Establishing a Sleep Routine for Infants

INFANCY

The key to parenting an infant is love, schedule, and flexibility. You cannot give an infant too much love. What parents sometimes confuse with love is holding. Infants need lots of love, holding, and cuddling. Infants also need rest and sleep. The first thing you want to work on is establishing a regular nap and bedtime schedule. Try to put your child down for a nap at approximately the same time no matter where you are. Encouraging a child to sleep in different locations breeds flexibility, while establishing a schedule. For small infants, take along a basket or pack and play for naps and bedtime. Establish a regular schedule of at least two nap times per day along with a 12 hour bedtime. Some infants need more sleep than others. You will be able to figure that out by how long the child sleeps during the established naptimes.

Modeling Respect

Parenting is not an easy job but what you do as a parent will make the job easier or more difficult. As a matter of fact, parenting will be a pleasure once the boundaries are established and compliance is frequent. Pleasure is achieved when a respectful relationship is established. Achieving a respectful relationship is easier than you might think. It is achieved primarily with one act “MODELING.” You must always, always treat your child with respect. You must also treat your spouse with respect. You must treat your friends with respect. You must treat other drivers on the road with respect. 

Consistency

Do you want your child to be well adjusted and happy? Let
them know what to expect. Parents who create a consistent
environment raise well adjsted, happy children. On the
contrary, parents with inconsistent discipline often
create angry, rebellious children.

Children feel secure when they know what to expect
when they do not follow the rules. Parents need to
discuss rules and consequences and apply the
consequences consistently.