Principles of sleep: by Linda Davis
As new parents you would have found out that your baby has his own mind and no matter what well-meaning advice we've received from our own parents or read in publications, your baby will do as he or she pleases!
While in the womb, the baby does not have a day and night routine and is usually most active when the mother is resting. While you walk around or talk during pregnancy, the movements and voice lull the baby into an inactive and sleep mode.
Keep in mind that it is certain to take some time for the baby to adjust to a day and night body clock; light for day and activity time, and night for darkness and sleep time.
Most infants and even older babies need to get used to their new environments and feel secure in their new life. Every time they wake up in the night, whether it is once at 3 am or five times, they feel insecure. Reassuring them by talking to them, holding them and feeding when necessary them helps develop this sense of security. As they grow used to their new surroundings and are assured of your presence at every time, they sleep for longer periods of time.
Another reason for your baby waking up in the nights is that our sleep, including that of babies, contains one or more periods of Rapid Eye Movement (REM).
This is an active sleep period with dreams and movements of the eyes and other body parts. At the end of each REM sleep period we usually awaken briefly. Adults are rarely aware of this brief awakening. Many babies however wake up and will find it hard to fall asleep again. As mentioned, they may need reassurance or feeding to help them achieve this.
With age, babies have less REM sleep and more of the sounder 'quiet sleep' just like adults. Unlike adults, babies have a longer light sleep period before they are completely relaxed and not easily aroused.
Picture this scenario: You are used to rocking or nursing your baby to sleep, however, the moment you quietly lower your baby, who appears to be sleeping, into the cot, she turns and starts crying! This can be really frustrating and back-breaking for a new mom! You therefore need to learn to look for your babies different sleep patterns.
In terms of sleep for infants the following three individual components are important: