Psychologist gives tips

How to make your baby’s sleep restful and safe

An empty bed and a hard mattress are actually the best thing for your baby.

(Bild: Ruslan Galiullin)

After the birth of a child, nothing is ever the same again - especially when it comes to nights. This is because it takes time for babies to develop a rhythm between sleeping and waking phases, and this does not always match our needs. Krone+ has valuable tips from an expert!

Sleep is a basic biological need and is particularly important for children. During sleep, processes take place in the body that support growth, cognitive function and emotional regulation. Even in the womb, from around the 36th week of pregnancy, the foetus goes through different phases of sleeping, dreaming and waking, which are maintained after birth. Over time and in the course of the first year of life, the majority of total sleep is shifted to the night and the intervals between naps increase.

The topic of sleep is omnipresent for many parents: even if the baby sleeps "according to plan", it is very likely to wake up several times during the night. This naturally also affects the quality of sleep for parents, who react differently to night-time waking and lack of sleep. Many mothers and fathers complain of physical complaints or an increased susceptibility to arguments. However, it becomes particularly stressful when the child does not sleep enough, has difficulty falling asleep or wakes up particularly often at night. But what is actually "normal" and when should professional support be sought?