Day sleeping is similar to eating, every child is different. Develop a
schedule based on what you see in your baby, and once that schedule
naturally forms, try to stay to it. You have to bend your schedule
around your child's if you want consistency. In other words, if your
baby usually goes to sleep at 7:30 P.M., don't take her to a class that
starts at 7:00 P.M. or leave for the mall after 6:00 P.M. Plan your day
around baby's sleep schedule, and both of you will be much happier
because you'll soon fall into a predictable rhythm.
A lot of mothers get upset that their babies can be so fussy at certain
times of the day. I say, "Get used to it and deal with it!" Most of this
frustration stems from the fact that Mom has not taken the time to get
to know her baby's natural rhythm, and she has tried to make her baby
work around her own schedule. Just because you can wake up at 6:00 A.M.
to get ready and go to work doesn't mean your baby can adapt to your
schedule. It might not be convenient for you to put baby to bed at 7:00
P.M. and wake up with her at 4:00 A.M., but you're only asking for
trouble if you plan a big gathering that doesn't get started until after
7:00 P.M., and then get frustrated that your baby is so fussy. Of
course she's fussy¡ªshe's tired, and it's past her bedtime!
The good news is that sleep schedules change quickly. The first ten days
will be a lot different than the first ten months, and the routines
won't really stop changing until your child is done with her naptimes.
By two months, your child will be physically capable of sleeping through
the night without being fed. By three or four months, most babies (but
by no means all) should sleep either through one nighttime feeding or
through the entire night. At that point, you can be a little bolder
about letting him cry. It's your job to help distinguish between naptime
and bedtime so that junior can begin to get a feel for what's going on.
To do this, create a new ritual for bedtime¡ªgive baby a bath, sing a
special song, darken the room, give baby a special toy or blanket. Do
something that signifies this is different from a typical nap¡ª and
stick with it, but remember to keep it manageable, timewise.
Just remember: You're the mother. You are in charge. If baby starts to
sleep more during the day than the night, it's your job to get him
turned around. Get him up from his afternoon nap, play with him a little
more vigorously before you put him down so he's extra tired and ready
for nighttime, and feed him a little extra. You may have to help your
child find an acceptable sleep rhythm.
No comments:
Post a Comment