All about baby's sleep

“What about you, does your child sleep through the night? This is one of the most common phrases uttered when young parents meet.

During his first few months, b&eacute does not sleep through the night at all, he sleeps intermittently and rests throughout the day. Day or night, it doesn't matter, the infant is absolutely unaware of the rhythm of the light nor of the days that are passing.

If during the first weeks excitement reigns in the house, it can quickly give way to moral and physical exhaustion. Hence the importance of knowing and understanding your child's sleep rhythm to get through this difficult period that the early days represent.

Let's see together how your little one's sleep changes as he grows and how he will end up sleeping through the night, all by himself, just like a grown-up!

Baby's sleep from 0 to 3 months

At birth, bé behaves exactly as he did in the womb : he sleeps most of the time and wakes up only to téter.

During his first days, he spends most of his time asleep, to recover from the evidence that the delivery has been. But very soon, her breathing becomes more frequent, a sign that it's usually time to take out the bottle.

At this point, up to 3 months, babies begin to adopt a sleep pattern marked by 2 to 3 hour cycles of deep sleep, then interspersed with bottle feeding. They sleep at least 16 hours a day, but the little ones experience 8 different sleep phases during the day.

Don't panic if your baby gets restless while sleeping: he alternates between a calm moment and deep sleep, with a more restless phase. This is normal, it is the case for most babies, don't worry!

And when your child is restless, it is not necessarily because he is restless. It may simply be one of the phases of his sleep. You should leave it alone and only intervene if it is actually awake. If he gets agitated, leave him in his bed or in his bassinet as long as he doesn't really want you to be there.

From 0 to 3 months of age, your baby adapts and grows. He alternates between sleep and meals, and then goes back to sleep peacefully. This is normal: it is during his sleep that bébé grows. While he sleeps, his body creates the hormones responsible for his growth. He is therefore not aware of day or night. Its rhythm is dictated only by hunger.

Tip
Maybe if he is restless and making noises, you should not systematically hold your child. Since sleep is extremely important, you should let your child rest. Even if he moves his legs, arms or face, leave him alone as long as you don't hear him crying.

3 to 9 months: baby can start sleeping through the night

Beware, don't think that on the day of his 3rd month, as if by magic, bébé is going to start sleeping all night long, without checking up on you;

Things happen little by little. First of all, baby starts to distinguish the difference between day and night. His sleep pattern begins to allow him to sleep more at night, longer in one sitting.

It is not uncommon for him to sleep up to 5 hours straight, without taking a bottle. It is from this point on that you will be able to establish a little bedtime ritual. For young children, falling asleep in a reassuring environment is the assurance of an easier sleep. This is a good time to establish a rhythm and ritual that will serve as a marker for when to go to bed and sleep.

Even though he or she sleeps more, your little one may make sounds or fuss while sleeping. Young parents, don't jump at the slightest noise! It's perfectly normal for him to be restless in his sleep. Your baby sleeps in alternating phases of deep and shallow sleep. So we leave him in his room, quietly, just making sure he doesn&t cry.

Caution
à this âge-là, bébé may suffer from tummy pain. Depending on his digestion, he may experience cramps and intestinal pain. They often wake him up and a crying fit follows. If your child wakes up at night in an illogical way, talk to your doctor. You may need to adjust the milk he or she is drinking to help with digestion.

About 3 to 9 years old

From 3 to 9 months, when your child wakes up to nurse, give him his bottle, then gently put him back to sleep. Of course, during this time, stay calm, you'll see, it's contagious! As soon as his bottle is finished, put your little wolf back in bed and let him finish his night peacefully. You'll see, his sleep phases will start to lengthen naturally.

 

9 to 18 months: baby learns to go back to sleep on his own

Bébé finally starts à sleeping like a big ! It is from this moment on that your little one will really start sleeping through the night. Your baby sleeps a lot outside of the night. A good nap during the day is usually enough to get him through the night. His nights become longer and his sleep rhythm begins to resemble that of the night (a few hours earlier).

It is also around this time that the famous night terrors begin. The children who suffer from them wake up in panic in their room, in the middle of the night. This behavior is often conditioned by a fear of abandonment: your child understands that you can leave him alone.

In response to this behavior, simply reassure him gently, then encourage him to go back to sleep on his own, like a grown-up. You can install a nightlight in her room so she won't get lost during her nighttime wanderings. Seeing that he is in his room, in his own world, he will calm down more easily.

These sleep disorders are quite common. On the other hand, if they disturb your little angel and prevent him from having a good night's sleep, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor..

Some useful tips for putting baby to sleep easily

By following these tips, you'll put the odds in your favor for your baby to sleep like an angel.

  • Prefer calm: in his room, as well as everywhere he rests, make sure that baby is in a calm atmosphere, conducive to rest.
  • Institute a bedtime ritual: children love cues, they reassure them. So take to make bedtime a ritual. Tell him a story or sing a nursery rhyme softly to make him fall asleep.
  • Room temperature: make sure the temperature of your little one's room is between 18 and 20°C. This is the ideal temperature for his sleep.
  • Swaddle bé during the first weeks: swaddling has a reassuring and soothing effect on bé. This position reminds him of the position he had in his mother's womb.
  • Install bébé on his back, in a bed dégag&e; no stuffed animals or large blankets in the bed, it équickly any risk of coughing. In addition, to avoid sudden infant death syndrome, it is recommended to install on the back.

Finally, remember that each case is unique. Your child may experience different periods, all conditioned by changes and growth (tummy aches, growing teeth, etc.). Don't worry, everything will eventually return to normal.

Good luck and good sleep to all of you!