Understanding Baby Sleep: 4-6 Months

Sleep Hours:-Babies need an average of 14 hours of sleep per day: At 4 months, a baby can go eight hours at night without a feeding; by 5 months, he can sleep for 10 or 11 hours straight. Babies will sleep four to five hours during the day, spread out over three naps. At 6 months, babies need an average of 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night, and 3.5 hours of daytime naps spread over two to three naps.

Time to Make the Move:-Its hard to be a wonderful, responsive, cheerful parent if you are constantly fighting to keep your eyes open, and prolonged exhaustion can be a risk factor for depression.

Be Consistent:-Once that internal clock kicks in, you will notice the baby has a preference for when he wants to go to sleep.

Dont Downplay Naps:-Napping is all about length and predictability.Nap training is hard for parents. Babies, like adults, simply have trouble sleeping when its not dark. Ideally, 4- and 5-month-old babies should nap for 90 minutes or longer for two of the three naps (the third one can be shorter); 6-month-olds should nap 1.5 to two hours twice a day (the third, shorter nap is now optional).

Recognize Sleep Signals:-Your baby will send some pretty clear signs that shes ready for sleep. The magic moment is a slight quieting, a slight staring off, and a hint of calmness. Other signals include yawning, rubbing her eyes, and losing interest in other people or her toys. The key is to put Baby to bed before she becomes so tired that crying, fussing, or a tantrum starts.

Start Sleep Training:-Its important that your baby learns to self-soothe so that she can get herself back to sleep.From letting the baby cry for periods of time until she fall asleep using a no-tears method or finding something between its really up to you which one you go with.

Feeding Frenzy:-You want to really focus on meeting the babys nutritional needs during the day so he doesnt eat at night.He should be either sleeping through the night or eating only once at night.

Stamping Out Separation Anxiety:-A lovey, a special stuffed animal or blanket and sometimes called a transitional object can be a useful tool to ease separation anxiety and weaken other sleep-disrupting nighttime habits.