Part Three - A Good Night’s Rest

The Happy-O-Meter

How long should your baby be sleeping during naps? How about at night? Through much experience and a bit of research, I have found a few simple yet effective answers to both of these questions.

Your baby’s nap should typically be determined by their daily schedule which you have already instituted (see Three Steps to Sleep). Some good advice I’ve received, and have benefited from greatly in determining whether or not my child is truly ready to get up is to judge whether or not they’re happy right when they wake. If they are whiny, crying, or sullen, and if all their other needs have been met (fed and dry diaper), allow them to fall back asleep until they wake up happy. They will most likely figure out for themselves that they are still tired, and won’t mind taking a few more minutes of dreams. Eventually your child will wake back up and feel happier and more refreshed than if you had gotten them up immediately.

Sweet (Long) Dreams

Sleeping through the night is the wish of every new parent. But, what about when your baby is only a few days old? You can find plenty of people who will tell you that you should wake a baby in the middle of the night to feed him or her. Though there is probably nothing inherently wrong with this concept, one must ask him or herself; “Why?”.

Instead of trying to judge between common sense and the warnings of paranoid mothers and nurses, I asked my pediatrician about the matter. He instructed me to “never wake a baby at night that is sleeping”. He even went a step further, and gently grabbing my then infant daughter by the arms looked her straight in the eyes, and said in a serious tone, “I give you permission to sleep through the night. Don’t wake up if you don’t have to.” (Be sure to check with their doctor as your child may be different, and may have different needs.)

Allowing your young baby to sleep through the night teaches them how to do just that: sleep through the night. Not only is this a valuable routine for you, the parent, but it is also an important routine for your child to learn. Sleep is the foundation of any daily schedule, and can determine energy, mood, mental awareness and emotional stability throughout the day.

Of course, if your baby does wake up hungry before morning, feed them and put them right back to sleep. During those nighttime and early morning feedings, remember to keep lights low and avoid too much eye contact with your baby, as this will arouse them, and make them ready to play rather than returning to sleep. Immediately after a night feeding put your baby back to bed and let them wake up on their own after going to sleep.

Get Your Rest…You’ll Need It.

My advice to young parents with the question of when to wake a baby is almost unequivocally this: never. Let the child wake themselves, and unless there is an apparent emergency or you’re justifiably concerned for your child’s safety, then let your baby sleep. Remember, a well-rested baby is a happy baby.

This article is part three in a three part series aimed at helping parents develop a daily schedule for their child.

» Part One - Baby Day Planner?
» Part Two - Three Steps to Sleep
» Part Three - A Good Night’s Rest

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