My son is four months old now and he still sleeps a lot during the day and wants to play at night. We take turns with my husband to sit with him in the living room at night as the other sleeps. I am tired at work every day. How can we help him sleep at night? – Heather
Dear Heather
By four months your baby should have settled into a routine. It takes time after birth for babies to adjust to our sleeping times but that should take two months at most. You need to try and help him adjust. Entertaining him in the living room with the lights on watching television just gives him all the reason to stay awake. The environment you create for him will determine whether he sleeps or stays awake. He just behaves like us adults – sleeping with lights on is not easy for most adults. For babies the impression is its broad day light and we can play.
You need to organise a timetable. Feed him at around 7pm in the dark and he should eventually sleep. Just make sure his diaper is dry, and he is not hungry. Then he has no reason to cry unless he is not feeling well. The good thing about little babies is that you can train them to do what you want. They can quickly adjust to that. It should not be the other way round, you are now the ones adjusting to his programme, which is not healthy. – Aunty Lisa
Post published in: Lifestyle