Who doesn’t know that sleeping is necessary for us? It is a must to maintain a healthy life. Like us it is also necessary for the babies. They do need to sleep adequately, if not they get irritated at the drop of a hat being tired. And once they get irritated, it is difficult to make the babies sleep. So you need to sketch a naptime routine for your baby.

At a younger age, regular eating patterns determine regular sleeping pattern. So you need to follow an ‘average’ while your baby is very young. But do keep in mind that all the babies on earth do not stick to ‘average’. In case you baby does not fall into the ‘average’ category you need to see a health professional.

Generally speaking, a new-born baby sleeps for from 16 hours to 20 hours per day. Naps taken intermittently during feed are also included in these hours. Don’t let your baby to fall asleep as soon as his feeding is over, make him awake for a little time. This will prevent him to fall into the habit of needing a feed to make him sleep.

When your baby is 2 months old, bestow upon him the opportunity to soothing himself at the time of naps. Don’t worry when, at the debut of this routine, they cry when put them in their cot or crib. This cry lasts for only 10 minutes; after this time check him. Of course if that cry turns into something serious like baby getting irritated or hysterical, you should not leave him in the cot. We are often tempted to pick babies up- don’t do that, instead, speak to him while stroking his head gently or patting or soothingly rubbing his back. It is the best way to calm him down.

When your baby is 3months-6months, you will notice that in this time, his sleeping hours are gradually diminishing. They will doze off on their own generally in the late afternoon and often the third nap in the day.

When your baby is more than 16 months old, you will observe that even the morning sleep is cut short. On the contrary his afternoon naps take more hours perhaps to compensate the short hours of morning naps. At this age, 10 to 12 hours per night and 2 to 3 hours in the afternoons are usual.

Although it is always good to make a timetable for your baby’s naps, pay attention to his cues while setting the routine. You are the one responsible for determining the start of his nap and adhere to that. Your baby will adapt himself soon to that timetable.

A naptime routine is necessary for your baby as well as for you.

Tags: naptime, sleeping hours, baby sleeps, sleep

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