mamafelix
01-03-2005, 20:42
Yep, this is another tried and tested way of getting your babe to sleep!
I'm sure there's a lot of mums who use routines from an early age- for me I didn't really start it until Felix was nearing two, but they are really important I think.
Babies and toddlers really like to know what's going to happen next, so if you can get your life into a rhythm you'll find sleeps and naps much easier to deal with.
Something that I really believe in is the sleep cycle thing- that is, babies have a sleep cycle of about 40mins, after which they will stir and possibly wake- or possibly resettle, depending on how comfortable they feel. These are the moments when if they are hungry, wet, cold, scared, there's too much noise.. they'll wake. I really noticed this with Felix. After about 12-18 months this stretched out to an hour and half- which apparently is the adult sleep cycle too- you go down into REM, then deep sleep and then come back up to a light sleep.
I also notice that Felix has 'dips' when he's awake- moments when he gets tired and is open to sleep, which occur about every hour and a half- so at night he has a dip at 7pm (which is usally too early for bed) then at 8.30 (and this is his bedtime, he's as regular as clockwork) but if for some reason we miss 8.30 (if we're out for example) he'll stay up until 10pm, when he crashes out. This can be really handy if you've got a toddler who is staying up late- if you watch for those tired signs you might be able to grab an earlier bedtime.
For older kids I'd recommend having a set routine- like bath, dinner, teeth story lights out... Felix likes it if we stay in the room with him while he falls asleep but that differs with each kid I think.
Also really important is naps- when they get older and go down to one a day, I'd recommend the 'no sleeping past 3pm' rule.. otherwise they can be up to the wee small hours.
I'm sure there's a lot of mums who use routines from an early age- for me I didn't really start it until Felix was nearing two, but they are really important I think.
Babies and toddlers really like to know what's going to happen next, so if you can get your life into a rhythm you'll find sleeps and naps much easier to deal with.
Something that I really believe in is the sleep cycle thing- that is, babies have a sleep cycle of about 40mins, after which they will stir and possibly wake- or possibly resettle, depending on how comfortable they feel. These are the moments when if they are hungry, wet, cold, scared, there's too much noise.. they'll wake. I really noticed this with Felix. After about 12-18 months this stretched out to an hour and half- which apparently is the adult sleep cycle too- you go down into REM, then deep sleep and then come back up to a light sleep.
I also notice that Felix has 'dips' when he's awake- moments when he gets tired and is open to sleep, which occur about every hour and a half- so at night he has a dip at 7pm (which is usally too early for bed) then at 8.30 (and this is his bedtime, he's as regular as clockwork) but if for some reason we miss 8.30 (if we're out for example) he'll stay up until 10pm, when he crashes out. This can be really handy if you've got a toddler who is staying up late- if you watch for those tired signs you might be able to grab an earlier bedtime.
For older kids I'd recommend having a set routine- like bath, dinner, teeth story lights out... Felix likes it if we stay in the room with him while he falls asleep but that differs with each kid I think.
Also really important is naps- when they get older and go down to one a day, I'd recommend the 'no sleeping past 3pm' rule.. otherwise they can be up to the wee small hours.