Most of the parents worry whether their baby is getting sufficient sleep that he requires. This could be assured by charting his sleep/wake up times, period of his sleep or naps etc. Apart from judging whether he is getting required sleep, this chart can also indicate baby’s sleep routine and help in picking out any problem or sleep indiscretion, before they become permanent bad sleep habits.
Baby’s sleep model chart:
- Day / Time 12am 2 4 6 8 10 12pm
- Monday S A S S A A Nap
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- S = sleep A = awake
This is just a example of a chart given to get an idea of how to track your baby’s sleeping patterns. When such record is maintained for a few weeks, a definite pattern would arise, giving a clear picture of baby’s sleep routine.
There are commercial software’s available to track baby’s sleeping patterns. Whether done by soft ware or by manual charts, tracking the sleep pattern can help in many ways and also help in establish good sleeping habits.
Baby’s sleep cycle consists of 3 parts:
1. Putting baby to sleep (transition time)
2. Sleeping time
3. Waking up (time when baby is awake)
Charting the transition time may not seem significant, but while establishing a daily sleep routine, it can prove helpful in deciding when to put baby to sleep.
If the parents make a chart and keep a track of baby’s sleeping pattern, it helps parents as well as babies in more ways than one:
- It gives indication of baby’s transition time, so parents know when it is most excellent to put baby to sleep
- It can give indication whether sleep location affect baby’s sleep in any way.
- If parents try to put baby for a nap and it doesn’t work, then charts can help in finding out if chosen times for preliminary naps were right or not.
- A chart can always help a non-family caregiver in sticking to baby’s daily agenda.
- A chart can help in deciding if baby has good sleep habits and also help in establishing fine routine.
