Information about when a baby sleeps, how to put it to sleep, and the right position

Babies do have more sleep than adults, especially for newborns. Sufficient hours of sleep are very necessary for the development and development of your little one because developmental hormones become active when they are asleep. The following is a complete explanation of baby sleep, starting from the time, how to put it to sleep, to the right position.

The ideal hours of sleep for babies according to their age

Did you know that your little one sleeps differently and is tailored to his developmental needs?

Quoting from Pregnancy Birth and Baby, babies under one year of time spend their time sleeping in an active sleep phase compared to quiet sleep. What does it mean?

Active sleep is a condition where the baby sleeps with a short breath rhythm and can move the arms and legs. His eyes often move even when closed and the baby is easy to wake up.

This is what often makes it easier for children to wake up, even though they have tried various ways to put the baby to sleep.

The following is an explanation of the ideal baby sleep time which has been grouped according to age.

Infants 0-3 months

Newborn babies generally need approx. Total sleep time 16-17 hours a day. However, this sleep pattern is irregular, it can be from several minutes to several hours at a time.

They can also sleep most of the day and wake up for a few hours just to suckle. When the baby is 1 month old, the baby's sleeping time becomes 14-16 hours a day, where he can sleep at night about 8-9 hours and 6-7 hours for naps.

Until three months of age, these hours of sleep will decrease slightly during the day and increase at night. At this age, the length of a baby's night sleep becomes 10-11 hours a day and naps be 4-5 hours.

The hours of sleep for your little one in the early days of birth will indeed make the parents tired, but if this resting pattern is normal and indeed needed for newborns.

Infants 3-6 months

Rest hours for babies aged 3 months are the same as for babies aged 1 month, that is 14-16 hours a day. The difference is, there is a change in the duration of naps and nights.

At this age, babies sleep longer at night than during the day. However, not all babies will be like this. So, if your little one has a different schedule, don't worry.

At the age of 4 to 6 months, usually your little one has started to have a clearer sleep pattern, which is about 5 times per day. Where the duration of sleep at night is longer than naps.

Infants 7-9 Months

In this age range, most babies rest at night can be predicted. Usually babies need a break to fall asleep around 14 hours a day where the time to sleep at night is longer than the time to sleep during the day.

With details about 11 hours of sleep a night and a nap of about 2 to 3 hours. Physical activities that are mostly done during the day, such as learning on their stomach, crawling, and sitting, make babies need more sleep at night.

Babies 10-12 months

Sleep needs for babies before the age of one year are still the same as before, which is approx 14 hours a day. By 10 to 12 months of age, most babies have longer hours of rest at night and only breastfeed during the morning and during the day.

The feeding schedule above depends on the baby's condition as some of them continue to breastfeed at night until they are more than 12 months old. In addition, the schedule for resting during the day for babies in this age range is generally predictable.

However, if your little one still doesn't have a predictable nap schedule, try starting one. You do this by applying crucial times for napping and sleeping at night for your little one.

Do it regularly so that your baby starts to get used to it. This scheduled sleep pattern will help you ensure that your baby is getting enough sleep. Consistent bedtime is the key to establishing a good and structured daily sleep schedule for your little one from an early age.

But keep in mind, each child's sleeping habits are different. Your baby may need more or less sleep than the list above.

It could also be that the duration of naps and nighttime sleeps can be reversed, at night only a short nap, while during the day can sleep for hours.

Sleep patterns that are not the same in each child are influenced by many factors. For example, age, body condition, time to breastfeed, and the daily activities of the people around him. One thing is for sure, make sure that your baby's rest hours are adequate.

How to put a baby to sleep without crying?

William Sears, a pediatrician and psychologist, recommends how to put a baby through to sleep no tears method which according to him proved to be safer.

Sears suggested no tears method in his book judu; The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night.

This method is done by establishing a physical closeness between the baby and the parents and giving him what he needs, including your presence.

This method is believed to be able to make babies feel safe and comfortable so that they can return to sleeping peacefully.

For those of you who want to apply no tears method as a way to put a baby to sleep when he cries in the middle of the night, follow these tips below:

1. Make a more regular sleep schedule

Creating a baby sleep schedule can help you organize and get your little one to sleep at certain times.

Take your kids out for a walk in the morning enjoying the sunshine. Drying the baby in the morning can regulate the body's biological clock to be better and normal.

2. Establish a bedtime routine

In order for the baby to get used to his new bedtime, you need to get used to something. For example, take a shower and give her a gentle massage, sing a lullaby, or hold her in a quiet and quite place. This feeling of calm can make it easier for babies to sleep and sleep more soundly.

3. Calm the baby when he is awake

To make him fall back to sleep, you need "weapons" such as gentle pats, hugs, cradles while shaking the baby's body, and accompanied by simple lullabies, such as "ssshhhh" that can soothe the baby.

Then, make sure that it is not hot and that the pillow is in the correct position.

In essence, do whatever makes the baby more comfortable so they can get back to rest. Avoid moving away until he is completely asleep so that he doesn't wake up.

Baby sleeping position that needs attention

Sleeping position for babies under 6 months of age should be the main concern of every parent. The reason is, a bad position can increase the risk of your little one experiencing it Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or sudden infant death syndrome.

The results of research conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that a safe sleeping environment, one of which is not placing pillows or dolls around the baby's bed.

In addition, the right sleeping position will reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

The condition of sudden death in children is characterized by shortness of breath and difficulty moving. That is why as a parent you should always pay attention to the sleeping position of your little one to minimize the various kinds of risks that have been mentioned earlier.

Supine sleeping position

The baby on his back is a very common position. Usually this position is carried out by babies around 0 to 3 months. Because at that age, the baby is not able to roll over.

The US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) labels the supine position as the best sleeping position for babies. In fact, it is highly recommended for babies to sleep in a stretched position for the first 6 months.

The supine sleeping position for babies has been shown to reduce sudden infant death syndrome by as much as 50 percent. However, if it is too long in the supine sleeping position it can cause plagiocephaly, or in everyday language it is called "peyang head".

To keep the shape of the baby's head so that it is avoided from the headaches, change the sleeping position alternately facing left and right. In addition, you can also position the baby on his stomach while playing.

You can also use a special head pillow which is often called a "peyang pillow". The function of this pillow is to maintain the shape of the baby's head.

Side sleeping position

Some mothers may often let their babies sleep on their side. In fact, sleeping on your side can endanger the health of your baby.

Sleeping on your side allows your little one to move around and will often end up in a prone position. On his stomach keeps your baby's tummy under his body.

Well, the thing that will increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) significantly is because the stomach and chest are depressed so that it can be difficult to breathe.

Prone sleeping position

This sleeping position is still a debate. The reason is that according to statistical data, the syndrome of sudden death of babies occurs in a lot of babies who sleep on their stomachs.

The cause of sudden infant death syndrome is significantly due to the baby's face being too close to the mattress. This indirectly makes the baby prone to respiratory problems.

This condition occurs because the baby does not get enough oxygen.

How to make the baby comfortable while sleeping

Apart from sleeping position, there are other things that you should also pay attention to, including:

Maintain room temperature so that your little one can sleep comfortably.
Place the baby in a room that is well ventilated.
Keep all toys and dolls away from your baby's bed.
Use nightgowns and other covers in place of blankets.
Maintain cleanliness of the bed by regularly changing the bed sheet and pillowcase bolsters.

In fact, if necessary, you also routinely dry your little one's bolster pillow under the sun so that the organisms that trigger asthma and allergies in it die.

Things to avoid when the baby is sleeping

You certainly want the quality of baby's sleep to be in good condition. So you should avoid some of the things below so that your little one's sleep is not disturbed:

1. Wake the baby when moving him

Often times, your baby will fall asleep in a place other than his crib, such as a car, swing, or other place. Let your little one finish his nap in the car seat, and make sure your baby is safe or not pinched.

A short nap in that place is not a problem, as long as you don't let your baby sleep all night in that place.

2. Get used to sleeping on the stroller

To make it easier for the baby to sleep, maybe you will take your little one around the house with a stroller, aka stroller. This may be done occasionally.

However, don't do it too often because babies who are accustomed to having to be put to sleep with "movement" will find it more difficult to sleep in a stationary place such as a crib or crib.

3. Hold a crying baby while sleeping

Instinctively, of course you will hold a baby who suddenly cries as a way to lull your little one to sleep and see if he is hungry, thirsty, sick, or something else.

However, you need to let your baby cry for a few minutes to see if your baby will calm down on his own.

If your baby is still crying for a long time (more than five minutes), go back to him and make sure that your baby is okay.

4. Using a pacifier

Although pacifiers or pacifiers can be used as a way to put a baby to sleep, this is not quite right. The reason is, the continuous use of a pacifier will make it more difficult for your little one to sleep or be fussy when not using the pacifier.