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| Home > Baby Care > Sleeping and Waking
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| | Sleeping and Waking of a new baby
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Your baby`s eating pattern will influence his sleep cycle. After birth, he takes a few days to adjust to his new environment and his sleeping periods may be short but frequent. Later, he may sleep twelve to twenty hours in a twenty-four-hour period.
Your baby may stay awake at night and then settle back to sleep when a bit older. A newborn may need to be coaxed and cajoled to be put to sleep. He may want to be fed, walked, rocked, changed, sung to, massaged, or otherwise comforted before going back to sleep. Do not worry about the timings to feed the baby. Your baby will demand food when he is hungry, he will cry hard, wave his arms and legs vigorously, and root and suck at anything close by.
You may make the baby sleep in your bed or may be in a crib, depending on your personal preference. A newborn should sleep on a firm surface and in a safety -approved crib or bassinet. Some parents prefer to put their baby to sleep in their beds, at least for some tome.
There are six states of sleep and wakefulness in the infant: deep sleep, light sleep, drowsy, quiet alert, active alert, and crying. While each state has specific characteristics. Each state has specific characteristics. Progression from one state to the other depends on the individual infant. Some may change their state abruptly while others gradually.
You should know the characteristics of each state to take proper care of your infant and also arrange your working hours accordingly. The following paragraphs define each state and examine their implications for parenting.
Sleep States
 Deep Sleep:This state is characterized by motionless body with rhythmic breathing pattern. He may jerk or make sucking movements with his lips, but he hardly ever awakens. Your baby is not in a position to suck the bottle or the breast. You will not be able to awaken him, even If you try he will rouse for a moment and again go back to sleep. Utilize this time to relax or catch up on any other work, or even go for a stroll with your partner.
 Light Sleep: This is the most common state of sleep in new-borns. Your baby`s eyes may remain shut, but the eyeballs may move behind his lids. In this state he may move, make momentary crying sounds, suck, grimace, or smile. His breathing is irregular. He is startled by noise and may be awakened by stimulation to a drowsy state. He may also progress to the state of deep slumber from this state.
Do not rush to care for your baby who moves and makes mewing or crying sounds. That may be an intermittent step before the baby enters the drowsy state. The baby may not be ready to get up from sleep. So it would be wise of you to wait and watch and then take appropriate action.
Awake States
 Drowsy: In this state the baby appears sleepy, with varying activity level. He may startle occasionally. His heavy-lidded eyes may open and close for brief periods. His eyes may lose focus or appear cross-eyed. His breathing is irregular, and reacts drowsily to any external stimulus, you will be able to manipulate him by either putting him to sleep or awaken him. Do not stimulate him if you want him to sleep more. In case you want to awaken him, talk to him, pick him up, massage him, or give him something to suck or look at.
 Quiet Alert:
This state, is followed by a long sleeping period, is pleasing and rewarding for parents. Your baby lies quietly, gazing calmly with bright, wide eyes. His breathing is regular. He remains much contended in this sate and he focuses attentively on what he sees and hears. You may sing and talk to your baby or provide some stimulation for him to remain in this state. Your baby is calm and tranquil in this state, this is your time to enjoy the baby make eye contacts with him and talk to him.
 Active Alert:
In this state your baby is the most irritable, he may be hungry, fatigued, disturbed by noises and too much handling. He becomes fidgety; and may be fussy. His eyes are open but do not appear to be focused and attentive as in the quiet-alert state. He breathes irregularly and grimaces. This state is followed by the crying state.
Identify this stage and act accordingly, either feed or comfort him. Do not stimulate him if you want to bring him to a calmer state before he starts crying. Your immediate action will help avert a crying state.
 Crying:
A crying baby is difficult for every parent. Crying is the only way of communicating with you that he cannot cope any more. He will cry if he is tired, sick, hungry, frustrated, wet or lonely. He also moves his body actively. He may open or close his eyes, make unhappy faces and sometimes make leg and arm movements. His breathing becomes irregular. Sometimes crying is a release, a self-comforting mechanism that enables him to enter another state. At other times he draws your attention to take care of him.
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