Question
A 50-day-old female infant is experiencing a night and day reversal in her sleep pattern, sleeping for long periods during the day and finding it difficult to enter deep sleep at night. She wakes up every 15 to 20 minutes, her eyes wide open, seemingly unable to fall asleep again.
Answer
When an infant’s sleep pattern is irregular, parents should guide their child in establishing a normal sleep routine. During the day, encourage the child to be active and reduce their sleep time, and provide appropriate companionship at night. Before the baby is three months old, the daily sleep time typically reaches 18 hours. Parents should avoid interacting with the child immediately upon waking, as infants have longer periods of light sleep and may fall back asleep after a brief awakening. At night, gently soothe the baby before bedtime, such as by singing lullabies, to cultivate good sleep habits.