Pregnancy And Baby Care Articles Baby Care

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That's why it's so important for parents to encourage good sleeping habits as early as possible. Once you create a sleeping routine for your newborn baby, you can look forward to a good night of sleep as well.

During the first three months, your baby will struggle to stay awake for more than two hours at a stretch.


Keep this in mind, as it is useless trying to keep him awake for longer in the hope that he sleeps through the night instead. As time goes by you will soon begin to recognize signs that show he is tired and ready for a nap. Some common signs of sleepiness in babies are:

• Rubbing of eyes
• Whining and crying
• Fussiness
• Looks away from you
• Yawning and stretching
• Staring blankly
• Playing with his ears
  

The moment you spot these indications that he is sleepy, get moving and settle him down for a nap. Following are some simple things to do to inculcate better sleeping habits in your newborn:

• Create a difference in his day and night time routines: It's very important to instill a sense of routine in your child's life. When he gets up in the morning (irrespective of whether he has been up the whole night), change his clothes or bathe him to mark the beginning of a new day. Play with him and keep him occupied when he is awake in the day. Keep his room bright and airy and avoid closing the drapes even when he takes a nap. Once its nighttime, create a separate routine that signals the winding down of the day. Don't talk or play with him too much or he may become too over stimulated to sleep. Feed him quietly and keep the lights low. All this should help your baby understand that there are distinct times when he can and cannot do certain things.
• Let your baby sleep on his own: If you insist on carrying your baby around till he falls asleep or sleeping next to him till he nods off, you are setting yourself up for some tough times ahead. Be prepared then to do the same things to get him to sleep even as he grows older. If you teach him to sleep on his own, he will learn to do that and not expect anything else even later on. Between you and your partner, decide on a predictable pattern and stick to the same routine every single night.
• Feed time: Babies have tiny tummies that need to be fed regularly. This is why your baby will wake every three hours or so and require a feed. There are some experts who insist on setting up a fixed feeding schedule that should be stuck to irrespective of whether your baby is crying or fussing. On the other hand, there are specialists who claim that feeding on demand is the only way to build feelings of trust and security between you and your baby. How you tackle this issue is ultimately a personal decision but expect to be woken at least once or twice a night to feed your little one at least till three months of age.

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