| Sleeping..A newborn baby spends most of her time on | | | | To minimise the risk of Sudden Infant Death |
| two things: sleeping and feeding - although, as she | | | | Syndrome (also known as cot death):place baby on |
| needs an average of 8 diaper changes a day, maybe | | | | her back, |
| that should be three things :)Newborn babies sleep for | | | | tuck in the sheet and blanket (don't use a duvet until |
| around 17-18 hours a day, but the bad news is she will | | | | she is at least 12 months), |
| sleep only for 3 or 4 hours at a time. When she | | | | make sure the room is neither too hot nor too cold - |
| wakes she will probably need feeding and/or a diaper | | | | ideal temperature 65˚F,Sleeping Problems |
| change.Babies are not born with a conception of day | | | | If baby isn't sleeping well at night, it may be |
| and night, so you have to teach her to take short naps | | | | because:she is too hot, too cold, hungry, thirsty, or |
| in the day and longer sleeps at night. During the first | | | | needs changing, |
| few weeks you will have to feed on demand and let | | | | she is getting too much sleep in the day. A recent |
| her decide when she will sleep. Then you should try to | | | | study found that keeping baby in bright light during the |
| encourage her to take the majority of her sleep at | | | | daytime naps will teach her the difference between a |
| night by changing her surroundings: at night she should | | | | night-time sleep and a daytime nap, |
| sleep in a darkened room (either her own bedroom or | | | | she isn't tired enough. Introduce more energetic |
| a corner of yours), in her cot. During the day keep her | | | | playtimes, then wind down an hour before bedtime, |
| in bright light (but not direct sunlight, babies get sunburnt | | | | she is over-tired. Introduce a quiet time before bed to |
| very easily), in her buggy.After about 4 months baby | | | | calm her down. You might also try baby massage. |
| should be sleeping for a total of about 15 hours, but | | | | she has colic. That's a whole different problem and |
| she should now be sleeping for around 8-10 hours at | | | | you will find a separate article about colic.Finally, |
| night and without a break. She will benefit from a set | | | | remember that, like adults, all babies are not the same |
| routine at bedtime. A bath followed by a feed and a | | | | and some will need less sleep than |
| clean diaper, then settle her in her bed while she is still | | | | *********** |
| awake and play her some soothing music. Mobiles | | | | Author: Tony Luck who runs a site with advice about |
| suspended over the cot work wonders.Getting baby | | | | babies. You will also find the fascinating chinese |
| to establish a routine is a gradual process so don't | | | | pregnancy calendar which is supposed to tell you |
| worry if it takes a while. There will still be the odd | | | | whether the baby you are expecting will be a girl or |
| night-time feed required until she reaches about 6 | | | | boy, and a conception chart to tell you when baby is |
| months when she should last all night without refuelling! | | | | expected. |
| Aren't you looking forward to that!Sleeping Position | | | | |