Sleeping Like a Baby: The Science Behind Infant Sleep Patterns

Whoever came up with the phrase sleeping like a baby, sure wasn't a baby.

Every infant is different when it comes to their snooze cycle and while some sleep soundly through the night, others are awake like clockwork. Parents are told throughout their entire pregnancy to stock up on all the sleep they can get while they can, but getting some sleep when your baby arrives isn't impossible, it just requires a little extra strategy. 

Understanding the way your baby is adjusting to life on the outside can help parents be better equipped to sleep train and get their baby on the right track to sweeter dreams.

Did you know that newborns spend more time in the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep than adults do?

Experts believe this is because there's so much at work in your baby's mind as they're developing, the exposure to so many new experiences at once can literally keep them awake at night. Knowing that this is a stage of development, working toward the next milestone can give parents some confidence and security knowing they're on the right path. 

This REM sleep will get shorter and shorter as the brain advances, development continues and your baby is more comfortable and aware of the world around them. Between 4 and 6 months, infants are usually capable of sleeping for a longer 8-12 hour time span without any nighttime interruptions for their parents. 

Circadian Rhythm

One of the reasons that newborns have difficulty staying asleep for long periods of time is their inability to distinguish night from day. Our bodies naturally produce hormones to make us tired at night and more alert during the day time. Helping your infant develop circadian rhythm will often make sleep training easier as they reach their 6 month milestone of sleeping more soundly through the night. 

To get this rhythm rollin,' parents should exaggerate night and day. In the morning, their nursery should be light, bright, playful and noisy. Play with them and wake them up if they start to doze during their feedings. When it's time to settle down for bed, keep the lights low, sounds quiet and resist the urge to play with them if they wake during the night. 

Before long, your baby will be producing tons of natural melatonin to help them sleep and parents will be able to enjoy longer stretches of beauty rest.

Babies aren't born with bad bedtime habits, they just don't have any habits yet of their own. 

Nourishing the behavior and habits that encourage more restful sleep in your infant can better help their sleep patterns sync with their developmental milestones. Don't be frustrated if you've got a miniature insomniac on your hands because patience and practice goes a long way. 

Though it may not seem like it, your baby is tired too! Help your little one get on board with better sleep rituals to bring a little peace back to bedtime. 

Keep Your Cool Series: Keeping Your Cool with Unsolicited Advice

Parenting is an awesome experience.

You have the opportunity to make big decisions, choose preferences and begin a new chapter with a clean slate. Like every other major chapter you have embarked on, you might also be getting your fair share of unsolicited advice from everyone around you.

All that advice you didn't ask for, can really get your blood boiling. 

We've been there before and are offering a helping hand to keep you and your partner cool when tensions start to heat up. 

Are You Kidding Me?

It's hard to focus on the task at hand when friends, relatives or strangers interrupt with questions that have you scratching your head. You might find that there's an influx of questions that don't matter or you just don't even feel like answering. 

Questions like;

"When are you getting married?" 

"Why are you choosing that name?"

"When are you having kids?"

"When are you having MORE kids?"

Is this Jeopardy?!

No honey, this is parenting.

Your preferences are yours and the decisions you make along the way are the way you're seeing fit to embark on this journey. You're making choices in the best interest of your family and that's all that matters. When faced with questions that have you rolling your eyes, it's completely appropriate to smile, acknowledge their question by telling them that you'll keep that in mind or mention you're not sure "why." 

As silly as it sounds, smiling and acknowledging someone's advice (even if it is garbage advice) can be the best way to dodge a frustrating situation. 

Remove Yourself 

You also aren't tied to a situation that is argumentative, hostile or just uncomfortable. A stroller has wheels you know, and you can roll on out of a space that makes you feel awkward. When agreeable kindness doesn't work, the best medicine is to remove yourself from the situation and recollect your thoughts and affirming that the decisions you make are the right way to go.

Most People Mean Well

Generally, these unnecessary questions or unsolicited advice is just a way for people to strike conversation with you or let you know that they care. Parents are guilty of doing this when they feel like their experience can be helpful for you as you're gaining experience of your own. 

Don't worry, stay cool. 

People are always going to have something to say. Even if you're doing everything right for your happy and healthy family, there's always going to be someone out there giving you a suggestion for ways to do it better.

Keep your confidence and self worth flying high by telling yourself each day that you're doing an awesome job.

Keep Your Cool Series: Beat that Heat, Baby!

Summer can be a real scorcher. 

Even up in Maine, summers get hot and staying safe in the sun is still a big priority for families of all ages. Whether you're pregnant or navigating the summer with your newborn, it can be tough to beat the summer time heat and still enjoy the season. 

We put together a go-to guide for new moms and moms-to-be looking for some easy ways to stay cool and comfortable while enjoying the summer sunshine. 

Keeping Your Pregnancy Cool

If you've got a bun in the oven, summer heat can feel unbearable. Those last few weeks of your pregnancy can leave you fatigued and it becomes more difficult to regulate your body temperature. If you're pregnant, you are more susceptible to heat stroke and sunburn. 

Dress in flowy, loose and breathable fabrics that help you feel the summer breeze without weighing you down. Staying hydrated can help your body resist fatigue and keep you in control of your body temperature. Swimming can be another awesome way to relieve some muscle aches and help you cool off quickly. 

Keep Baby Cool

Little ones can't tell you when they're feeling overwhelmed in the summer sun. If you're spending a summer excursion with your baby, avoiding full sun and mid-day heat is the best way to keep them safe from harsh UV rays. 

When using a stroller or baby carrier, sport towels can help you keep their body temperature down and protect them from becoming sweaty. These towels are great because they can be rehydrated easily and maintain a constant cool temperature without having to refrigerate them.

Babies can also become dehydrated on a hot summer day. If you're formula feeding, keep an eye on the frequency of wet diapers and periodically give your baby cooled boiled water. If they're eating solid foods, frozen yogurts and fruits can also help them stay refreshed and hydrated on a hot summer day. 

Keep your cool!

Pregnant moms and new babies might not be cut out for the summer time, but that doesn't have to stop you from enjoying the sunshine. It's okay to spend time outside, but taking plenty of breaks to rest indoors with fans or air conditioning will keep you safe as we break the hottest month of the summer.

Fun Summer Meals for Kids

Now that it's summer vacation season, the pressure is on to dish out more meals throughout the day.

When the temperatures soar, you aren't always in the cooking mood but that's not stopping your little guys from getting grumbly tummies. We put together some of our go-to foods to keep those summer appetites satisfied without making a huge mess of your kitchen.

And as a group of busy moms, we're fans of simple meals. 

Not only are they easy to whip up in a flash, but they're dishes that are actually healthy. So these Food Network top picks of ours are redefining summer time "fast food."

2011 Hungry Girl. All Rights Reserved.

Pepperoni Pizza Wrap

Ingredients

• 1 stick light string cheese
• 1 medium-large high-fiber flour tortilla with about 110 calories
• 2 tablespoons pizza sauce
• Dash Italian seasoning
• Dash garlic powder
• Dash onion powder
• 1/4 cup chopped spinach leaves
• 1/4 cup canned stewed tomatoes, roughly chopped, patted dry
• 1 teaspoon reduced-fat Parmesan-style grated topping
• 6 pieces turkey pepperoni, chopped

Directions

Set toaster oven to highest setting.

Break string cheese into thirds and put in a blender or food processor-blend at high speed until cheese takes on a shredded or grated consistency. (Or just tear string cheese into pieces and roughly chop.) Set aside.

Place tortilla on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 10 seconds, or until just warm. Evenly spread sauce onto the center of the tortilla, and sprinkle with a dash of each of the spices. Top with spinach, stewed tomatoes, Parm-style topping, chopped turkey pepperoni, and shredded/grated string cheese.

Wrap tortilla up like a burrito, folding the sides in first, and then rolling it up from the bottom. Place wrap on a microwave-safe plate, seam side down, and warm in the microwave for 30 seconds.

Transfer wrap to the toaster oven and cook until hot on the inside and slightly crisp on the outside, about 3 minutes. Dig in!

Photograph by Hallie Burton   [Courtesy Ellie Krieger for Food Network Magazine]

Butterfly Rainbow Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 8 ounces bow tie pasta, preferably whole grain
• 3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup corn kernels, thawed if frozen
• 1 cup shelled edamame, thawed if frozen
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 2 medium carrots, shredded (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese (about 1 ounce)
• Salt

Directions

Cook the pasta as the label directs. Drain and toss with 1 teaspoon olive oil to prevent sticking; let cool.

In a large bowl, toss the cooled pasta with the corn, edamame, bell pepper and carrots. Drizzle with the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil and toss to coat. Add the parmesan and 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss again and season to taste.

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Italian Ice Pops

Ingredients

• 1 (12-ounce) bag or 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries, defrosted
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• 3 or 4 tablespoons simple syrup, recipe follows
• 14 wooden ice pop sticks

Simple Syrup:

• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

In a blender, combine the raspberries and the mint. Puree until combined. Add the lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of the simple syrup. Blend to combine. Taste the mixture and add the remaining 1 tablespoon simple syrup if you like. Spoon the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze for approximately 30 minutes, or until partially frozen. Insert the wooden sticks and return trays to the freezer for another 3 to 5 hours.

Simple Syrup:

In a saucepan, combine water and sugar over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sugar has dissolved. Take pan off heat and cool the syrup. Any extra cooled syrup can be saved in an airtight container.