Older Children may continue to require one-day sleep until 3-4 years of age.
A good routine for your baby to follow is sleep, feed and play.
BASIC PREPARATION FOR SETTLING BABY:
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Ensure that your baby is comfortable, not hungry, has a clean nappy and is not too hot or cold.
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SIDS & Kids recommend that babies be placed on their backs to sleep with their feet positioned at the foot of the cot. It is important to provide a smoke free environment for your bub and not to share your bed with your bub if you smoke. Further information about sleeping precautions may be obtained from the following web site www.sidsaustralia.org.au/safesleep/faq.htm. Avoid placing bumpers, pillows or quilts in the cot and remember to remove all toys prior to settling, as these items could restrict air flow or cover their face and lead to suffocation.
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In preparation for day or night sleeps, allow a wind down period. This may involve cuddles, a story, a gentle massage or a bath.
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Put your bub to bed while they are awake. Don't be tempted to rock or feed your bub to sleep before putting them to bed, because when they progresses through the light sleep cycle they will expect to still be in your arms and will then need your help to go back to sleep.
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Wrap your baby in a light cotton, muslin, or cheese cloth fabric. The fabric will need to be at least one meter squared. When your bub starts to move and roll over they may not want or like to be wrapped. Ordinary cot sheets may be used to tuck them in.
TIRED SIGNS:
Babies show when they are ready for sleep through tired signs. One minute they may be playing happily and the next they may grizzle or cry, clench their fists, grimace and have jerky movements of their hands and feet. Children may become upset, start to loose their concentration and co-ordination, rub their eyes or yawn.
THE WRAP FOR BABY:
A suitable material for a wrap is muslin or light cotton, which measures at least 1m x 1m. You may worry that this material is not warm enough but remember when you place your bub in bed there may also be a sheet and/or blanket over her. Another of the SIDS & KIDS recommendations is to avoid overheating your bub.
Settling baby from birth to 4 months
Hands on settling is a technique, which involves actively comforting your infant in the cot until they are settled. This method is the beginning to teaching baby to put themself to sleep.
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Observe for tired signs.
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Follow basic preparation for settling.
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Place your baby on their back at the lower end of the cot and tuck in firmly
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If your bub is calm and relaxed leave the room and allow them to go to sleep on their own.
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If they need help to settle gently pat, body rock, rock the cot, or stroke their face and head. Gradually slow down and reduce these techniques as they calm and relax. Once they are settled and before they go to asleep, leave the room and allow them to go to sleep on their own.
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If you are unable to stop your baby crying, try comforting them in your arms briefly until they are calm, then place them back in the cot awake.
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You may need to continue these techniques for approximately half an hour (30 minutes). If your baby does not settle you may choose to take them for a walk in the pram or pouch, give them a massage or a relaxation bath. Then try to re-settle.
Settling baby 4-7 months
Comfort Settling is a technique, which involves actively comforting your Bub in the cot for short periods at a time. This strategy will give your Bub the opportunity to fall asleep by themself.
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Observe for tired signs
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Follow basic preparation for settling. Remembering that a baby of this age may prefer to be tucked in firmly rather than wrapped.
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Place your baby on their back at the lower end of the cot and tuck in firmly.
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Spend a brief time giving a few gentle pats and a reassuring word. Leave the room.
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Encourage your baby to attempt to self settle for up to 3 minutes.
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If your baby has not settled return and commence settling strategies for up to 3 minutes eg. pat, body rock, rock the cot or stroke their face and head for approximately 3 minutes.Speaking in a quiet reassuring voice will often help them to settle. Do not pick them up.
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Leave the room again for 3 minutes. If you find this too long at first, try just 1 minute, then 2 minuted and then 3 minutes.
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Repeat step 6.
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Repeat step 7 - the time that you leave the room can be extended a little depending on the age of the child and how you and your partner feel about your baby crying. At this age it is recommended that babies should not be left for any longer than 5 mintues. Listen to the nature of your Bub's cry when deciding how long to wait before you move onto the next step.
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You may continue these techniques for up to 45minutes. If your Bub does not settle you may choose to take them for a walk in the pram or pouch, give them a massage or a deep relaxation bath. Then try to re-settle.
Baby Products at Bubs that may assist in Baby Sleep & Settling.
Gro-Bag Swaddling Gro-Bag Egg Themometer World Music Mozart Music
Item Code: 8358 Item Code: 593 for Newborns
Item Code: 8495
Reference:
http://www.swsahs.nsw.gov.au/karitane/docs/wrap.asp
http://www.swsahs.nsw.gov.au/karitane/docs/sleep.asp#e
Related Articles: Baby's Safe Sleeping, Adjusting to Daylight Saving and Baby Cot Safety
