Sleep and Settling

Sleep is necessary for a child’s healthy growth and development, particularly in maintaining a strong immune system.

Children who sleep and eat well are often happier and less irritable.

Typical Sleep Patterns

• Sleep patterns are noticeable in utero during the latter half of pregnancy.
• Cycle times vary between 40-60mins.
• Periods of sleep represent about 50% at 30weeks and 60% near term.

Birth to 12 Months

• Babies will show signs they are ready for sleep after 1-1.5 hour of wakefulness.
• Total sleep time per 24 hours lasts 14-18 hours
• Sleep cycles develop around 4 months of age ranging from 30-50mins.
• Try to resettle if the child wakes before one hour of sleep during the day – this encourages the transition from one sleep cycle to the next.

Age 1 to 5 Years

• Total sleep time reduces from about 17 hours down to 10-12 hours by the age of 5.
• Mostly accounted for by the decrease in daytime sleeps.
• Cycle length increases from 40mins at 2 years to 60mins at 5years.

Settling...

Many babies need to learn how to settle and resettle themselves to sleep. This is simply falling asleep on their own without any assistance from an adult.

At about 2 months, children begin to establish their awake and asleep rhythms. This is the time to begin to establish day/night bedtime routines

Useful Settling Tips for Parents.

Controlled Crying

Controlled crying or controlled comforting is one way that is sometimes used to teach children not to cry at night. This stresses babies. It is advisable not to use any method that stresses or distresses babies and young children. Babies develop secure attachments by being responded to when they cry whether it is day time or night time.

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