TROUBLE SLEEPING?
		Babies and sleep At first, babies do not know the difference between day and night. As they grow and develop this will change with the baby sleeping less during the day and more at night. Newborns typically sleep around 16 hours a day in 2-4 hour blocks. This amount is most often determined by hunger. Most babies sleep 6-8 hours at night by 3 months of age. However, this is just an average and many babies do not sleep through the night until they are over 1 year of age. If at 6 months of age your baby is not sleeping as long at night as you wish, it may help to shorten their nap time. A baby typically takes 2 naps during the day at 6 months of age and 1 nap after age 1.
How to develop good sleeping habits Consider feeding the baby 30 minutes before bedtime as some babies do not sleep well on a full stomach Distinguish daytime from nighttime. This can be done best by interacting with the child in bright environments during the day and keeping the lights dim and quiet voices at night. Learn to recognize the signs of drowsiness and place the baby in the crib when he is partially awake. This will help the baby to learn that the crib is for sleeping. Crying is common as the baby falls asleep. Crying is a way for babies to comfort themselves. It may take a few minutes for the baby to get comfortable and fall asleep. Never put a baby to bed with a bottle of milk or juice as these can damage the baby’s teeth.
	Techniques to help your baby fall asleep Bathing right before bedtime. Swaddling Try different calming techniques such as: holding, rocking, singing, massage or patting. All babies will respond differently to these techniques, find the one that works best with your baby.