Good sleep habits for infants

No matter what a child's age, parents like to have children go to bed easily and sleep through the night. Children vary in the amount of sleep they need depending on their age and individual makeup. For example, newborns tend to sleep in short spurts for a total of about 16-20 hours per day. As they get older, children tend to sleep for longer periods at a time and require less sleep per day. By about 6 months of age your child should start to have a regular sleeping schedule and sleep 14-16 hours a day. At this age many children are also sleeping through the night. When children face big developmental tasks they may have trouble sleeping. These tasks might include learning to walk, talk or use the potty. Starting off early with good sleep habits can ease any sleep problems that arise. Here are some suggestions for good sleep habits.

• Put your baby down for sleep while he is still awake so that he can practice calming himself. He may do things like suck his fingers, rock his body back and forth, or finger a blanket or a stuffed animal.
• Stay in the room when your baby is first trying to fall asleep on her own. If your baby is not settling after 5 minutes, place your hand on her or sing to see if that helps. Try not to make eye contact, as this may keep your baby awake.
• Try to not to always feed your baby right before sleep. Read a book or do some other soothing activity. That way they will not associate sleep with nursing or bottle-feeding.
• At the first signs of sleepiness put your baby in their crib. If your baby fusses excessively, pick them up and try again later.
• Do not use pacifiers to help your child fall asleep. Pacifiers are to quell a baby's need to suck not to put them to sleep. Babies who learn to fall asleep with pacifiers may not be able to fall asleep without them. This can become problematic as your child gets older. If your child accidentally falls asleep with a pacifier, take it out gently.
• If your baby needs help try placing a shirt you have worn for several days without washing it under the crib sheet in the crib. Your baby will smell your scent and be soothed by it. Your baby will feel as if you are nearby.
• Avoid active play right before bedtime. This may get your child too excited to fall asleep.
• Encourage both morning and afternoon naps for your infant under 12 months. Try to get some rest during your baby's nap.
• During night feedings, try not to play with your baby or talk to him too much. Keep the lights low or off. This will help your baby to have a successful feeding and get back to sleep.
• When your baby wakes at night and can't fall back to sleep after 3 minutes, let him know that you are there. If your child is crying, try to comfort him, but don't give an extra feeding if he doesn't normally need one at that time. Attention to babies is not spoiling; it helps to create a sense of security.
• As soon as your baby is willing, keep bedtime at a consistent time every night.

Adapted in part from the American Academy of Pediatrics, Establishing Good Sleep Habits.