Basic Infant Sleep Information

Posted by admin on February 20, 2009

Why do we have a site dedicated to your baby’s sleep?

It may seem pretty unbelievable but a newborn (at least in the beginning few days) can sleep up to two thirds of each 24 hour day. Of course as we get older this amount of time decreases significantly.

In the end the average person will have slept for about 1/3 of his/her lifetime… much less than that original 2/3rds.

In the first 3 years of life sleep is more important than any other time as it helps with many important functions during those years of growth.

It effects proper development in immune system, brain function, physical growth, and many other areas.

For parents the lack of sleep can also be exhausting as children who have sleep problems will likely let their parents know.

While many believe that their child “will grow out of it” studies have shown that a large percentage of children do not grow out of it and in fact continue to have problems continuing on into later years.

But there are things that parents can do to help this situation.

What can you do?

Some simple things to help your child to get through problems sleeping and help you get more of the sleep you need:

Make consistent bed times – Your child is just that, a child, and as such needs some guidelines about when it’s time to sleep. Children like to have a stable environment and should not be included in adult activities that extend beyond their normal waking hours. It helps to have some consistent pattern before bed (story time, brush teeth, tucking in, etc)

Stay away from giving your little one sweet things (food or drinks) before they go to bed. This will just serve to get them “wired” and then it will prevent them from getting good solid sleep during the night.

If your baby / child cries a little / indicates disapproval in a minor way, it may be a good idea to wait a minute or two quietly for them without making a big deal about it.