While every child is unique and grows up differently, it is possible to understand how sleep works for young children. This way, parents can prepare for each stage and begin the countdown to one of the most special moments: when baby finally sleeps through the night.
Baby needs to learn to sleep through the night
Children's sleep patterns change over time and as their brains develop. Just as they learn to crawl or talk, they also learn to sleep. It's important to remember that we can't force anything and there is no magic method. When a baby sleeps through the night, it's because it's time and ready.
In order for your baby to sleep through the night, he or she must also have eaten enough in the evening and not be hungry during the night. For this, his stomach must be big enough, it is physiological! He must also feel reassured and safe. If your baby is worried, if he feels stress in the family, he will tend to wake up several times a night. It is therefore essential to limit tensions, put work-related worries aside and create a peaceful atmosphere in the house.
Do the sleep phases have an influence?
It is also worth noting that up to 4-6 months, babies sleep in only two phases: REM sleep and deep sleep. During this period, many manage to sleep at least five hours straight, but as we say, each case is unique.
The two sleep phases are one reason why a baby often wakes up at night. As the phases end quickly, the sleep cycle is interrupted to meet other needs such as appetite or to request more contact with the parents.
Did you know that adults also sometimes wake up between phases? However, we are not aware of it, this is when we change our position or cover ourselves with the comforter. Babies, on the other hand, will actually wake up.
As the baby grows, more sleep phases are added until they reach the five that adults have, and gradually, the baby's nighttime behavior changes.
The evolution of baby's sleep from birth to one year
From an average of 16 hours of sleep per day in the first few weeks of life to short naps and full nights, babies' sleep patterns change during the first year. Even if they don't sleep through the night, they sleep longer, wake up for shorter and shorter periods of time and fall back asleep quickly.
Generally from 6 months onwards, they will sleep longer and longer, but until they are 2 or 3 years old, it is perfectly normal for them to wake up from time to time.
Some children sleep more than others, various studies have shown that genetics has an influence of up to 50% on the length and quality of a baby's sleep, but other factors can come into play.
For example, a change in feeding schedule or even a change in the parents' daily lives can affect sleep quality. For this reason, it is best to be patient and react calmly.
Baby's environment also affects the quality of his nights
In order to give your baby a restful night's sleep, it is important that he or she feels perfectly comfortable in the room. When designing the room, choose soft colors that will be conducive to calming, banish bright colors that would tend to irritate children.
Choose natural materials for furniture, mattress and bed linen, and try to select articles without chemical treatment to preserve a healthy environment in the room.
Don't forget to establish a ritual before putting baby to bed. This includes following a calm bedtime routine, listening to soft music to relax the baby, giving a bath followed by a little massage. These little rituals are very important to help your baby fall asleep and avoid waking up at night.
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