Are you worried if your baby is sleeping well? Don’t feel guilty or be worried if your baby is not sleeping well because according to studies, wakefulness is a normal survival mechanism of babies to make sure they are getting enough food to grow.
The sleep patterns of your baby change as they grow from a newborn baby to a toddler. Sleeping patterns also widely vary from baby to baby so don’t compare the sleeping patterns of your baby to another.
So how much sleep does your baby need?
Babies who are small need to wake up at night to feed. They are physiologically programmed to wake regularly at different intervals to refuel. As a breastfeeding mother, you need to make sure that your breasts are emptied to maintain your milk supply thus satisfying your baby.
Babies do not have control over their sleep. If your baby is crying, it means that he really needs something. Remember that your baby needs your touch and presence most of the time and that it is very important to his well being as a toddler or newborn.
Your baby knows when you are absent. If you are out of sight, your baby won’t know when you will return. You can reassure your baby through physical contact and by making sure he sees you.
What it means when he cries
Crying is your baby’s way of telling you that he needs something- whatever that is. By ensuring that you attend to your baby when he cries, you help him to learn to trust you and you help him to develop his self-esteem.
For more information about the sleeping and feeding habits of your baby, you may want to check out Australian Breastfeeding Association.