Unstable sleep of a baby gives mom a lot of problems. However, it can be adjusted by 4 months. How to do it correctly, says the somnologist
With the arrival of the baby, restless nights come to the house. A child who for 9 months lived according to his own biorhythms is completely unprepared for such a concept as a regimen and uninterrupted sleep. Although they say that in the first months the baby will sleep 18 hours a day, in practice it can look like sleeping in "segments" of 30-40 minutes. Such a schedule unsettles not only mom, but also all household members. After a couple of weeks, the problem of sleep comes to the fore in the family. Is it possible to make sure that the baby sleeps well from birth? Children's neurologist and somnologist Anna Ostroverkhova talks about this on her Telegram channel.
Baby sleep from 0 to 2 months
Up to 2 months old baby can be safely laid on hands / istockphoto.com
This is a happy time when the child, by and large, does not need anything except food and the feeling of his mother next to him. During this period, tactile contact is very important for the baby for a restful sleep. Do not listen to grandmothers, smart friends and bloggers on the Internet: the longer and more you keep your baby near you, the better his sleep will be.
You will not be able to form the habit of falling asleep on your hands. In the first weeks of life, the child still does not track cause-and-effect relationships, does not analyze your actions and does not know how to manipulate. Therefore, without fear, we rocked, we carry it on our hands, we give the breast on demand and we lay down next to it.
Also, favorable conditions in the house are very important for the child's restful sleep at this time. And this is not "vacuum" silence at all. The main thing is lighting (do not forget to darken the room during sleep), moderate temperature (24-27 degrees in summer and 18-24 in winter) and sufficient air humidity (50-55%). If the house is too hot and dry, it irritates the baby's delicate mucous membranes. Therefore, the baby may wake up simply because of discomfort.
Baby sleep from 3 to 4 months
From 3 months, the baby should sleep at home only in the crib / istockphoto.com
In the third month of life, the child develops a so-called "social smile": he responds to the voice of his mother, reacts to the approach of her face. This means that the baby can already analyze the situation and even draw certain conclusions on it. It is at this time that all the conditions must be created in order to form the habit of proper healthy sleep in the child.
Rule 1. There should be one place to sleep
By the age of 10-12 weeks, the baby should have its own crib in the house. Put him to bed there. Try not to use the bed as an alternative to the playpen, as a place to play or stay awake. The kid must clearly form an association: the bed is a place to sleep.
Rule 2. Create the right sleeping conditions
Blackout, temperature and humidity are three whales of comfortable falling asleep at any age. And from the third month of life, you can also add white noise to them. He is able to absorb extraneous sounds and soothes the baby well.
Rule 3. Watch for signs of fatigue
Look for signs of fatigue when laying down / istockphoto.com
The approximate waking time at this age is 45-60 minutes. But for each child it will be individual. In order not to miss the moment, carefully observe the baby. Infant fatigue can be determined on a number of grounds. The main ones are: the child yawns, rubs his eyes, pulls at his hair and ears, withdraws from the game and other activities. Once you notice this behavior, put it to bed without overworking.
Rule 4. Introduce sleep rituals
All kids need stability and predictability. Therefore, the rituals of falling asleep, to which you teach your baby, will "work" even at an older age. As soon as you see the first signs of fatigue, change your activity. Put your toys aside and take a book. A clear start and sequence of actions is very important here. For example: 10 minutes of reading, changing a diaper, putting on pajamas and singing a lullaby.
Rule 5. Train yourself to fall asleep
Yes, yes, this should be done already from three months. However, you shouldn't leave your baby in the crib, take earplugs and go to the kitchen. You need to start carefully. After all the rituals, shake the baby and put him in the crib while he is still awake. Stay close to him and keep eye contact until the baby falls asleep. If he fiercely resists, cries and is naughty, postpone this technique of falling asleep. After about a week, you can try again.
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Child's sleep: in a separate room or with parents?
Safe baby sleep: how to properly equip a baby's sleeping place
