Sleep Issues of 8-12 Months

At the ages of 8-12 months, your baby will begin to need less sleep during the day and should be regularly sleeping through the night. But there’s also much more activity and stimulation during the day – babies are eating up the world at this stage, they’re learning so much.

If you’re feeding him baby food during the day, and decreasing bottles, make the last bottle feeding at nighttime. You can also have a bottle in the night to soothe him if he wakes up. Babies are teething at this time as well, and that can cause them to wake up in discomfort. You may be weaning the baby from breastfeeding, and that can be a difficult transition as well.

There are different schools of thought on handling babies who are a challenge to get to sleep. Some recommend letting the baby cry it out, but this is hard on the parents, especially on mom who may have been comforting and bonding with the baby all day long. It can see cruel to just let the baby cry himself to sleep. He’s just a little guy, after all.

Take extra care at this time to make sure the nursery is conducive to sleeping. Make sure his diaper is clean and his sheets are clean and soft. If he’s teething, use a topical pain treatment that’s safe for the baby. You can also invest in some homeopathic tablets that ease teething naturally. Make sure his nose is clear and not stuffy. If you use a foam wedge to keep the baby from sleeping on his stomach, sleep with a spare one night and then put that in his bed so that your scent is close to him at night.

Make sure the room isn’t too cold or too hot; keep a humidifier in the room to maintain a good moisture balance, especially in the winter when rooms can dry out. Your baby just might be stubborn about sleeping, but try to figure out if there are physical problems that you can alleviate first.

Sleep Issues of 4-7 months

When your baby turns 3 months old, she should start sleeping at night. As the baby’s adaptability factor is too strong, so they are learning and observing all the time, and your baby could soon start to associate sleep time with the time when mommy isn’t there. It’s called separation anxiety and it’s a normal part of development for many babies.

You may introduce your baby to some foods, and this can help your baby feel sleepy. But do not forget to introduce the new patterns gently and slowly. If you find your baby crying for you when you aren’t there, or isn’t sleeping, then she needs to learn to self-comfort, but not all at once – put her at ease in learning the habit of sleeping alone.

Don’t change your quotidian activities before bedtime. You can still start off with a warm bath and feeding. Rocking, snuggling, singing or reading – these are all bonding times for mother and baby. If you happen to find out that your baby doesn’t fall asleep right away, so then try putting her in her crib with the rocker or glider right next to the crib, singing or reading to her. You can stand at the crib and rub or pat her back.

Within a week or 2, move your chair a short distance away from the baby’s crib, so the baby can see you, and you can talk or read or sing. If the baby cries for more than 10 or 15 minutes, then get up and comfort her, but put her back down in the crib and go back to your chair.

In another week or 2, put it over a relatively more distance i.e. towards the door. Even these minor changes could be hard for your baby, but be patient. This is a time when you can fold her laundry and put it away; while talking to her so she’s aware of your presence, but your attention should not focused entirely on her. This way she can get used to the idea of separation gradually.

Sleep Requirements

Being a new mother, you probably will observe or might think that your baby sleeps too much through out the day. This varies from baby to baby; but there are certain standards on which you can deduce your expectations. Even if you’ve had children before, each baby will be different.

The sleeping time of a new born infant is around 16-17 hours within a 24-hours period. And a proven fact is that most of the babies will not sleep throughout the night; until they’re at least 3 months old and for this, there are several reasons why. First of all, their stomachs are quite small and they’ll get hungry quite frequently, especially if you’re breastfeeding your baby. Breast milk is gets digested in a little time as compared to a formula, and your baby will be requiring more feed, especially in the initial stages.

Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults do, and so have shorter dream cycles. In general a newborn baby should sleep about 8 or nine hours during the day and 8 hours or so at night but in the beginning, these sleep times will be quite short.

As the baby grows older, up to about 2 years of age, she’ll still be sleeping 13-14 hours, but the day time sleep time will reduce month-by-month. By reaching the age 2, your baby should be sleeping through the night with a 2-hour nap during the day, but thus again this will vary by child. May be your baby might need a slightly longer nap or two short naps. At this particular age, try to discourage naps too late in the afternoon, as this can make it harder for them to sleep a few hours later at bed time.

Once the baby begins to sleep throughout the night, parents are often dismayed when he/she begins to awaken in the night again. This typically happens at about 6 months of age and is often a normal part of development; and is called separation anxiety.

Trial and Error

Being a mom, no matter of a first baby or not – you would always expect the best to happen with your child and for that you try to do your best. For getting known to the perfect guidelines, you can start off by reading the books of the experts and of course; friends and relatives always have advice for a new mother and baby.

This all may enable to start the journey, but if it doesn’t works for you or you aren’t contented, then you have to try something new, or what is compatible. Try different things at bedtime to see what works for you and your baby, as your baby is unique and not like any other baby, after all!

Try feeding the baby with different types of food especially at nights, or change the timing of her last feeding. As per her pajamas, make sure they are soft but nor scratchy; be sure to use special detergents made just for baby clothes, especially in the beginning. Do hang her clothes and bedding outside in the sunshine to dry because who doesn’t feel all the more cozy and comfy when going to sleep in bedding that has been dried outside! Just make sure no critters get into the baby’s bedding or clothes.

Are you accustomed to a habit at night; that is having a nice bath and then feeding while holding the baby close to you? Nothing is more delightful than holding your baby right out of the bath when she has that wonderful baby smell. It’s just important to make this a pleasant and relaxing time for both of you, especially at this age of hers, when she is in the first months of her life.

If you’ve been playing with the baby beforehand, then it would take a little longer to get her to sleep. Again, those rituals of taking bath, feeding her, talking and singing to her in a quiet, darkened room will soon signal bed time for your baby, and hopefully for you too.

Bathing your Baby

The bathing time is considered to be a special time, in strengthening the intimacy between the baby and his/her parents. It is the time to play gently, talk and sing. Don’t forget to get all the necessary things with you before starting off. The list includes water of course, washcloth, alcohol pads, bath towel (with a hood if you have one), clean diaper, any items that you frequently use during a diaper change (for little circumcised boys this would include Vaseline and gauze squares), and fresh clothes. It is recommended to use baby wash and baby shampoo, preferably natural ones with calendula oils. The regular soaps and shampoos can be too harsh or drying for the baby’s skin. Babies lose the body heat pretty quickly, so make sure that the room is warm -- 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit is an ideal temperature.

Cradle your baby's head gently in one hand and use the other hand to remove her clothing. Gently wash the baby with a soft, warm washcloth, and dry her off with a towel. A pretty good idea is to start off with the "less dirty" areas initially i.e. leave the diaper area to be washed at last – as to ensure that you’re not washing the baby in the dirty water. As you move on, be sure to gently wash behind her ears; the crevices at her neck, elbows, and knees; and in between her fingers and toes. It is also a good idea to wash a newborn's hair near the end of bath time as this will help in preventing him or her from losing too much body heat. You can wash one area at a time and put on a clothing item on as soon as an area is washed and dried, if you prefer to do so as this is not necessary or a thumb’s rule unless or until you are in a room which is relatively cold.

Most newborn infants don't have much hair, so it is easy to sponge it with water, pretty much the same way you do with the rest of the body. Almost all babies dislike getting their eyes wet. If you push the head a little at the back, just a bit, and work your way from the front to the back, you can avoid getting water in your baby's eyes.

Music for Babies

You probably have seen through the musical shelves in the markets - videos and CDs for babies. There are some theories that say that classical music can make your baby smarter, and to expose your baby to music is the first and practical part of what we do to introduce them to all the sights and sounds of their world.

Music, as per considering the soul’s nutrition, can definitely help in calming your baby down; and puts him in a restful state at bed or nap time. What are some good choices that you can think out for your baby?

Almost anything you love or use for relaxation for yourself, is as good for your baby too. And pertinent to this, there are good collections of Mozart or Bach for bedtime, amongst which you may have a choice to opt from. Listening to the music of Enya can be very soothing as well for the baby. Georgia Kelly’s harp music is also relaxing and peaceful.

There are a lot of musical themes from the movies, and certain nursery rhymes for your baby when he/she wakes up. We know a lot of kids who respond to minimalist Phillip Glass’s music; as for its genre being simple and rhythmic, and upon getting older, they might dance on it. Spirituals and soft gospel music are also good choices to help the baby get to sleep.

The white noise (mild), in the form of a moving fan (but make sure not directed right at the baby), or from sound machines that simulate the sound of an ocean or rain, can also be restful as well for your baby, as it blocks out other noises from the home. You don’t need to create an artificially silent environment for the baby because this will make it harder for them to get to sleep when the home’s rhythms and noises get back to normal; so make sure a little jingling is going on.

This can be a great time for you to explore the array of the classical music as well, if it’s not already part of your life. The same music that is helping your baby to get to sleep can help soothe your own nerves too; and can provide a wonderful time of bonding and restfulness for you and your baby together.

Nursery Feng Shui

You must be familiar with “Feng Shui”, the well known Chinese system for arrangement and placement of furniture in a room. It’s often used in businesses and homes on a frequent basis, as to create positive energy in your environment. Even if you’ve never used Feng Shui for your space, why not consider it for your baby’s room? Feng Shui is now initiating into the market of nursery. Feng Shui proposes that the correct arrangement and alignment of the room enables the energy to flow better in the room. Positive energy flow will create an environment to thrive; for people of any age, especially a baby.

To maximize the energy in baby's room, there are several important factors to consider, such as room location, safety, colors, and furniture arrangement. The use of the Feng Shui in the nursery will help to make babies less fussy, and will feel more comfortable in their surroundings, thus being healthy their development will flourish. What does it takes to accomplish this? Following are some of the basic considerations that will help the both; baby and the parents to create a room that makes them both happy.

First of all, the thing which needs to be checked is the location of the baby’s room. The new baby should have a bedroom that is not over a garage or has an empty space below. The bedroom shouldn't be located where there is excessive noise that might disturb the baby’s sleep, such as close to a living room where the TV is on, or close to a noisy street or neighbors. The bed should not be against a window or be directly in line with the door. Make sure that the baby does not sleep against a slanting wall - avoid placing the baby against a wall that is shared with a bathroom, toilet, storage, or utility-type room. Create good but soft energy, and promote the movements of the mobiles hung close to a window to move gently in the breeze and keep soft music playing in the room.

The baby’s nursery should always be neat and clean - nothing at all should be underneath the crib. Few things should line the walls, keep it minimal. Make sure that you change and clean the diaper’s mess each night so that a sweet and nice fragrance regulates. Even for this purpose, a small air filter can be placed to ensure clean crisp air 24/7 at a relatively low concentration.

Nursery decor

Start planning to decorate the new nursery for your new baby – as it would be the most wonderful thing to do. If you have happened to find out the baby’s gender, you can have the room all set for him or her; when you come home from the hospital; accordingly.

Now the question is that how to make the sleeping environment more optimal for the child, and provide a secure sanctuary for his living.
A trend that was practiced for a short time was to have bright, stimulating colors in the nursery or mobiles in black and white to help the baby’s eyes develop. The popularity of this trend came to an end quite quickly as the parents happened to found out all such trendy stuff wasn’t effective in promoting sleep

Make sure that the crib is designed in way that conforms to all the guidelines for safety plus you have a good and firm mattress. Keep to softer pastel colors – blues, greens, pinks and yellows. Any color you like is good, although some, like blues and greens, are more restful and can instigate the baby to sleep.

Make sure that the entire room is fresh and clean and so the bedding of the infant. Make sure to place a comforter or a quilt for decoration; at least until the baby is a year old. Custom made quilt clips can be bought which can be hanged on the wall. Ensure this thing that your baby’s face is clear all the time and for this just make clear your bed with blankets, pillows or quilts, as then there would be no danger of obstruction of baby’s breathing. You may want a small foam wedge that’s positioned to keep the baby from rolling on her stomach. Plus you should also keep stuffed animals or other toys out of the crib until the baby’s older for the same purpose; that the breathing doesn’t blocks. In addition, purchase a baby monitor to hear your baby throughout the night. These days, some monitors actually show your baby on a screen or video – isn’t it amazing.

Make sure that your room is pleasant for you and your baby. If you use a scent like lavender keep it under light concentration. Do not profuse or over power. Keep the room as dust-free as possible to avoid sneezing and stuffy noses. The nursery should feel like a safe and pleasant place for your baby so that he or she can enjoy the maximum of warmth and security.

Nursery setup

Crib is the most essential element of any nursery so tend to make it more safe and cozy for the baby. It does not matter that what type of crib you get, but make sure that it conforms to all safety guidelines and standards that are essential to comfy the baby. Ensure that the mattress of the crib fits comfortably against the rails, so the baby can’t get blocked between them. Abreast also make sure that the crib sheet is congruous and tightly fitted such that nothing gets loose or bunched up.

Until the baby is at least a year old, avoid the use of sheets or blankets. A comforter or quilt should be purchased for décor purposes specifically for that only one year. Make sure the baby’s sleepwear is clean, soft and appropriate in terms of the climatic conditions and the temperature. You don’t want them too warm or too light, as babies can’t regulate their own body temperatures at first.

A small, foam wedge is perhaps the only crib accessory, which you want inside the crib when the baby’s sleeping; so that you can use to keep the baby from rolling on her stomach. Sleeping on her back or on her side is the position that many experts recommend at first.

Make sure that the sheets you use are always fresh and clean; use unscented detergent in case your baby’s sensitive to fragrances.

The room should be completely dust-free and so does the clutter free space beneath the crib, so that it does not accumulate dust. As if your baby is sensitive to dust, you don’t want to trigger a bout of sneezing and a runny nose at bedtime or naptime.

Choose soft, soothing, sift and restful colors for your room and the bed sheets. Too much color and contrast will stimulate the baby’s vision and keep her alert, just when you want her to wind down for bedtime or a nap. The baby’s room and the crib should be soft; as it is the place that iss calm and restful for her.

Moving to the nursery

As soon as the new baby arrives home, you probably will have the urge to keep him near you at all times; especially when you are going to bed at night. For this very purpose, you should have a crib or cradle in your bedroom at first, since it will minimize the distance you have to walk to handle nighttime feedings.

You can try moving the baby into his nursery for nap right from the beginning, just to minimize any sort of trauma or anxiety when moving him into a strange room with new sight and feelings; when he’s a little older. Sit with the baby in a rocker or glider and rock him to sleep at first, and then move him into his crib.

Later you can think of putting him in his crib and if you find your baby to be fussy or can’t get to sleep, try sitting near the crib for a few nights until he falls asleep. Then move the chair further away for another week or so. Finally, position his chair near the door, so the baby gets used to falling asleep without being right next to you.

It would definitely be hard initially, but if you’re consistent then eventually, you’ll get your baby to the point where he can fall asleep in his own room. Start establishing a nighttime routine, so your baby knows about the expectations. A good start is to give him a nice, warm bath, followed by changing into soft clean pajamas. Even a very young baby can be ready for it, at bedtime. You can also sing and talk to him. The sound of your voice is what matters so the baby feels safe and secure enough to fall asleep. By starting these simple routines initially, hopefully you’ll come up with the troubles later on trying to move the baby into his nursery and getting him to sleep at a normal time.