien, Features Editor for American Baby Magazine, has some important information about your baby's sleep cycle.

While it may seem like your newborn can snooze at any time, keep in mind that when they do sleep, it's not for very long. Regular sleeping patterns won't set in until around three months or so, so be prepared to have your own sleeping pattern turned upside down too. "In the meantime, they're just going to sleep when they need to," says O'Brien.

Once they do begin to establish a napping and feeding pattern, do your best to adjust to it. Don't force your child to sleep based on your schedule - you need to rearrange your activities based on them. "Everybody's sleep pattern is different, and you really have to look at your child's patterns and sort of adapt to those patterns," says O'Brien.

It helps to have a bedtime ritual, especially one that doesn't involve feeding or sleeping next to you. If a child gets used to having you or their bottle around when they're dozing off, they'll use that as a sign that it's time to rest. When they wake up in the middle of the night, they'll have a harder time falling back asleep by themselves without having you or their bottle there with them.

Instead, establish a routine based on songs, warm baths and white noise, like a bathroom fan. "You can dim the lights and change them into their body suit," says O'Brien. Baby will learn to self-sooth much sooner as they learn to recognize their bedtime routine.

Also, try to put baby down for a nap or for bedtime when they're sleepy, but not overtired. Yawns and eye rubbing are sure signs that your son or daughter is too tired, and they'll become cranky instead of dozing off peacefully.

Always keep in mind that babies do cry and they will wake up in the middle of the night. The key is to know what constitutes normal crying and what can signal colic. "Colic is so frustrating, but the good news is, it usually ends around three months," says O'Brien. True colic tends to follow the rule of "three's": it happens for three hours, three days a week for up to three weeks. Also, a colicky cry is usually higher pitched and more painful sounding than normal crying. O'Brien suggests employing normal soothing techniques. "You might have to use them more often," says O'Brien. For more personalized advice on calming a colicky baby, consult your pediatrician.

If you'd like to learn more about a newborn's sleeping habits, click here to visit www.AmericanBaby.com.

By Erin Petrun