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Baby Sleeping Secrets - The Bedtime Routine
By Hilary Basile
Sleeping BabyBabies are often not able to sleep through the night until
they have doubled their weight, which generally occurs when your baby is
between four and five months old. Following is a guideline for how much
sleep your baby should be getting per day (including naps):
* 1 to 15 days: 16 to 22 hours of sleep
* 3 weeks: 16 to 18 hours of sleep
* 6 weeks: 15 to 16 hours of sleep
* 4 to 6 months: 14 to 16 hours of sleep
* 9 months: 13 to 16 hours of sleep
* 1 year: 12 to 15 hours of sleep
Developing a sleep routine can be a soothing and comforting part of your
baby’s nighttime ritual. As your baby grows, your baby will understand
that bedtime comes after bath time and may start to settle down if
comforted by the bedtime routine. Following are some tips and ideas for
establishing bedtime routines:
* Start the bedtime routine with a bath, followed by cuddling, a song or
story, a feeding, more cuddling, and then bed.
* Sing to your baby prior to placing your baby in bed.
* Create a routine by doing the same things in the same order every night.
Creating a pattern will help your baby recognize a pre-sleep routine.
* Make sure the lights are low and dim. You want your baby to recognize
that when it’s dark, it’s time to sleep.
* Your baby should learn that once in bed, no matter how pleasant the
bedtime routine has been, that it’s time to sleep. Allow some time for
fussing.
Establishing a bedtime routine will help your baby recognize that it is
time to sleep.
Hilary Basile is a writer for
http://www.myguidesusa.com/ At MyGuidesUSA.com, you will find valuable
tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re
planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth
of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or
planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at
MyGuidesUSA.com. Find parenting tips and resources at
http://www.myguidesusa.com/becomingaparent
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