Sleep - babies
It can take several weeks for them to develop on a 24-hour clock mechanism, with a long period of sleep at night. By four to six weeks, babies start to develop a more distinct rhythm.
By six months, most babies are sleeping from 12 to 14 hours a night, mostly in one long block at night with at least one nap taken during the day. This is the stage where most new parents at least try to claw back some of the several hundred lost hours of sleep (and that’s just in the first year, I jest not). Tired? Moi?
Diet, hunger, over-tiredness, discomfort and anxiety may all be contributory factors in your baby (and you) being deprived of sleep.
If you're breastfeeding and its the night feeds you're struggling with
Baby mixed up day and night? Does your baby feed 3 hourly or so int he day and then want to feed more at night? Or sleep most of the day and is awake at night? It's common for babies to get mixed up, it the early newborn days feeding is generally their only ativity with a bit of winding and perhaps a look at you or their surroundings. If you need your baby to have more activity diuring the day try waking your baby (may need to strip them off to cool them down or change their nappy - that'll bring them round) and feeding you baby more often during the day - wake them say every 2 hours. When their little tummies are fuller during the day they'll probably sleep more over night and you can leave them 3, 4 or 5 hours overnight until theiy wake and want a feed (activity) again.
Babies rarley sleep well and its mostly luck of the draw and genetics as to how well they sleep over night. Many things can disturb them as they grow older: Teething, over-stimulation, active imagination, nightmares, dreams, growth spurts, hunger, hot or cold.
Complementary therapies that might help with a sleepless baby: Baby massage to help relax your baby and get into a bedtime routine, cranial osteopath, cranial sacral therapy to ensure there are no birth traumas to allievate stopping them from sleeping soundly, aromatherapy
Natural remedies to try at home
- Avoid certain foods and drinks which may affect the sleep of young babies and toddlers. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid alcohol, artificial sweeteners, excess caffeine and highly spiced foods. Ensure your baby is receiving a balanced diet during the day so he doesn’t need to wake up for feeds at night.
- Many babies and young children don’t settle to sleep easily in the evening and wake up several times a night because they are overtired.
- Keep things slightly quieter at night and make sure you have some ‘wind down’ time, so your baby isn’t suddenly expected to switch from lively play to sleep.
- By the age of 6 months, babies begin to realise they’re separate from their mothers and may show signs of separation anxiety or stranger anxiety. Some babies are happier if they can hear household noises and know you’re nearby.
- Ensuring the room temperature is neither too hot nor too cold and they are dressed comfortably makes all the difference to their sleeping.
- The Baby Whisperer and Gina Ford have some suggestions.
- Check your baby is not windy as this can prevent them from sleeping soundly
Related Articles
CranioSacral Therapy for babies. For birth trauma
Chiropractic care for pregnancy and babies
Breastfeeding - finding the right support
breastfeeding websites
Getting breastfeeding off to a good start