I’m a Dad

Sleeping Through the Night

Let me begin by educating you as to what “sleep through the night” means in the context of infants. It certainly does not mean that he is asleep for all the hours that I am asleep. If a baby sleeps for 5 – 7 hours it is considered sleeping through the night. And that 5 – 7 hours is not necessarily uninterrupted, deep, quiet, sleep. Babies stir in the night and fuss and whine a little but go back to quiet sleep after a few minutes. If you’re a heavy sleeper (Jen) or if the baby is in a different room you, the parent, may not waken at all. If, on the other hand, you’re a light sleeper (me) and the baby is in the same room as you, it’s a pretty good bet that his fussing will disturb you.

Jen declared the other day that Liam had “slept through the night.” I reminded her that he woke up around 5am, this after having gone to sleep at 10pm. “But that’s almost seven hours of straight sleep” she informed me in that tone wives have of educating ignorant husbands in the ways of all things baby, “considering we’re usually lucky to go three hours, seven is very good.” I couldn’t help but agree. That was when it occurred to me that the baby sleeping through the night didn’t necessarily mean that I would.

Liam also slept very well Monday night. Tuesday night wasn’t quite as good, he woke up and was upset around 4am and didn’t go back to sleep until Jen pulled him into our bed and fed him. He’s growing up so fast! Before I know it he’ll be asking me for the car keys. Of course all he’ll be able to do is rattle them and put them in his mouth. But I’m proud of him for sleeping so well lately and hopefully he will continue to do so. He’s my little guy.

Here are some links that have more info on baby sleep patterns.

Baby Center

Lamaze.com

Slumbersounds.com

If you have children, I’d be interested to hear at what age they first started to sleep through the night. Please post a comment and share your sleep stories.