Getting enough sleep is crucial for everyone, particularly for infants, as it plays a vital role in their physical and mental growth. Establishing a healthy sleep routine for your baby is no easy task, and many fathers struggle to accomplish it. That's why we're here to guide you on effectively putting your infant to bed and ensuring a restful night's sleep.
Establishing Optimal Baby Sleep Patterns
In order to promote uninterrupted and restful sleep for your little one, it is crucial to implement effective strategies for creating a sleep-friendly environment and teaching proper sleep hygiene.
Prioritize Pre-Bedtime Feeding: Make sure your baby is adequately fed before bedtime. A well-fed infant tends to feel content and drowsy, facilitating a smoother transition into sleep.
Incorporating a gentle massage into your bedtime routine not only promotes relaxation but also offers numerous health benefits. Infant massage strengthens the parent-child bond, enhances cardiovascular health, and improves the quality of sleep.
Ensure Baby's Sleepiness: When placing your little one in the crib, it's important that they are in a drowsy state but not fully asleep. Finding this delicate balance helps teach the child how to fall asleep independently.
While screens may seem like a soothing activity for toddlers and preschoolers, excessive screen time before bedtime can disrupt peaceful sleep. The blue light emitted by screens inhibits the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone, making it harder for your child to fall asleep.
Avoid the Bedtime Bottle: Many new parents find it simple and convenient to put their infant to sleep with a bottle. Drinking too much before bed may result in more frequent nighttime diaper changes and soreness. complete diaper rash
Create a Secure and Relaxing Sleep Environment: Adjust the temperature of your home to between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit, and dim the lights in the house and in the baby’s room around half an hour before bed. Ensure that your infant’s bed has a sheet that fits snugly, a single blanket, and no additional cushions, bumpers, or stuffed toys.
Sleep Needs By Age:
Newborns (birth to 4 months): Your newborn needs a lot of sleep. Healthcare professionals recommend at least 16-20 sleep per day with waking times of 1-2 hours between sleep periods.
Infants (4-12 months): By 4 months, your newborn should be sleeping between 12-14 hours per day with a sleep/wake cycle that includes at least 6 hours of sleep during the night. You should also have a consistent baby nap and sleep schedule, aiming for 3 naps–morning, afternoon, and early evening.
Toddlers (1-2 years): By the time you get to the first year, your toddler should be sleeping approximately 11-14 hours per day. A toddler needs a full night of sleep, plus a morning and afternoon nap.
Preschoolers (3-5 years): Children from 3 years old to elementary school-age need at least 10 hours of sleep per day. A preschooler may only need one nap, usually in the afternoon. You should also avoid naps longer than 3 hours.
Source: orgvn.top
