Let us look at a few interesting points regarding your baby and his secret world of SLEEP.
Baby sleep patterns and development: How major milestones can change sleep.
Baby sleep patterns are affected by several important developmental milestones:
These patterns take their toll on parents. In a study tracking the sleep patterns of
mothers from pregnancy through the postpartum period, maternal sleep worsened
after childbirth and continued to deteriorate until about 12 weeks postpartum
(Kang et al 2002)—-the time when newborn sleep patterns begin to show marked
circadian rhythms (Nishihara et al 2000) The Instant Baby Sleep system will be the perfect
aid to help these mothers/parents get a good night's sleep again.
• Circadian rhythms.
As a new Newborn, your baby will not be very tuned into the natural
daily cycle. Newborns sleep at intervals around the clock. But gradually they
will adapt to the rhythms of the 24 hour day, and do most of their sleeping at
night. Some babies may reach this point by 3 months. At about the same time,
these babies begin “sleeping through the night,” i.e., sleeping for as long as
5 hours at a stretch. Other babies may take much longer—over 5 months—before
they reach this milestone (Jenni et al 2006).
• Separation anxiety.
Around 6 months of age, your baby’s brain starts to mature in ways that greatly
enrich her emotional life (Eliot 1999). She begins to be aware of her
own feelings, and she begins to form a strong emotional attachment
to her primary caregiver (Eliot 1999). This may explain why many babies that
were previously settled at night become more needy. Once your baby starts
forming strong attachments, she is more likely to feel separation anxiety. She
is more likely to anticipate your departures and protest. And she is more likely
to become upset if she awakens and you’re not there.
• Teething.
Surprisingly, scientific studies reveal that teething rarely disrupts the sleep
of most infants (Wake et al 2000). However, some infants will suffer sleep
problems for a few days before and after a new tooth erupts.
• Mastering new motor skills.
When babies are learning to crawl or walk or accomplish other
milestone feats, the excitement may interfere with sleep. During such periods,
babies may be more resistant to bedtime and/or experience more night
wakings. This one area where you may wish to apply the Instant Baby Sleep soundtrack.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong with you or the baby, talk to
your physician and remember that things will get better. Babies have
special sleep patterns and special needs. But things will start to get
better around 12 weeks postpartum. In the mean while and even up to ages 2 and 3, you can
rely on the Instant Baby Sleep system to help you and your little one get some sleep.
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Other factors affecting baby sleep patterns:
Baby sleep patterns may be disturbed by a number of organic problems,
including
• Ear infections
• Yeast and urinary tract infections
• Parasitic infections (like pinworms)
• Respiratory infections
• Acid reflux (Kahn et al 1991)
• Cow's milk allergy (Kahn et al 1989)
• Snoring and sleep apnea
These problems require medical treatment. If you suspect your baby suffers from one of
these problems, you should check with your paediatrician.
Sleep researchers (e.g., France and Blampied 1999) actually has the opinion that most disturbances in baby
sleep patterns are caused by environmental or behavioral factors, such as:
•Overly-stimulating bedtime rituals or soothing behaviours
• Unrealistic parental expectations about how much sleep the baby
needs
• Napping in the late afternoon or early evening
• Too much activity in the hours immediately preceding bedtime
• Too much exposure to artificial lighting during the night (and/or insufficient light
exposure during the day)
• Disruptions in family life such as the bith of a sibling.
Tips on how to overcome these little problems are all available in the less than 5 minute download
of the Instant Baby Sleep system. Little things that can have a huge impact our lives.