Healthy Sleep Habits in Babies and Kids

Healthy sleep habits in babies and kids are developed early in life so as to develop a proper day and night sleeping schedule. Find out the tips for healthy sleep habits in babies and kids.

Depending on the age of the baby, the ‘normal’ sleeping time is devised. Till about six months of age, newborns sleep almost 8-9 hours throughout the day and night. They only wake up for feed. By one year, they sleep 10-12 hours at night and 5 hours during the day. 2-3 years of toddlers sleep for 10-12 hours during the night and 4 hours during the day. And when the child is 4-6 years, they need to get at least 10 hours sleep at night and usually no sleep during the daytime.

Developing Healthy Sleep Habits in Babies

Given below are some tips for developing healthy habit of sleep in babies.  

• Since newborns do not have a day or night schedule, it is healthy for them to sleep over 5 hours at a stretch for the initial 5-6 weeks post birth.

• Just make sure that they get their feedings frequently. 

• The older babies must be helped to develop a day and night sleeping schedule. A regular bed time and nap time must be charted out.

• Before the sleep time, make sure that the environment is designed accordingly. Like there should be quietness around. 

• Television must not be on at any cost. Put on some light music to make the atmosphere soothing and pleasant.

• Follow a bedtime routine without fail. There can basically be a series of activities like brushing teeth, diaper change, a warm sponge bath and visiting the bathroom. 

• Although your baby might love to sleep in your arms, make it a point that you do not develop this as a regular habit with him or her.

• Put the baby to bed when he or she is awake and he ought to know that he should go to sleep by himself or herself. 

• A caution point – never put the baby to bed with a bottle. It can give rise to tooth decay, ear infections and the kid can also choke as well.

Developing Healthy Sleep Habits in Kids

There are kids who just do not like to go to sleep. This is due to poor sleeping habits or the kid is fearful of staying alone or there are other insecurity issues. Instead of sticking around with the kid all the time in order to assure him, you need to make efforts in helping the kid come out of the poor sleeping habits and cultivate some healthy ones instead. Here are some tips:

Dealing with Crying

Some kids are found to cry and weep at the mention of going to bed. Be patient and talk soothingly and calmly to the child. Be firm in your reassuring tone as you try to convince him or her that all is fine and it is time to go to sleep. Leave the room soon with a reassuring pat and a smile. In an attempt to reassure the kid, do not keep holding him or her in your arms or lap.

After the baby goes to bed, develop some defined habits like saying goodnight, turning off the light and leaving the kid’s room. 

Checking if Kid is Asleep or Not

You can always come back to your kid’s room and check on how she is doing but every time make sure that you leave the room immediately without doing anything like picking her up. Just give an assuring and loving smile and leave. Eventually, you will find that the kid is able to go to sleep by herself easily.

Often it is found that kids with sleeping problems are used to drinking large amounts of milk at or just before bedtime. Parents often do this thinking that the kid would not feel hungry in the middle of the night. This is to be avoided. Cut down the milk quantity and make sure that the kid wakes up early and has an early breakfast.