questions on how to put your baby to sleep

questions on how to put your baby to sleep

Parents work hard to keep their baby safe during waking hours. But its just as important to keep your baby safe during sleeping hours as well. It can be hard to know what safe sleep is for your baby.
How do you put a baby to sleep?
The best way for your baby to sleep is to put them on their back. Even if your baby spits up they likely wont choke. The trachea the breathing pipe connected to the lungs is in front of the esophagus the food pipe connected to the stomach. So your baby will likely be able to swallow any spit up down the esophagus.

Dr. Garcia also said you should put your baby to bed before theyre asleep.
Many times babies fall asleep while they are eating. But the best sleep pattern is to cut them off before they have completely fallen asleep. When theyre groggy and almost asleep then you can put them in their bed.
Our bodies like routine. The sooner you start putting your baby to bed before theyre asleep the easier it will be Dr. Garcia said.
How much sleep does a newborn need?
They sleep a lot Dr. Garcia said.
Your baby needs about 1617 hours of sleep per day when theyre first born. And theyll only sleep about one to two hours at a time. They need to wake up often to eat.
At about four to six months of age theyll sleep less often.
When do babies sleep through the night?
Most parents eagerly await the night when they can get a full nights sleep.
Usually between four to seven months old your baby will sleep around six consecutive hours or more if youre lucky! Dr. Garcia said.
Its fine if they dont make it through the night by four to seven months.
Even if they wake up hungry in the night at six or seven months that doesnt mean something is wrong. Every baby is different and is on their own routine Dr. Garcia said.
Where should my baby sleep?
Your baby should sleep in a bed of their own like a bassinet or crib.
You should avoid letting your baby sleep in anything that isnt their bed like a swing or car seat.
Dont put the baby in your bed. You should never cosleep with your baby.
As a parent you will probably experience more separation anxiety than your baby. It may help to keep your babys crib or bassinet close to your bed.
You can
decide to move them out of your room and into their own room between six and 12 months.
Baby cribs should have nothing in them no pillow no blankets no stuffed animals nothing.
Babies should always sleep on a flat sleep surface.
Propping your babys head up will not help them to digest better or avoid reflux. Your babys chance of choking may increase if theyre propped up.
Their head may roll to one side if theyre propped up which is also a suffocation hazard.
How do you prevent SIDS?
Sudden infant death syndrome SIDS is the unexpected death of an infant from one month to one year old. Fortunately most of the causes are preventable. Its important to avoid anything that will increase the risk of or lead to suffocation.