Sleep and Your 8- to 12-Month
Where and How Should My Baby Sleep?
By this age, most babies are rolling over and picking a comfortable position for sleep. Your baby will move around a lot during the course of a night’s rest!
Night terrors can begin at this age, so don’t be surprised if your baby starts screaming and crying in the middle of the night and nothing you do seems to help. Night terrors are different from nightmares. Night terrors occur during the deep part of sleep and although they may seem worrisome to you, your baby is actually still asleep — even if your baby’s eyes are open — and has no idea that he or she is crying. Make sure that your baby is safe and he or she will eventually quiet down. Nightmares usually start around 3 to 4 years of age and children wake up from them feeling scared.
When your baby wakes up in the night and cries for you, remember not to reward this behavior or it may continue for a long time. Reassure your baby quietly that you’re there, but then send the message that he or she needs to go back to sleep. The best bet may be a soothing pat on the back, a repositioning of the blanket, and a quick exit. If you are firm and consistent about requiring your baby to put herself or himself back to sleep, this stage should pass pretty quickly.
Of course, during these middle-of-the-night “visits” with your baby you’ll want to rule out illness or a very soiled diaper. If you do need to change your baby, remember not to turn on too many lights and to keep interaction to a minimum.
Always keep safety in mind. Make sure your crib meets current safety standards. Don’t put anything in the crib that can interfere with your baby’s breathing — stuffed animals, blankets, or soft pillows can fall on a baby’s face and block breathing. Although bumper pads are widely used, their safety has been questioned. One study from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission found a number of accidental deaths appeared to be related to the use of bumper pads in cribs and bassinets. The Canadian Pediatric Society has recommended against the use of bumper pads since 2004. If you do use bumpers, it’s best to use the kind that secure at the top and bottom. Also, avoid items with ties or ribbons that can wrap around a baby’s neck, and objects with any kind of sharp edge or corner.
If you use bumpers, remove them once your baby is pulling up using the sides of the crib. Bumpers can give your baby a dangerous “leg up” for climbing out of the crib and falling. Babies can also get tangled in hanging mobiles, so remove them as well. Don’t forget to look around for the things that your baby can touch from a standing position in the crib. Wall hangings, pictures, draperies, and window blind cords are potentially harmful if left within your baby’s reach.
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