Dealing with a wakeful baby
We all know that one of the major adjustments you have to make to your life when you have a new baby is learning to cope with a lack of sleep. It’s enough to drive anyone to distraction!
It has to be said that the phrase ‘to sleep like a baby’ often doesn’t apply and, while you may have friends whose babies are absolute angels and sleep through the night from day one, be reassured by the fact that this is rarely the case. Although there’s no magic wand which will make your baby suddenly sleep all night, do not despair as there are ways in which you can help to improve the situation.
Newborns tend to wake several times a night for the first few weeks as they have little tummies which can only cope with small amounts of milk at a time. They therefore need to be fed little and often. As babies get older, their stomachs become larger and they can therefore take more in at any one time. As a result, they are satisfied for longer and can therefore sleep for greater stretches. However, some babies are predisposed to being more wakeful than others; it’s just in their nature.
There are different trains of thought as to how you should deal with a baby who wakes often in the night. While there are those who believe that you should run to your baby the minute he wakes, others think that it’s better to leave him for a while. Rather than rushing to your baby and nurturing him every time he wakes, it might be best to let him cry for small periods of time to ascertain whether he can settle on his own accord. If he thinks that every time he wakes you will go to him, then he will keep crying until he gets your attention. Obviously, if he’s becoming increasingly distressed and continues to cry for an extended period of time, then settle him with a brief cuddle, but don’t turn any lights on or talk to him as he may well only be half-awake and this will merely make him too excited to go back to sleep. You can listen outside the door to hear whether your child falls asleep if this helps to put your mind at ease.
It’s simpler to get your baby into a bedtime routine when he’s very young. Many parents spend ages rocking their babies or cuddling them to get them to sleep. However, there is the danger that if you pander to your baby’s every need, then you’re making a rod for your own back. Of course it’s a personal decision and it may take a few days or even a week for your baby to get used to the fact that you won’t come running the minute he cries, but ultimately he will be more likely to sleep through the night.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 16/07/2008
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