Understanding Baby Sleep: The Key to Success

“Getting your baby to sleep in a bassinet” could be challenging. However, it all starts with unraveling infant sleep mysteries. Babies, especially very small ones, require plenty of sleep – around 14-17 hours daily. However, the hours can be interrupted frequently, and exhausted parents think about why their babies like to stay awake all night. Understanding these patterns can give you the control you once had and allow you to better manage your baby’s sleeping.

The Science of Sleep

Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults. They usually transition between light and deep sleep every 50-60 minutes. Due to this, they may wake up more often during the night as they move between these sleep stages.

The Moro reflex is also one of the most common startle reflexes during the first year of a newborn’s life, which causes an abrupt awakening. This reflex is most noticeable at 2-3 months old and usually diminishes after 6 months.

Understanding these sleep patterns and natural responses can be very helpful for parents who want to help their baby get used to sleeping in a bassinet. This knowledge allows them to more efficiently anticipate and address their baby’s sleep requirements.

Growth Spurts and Development

In the first year of life, infants experience rapid growth and development that can significantly affect their sleeping patterns. The extraordinary growth spurt frequently causes a rise in appetite. This causes infants to get up more frequently because they require more food to support their rapid growth.

Knowing and being aware of the signs that your baby is progressing through these growth phases can provide you with the comfort and reassurance needed on those nights of sleep disturbances.