| My experience indicates that babies don't start to | | | | My experience indicates that babies don't start to |
| surface between sleep cycles (the process of drifting | | | | surface between sleep cycles (the process of drifting |
| between light and deep sleep) until they reach 6kg | | | | between light and deep sleep) until they reach 6kg |
| 13.2lbs, which is usually around 8 to 16 weeks. This is | | | | 13.2lbs, which is usually around 8 to 16 weeks. This is |
| why you can aid a newborn baby to sleep and he will | | | | why you can aid a newborn baby to sleep and he will |
| still sleep for a long period, however when he starts to | | | | still sleep for a long period, however when he starts to |
| surface between the sleep cycles, he will start to | | | | surface between the sleep cycles, he will start to |
| catnap during the day. Then at around 8kg/17.6lbs, | | | | catnap during the day. Then at around 8kg/17.6lbs, |
| which is often around five to seven months, he will | | | | which is often around five to seven months, he will |
| start to wake between night time sleep cycles. | | | | start to wake between night time sleep cycles. |
| This is why I recommend starting to establish a baby | | | | This is why I recommend starting to establish a baby |
| routine so early, as it will prevent sleep problems | | | | routine so early, as it will prevent sleep problems |
| occurring. So by week two, it is important to be | | | | occurring. So by week two, it is important to be |
| developing some sort of sleeping and feeding routine. | | | | developing some sort of sleeping and feeding routine. |
| For years, health professionals have been debating the | | | | For years, health professionals have been debating the |
| pros and cons of a baby routine, but the one factor | | | | pros and cons of a baby routine, but the one factor |
| they always agree on, is that young children and | | | | they always agree on, is that young children and |
| babies feel safe and secure when they know what | | | | babies feel safe and secure when they know what |
| and when things are going to happen. | | | | and when things are going to happen. |
| You will notice I have different routines for babies who | | | | You will notice I have different routines for babies who |
| are bottle-fed and breast-fed until eight weeks. This is | | | | are bottle-fed and breast-fed until eight weeks. This is |
| because the routines before eight weeks are based | | | | because the routines before eight weeks are based |
| on the mother's needs not the baby's needs. A | | | | on the mother's needs not the baby's needs. A |
| breast-feeding mother needs to feed her baby more | | | | breast-feeding mother needs to feed her baby more |
| often in the first eight weeks to build up a good supply | | | | often in the first eight weeks to build up a good supply |
| of breast-milk. | | | | of breast-milk. |
| Tip: If you are breastfeeding with one or two | | | | Tip: If you are breastfeeding with one or two |
| expressed milk feeds or formula-feeds in a bottle then | | | | expressed milk feeds or formula-feeds in a bottle then |
| you should follow the breast-feeding routines. If you | | | | you should follow the breast-feeding routines. If you |
| are feeding all bottles of expressed-milk then you | | | | are feeding all bottles of expressed-milk then you |
| should follow the bottle-feeding routines but express at | | | | should follow the bottle-feeding routines but express at |
| the times on the breast-feeding routines. | | | | the times on the breast-feeding routines. |