Infants who do not sleep well can be a cause of concern for their parents. Sleep is not one consistent state of unconsciousness. Rather, it is a cycle of deep sleep, light sleep and dream stages with regular brief periods of waking in between.

Anxiety may arise when parents do not understand normal infant sleeping behaviours. They view the sleepless, crying infant as a sign of their incompetence as a parent. This is particularly so for the first-time parent. On the other hand, parents may see the behaviour as an attempt to gain their attention.

Infants wake on other occasions during their sleep when they are sick, teething, frightened or when their home life is disrupted, for example, a change in the environment or caregivers. Parents may require guidance as well as emotional support when their child is going through this period.

Sleeping patterns vary among infants and change as the child grows older. In the first 2 weeks of life, most newborns sleep the same number of hours during the day as they do during the night. By 3 months of age, the child will sleep longer at night.

At 4 - 5 months of age, he usually has 2 - 4 hour naps after feeding. At 6 months of age, these sleep periods shorten to a morning and an afternoon nap after meals. The child also sleeps through the night. It is common for night wakening to occur at about 7 months of age, when the infant begins to experience separation anxiety from his parents.

By the time the child is 1 year old, he would discontinue the morning nap, and sleep longer in the afternoon and through the night.

Here, positioning refers to the way the infant is placed during sleep. Infants may be placed on their tummies, sides or back, in flexed (bent) or extended posture.

Certain medical conditions may require you to place your baby in a particular manner. For instance, a baby with respiratory problems may need to sleep in a propped-up position. If you are in doubt, consult your doctor or the nurse to learn what positions are most suitable for your baby.

Methods of positioning for sleep can be altered to respond more appropriately to individual babies as they do not stay in quiet sleep periods for long (often less than 5 - 10 minutes).

Your baby can be placed on his side, with a rolled blanket or nappy against his back. These rolls give the baby good support during sleep and provide containment and boundaries, thus promoting feelings of security and will enable him to sleep better. This position is particularly beneficial after feeding as it allows for drainage of regurgitated milk, thus preventing accidental inhalation of the milk into the baby's lungs, which may be dangerous.

A blanket can be tucked diagonally across your baby to keep his shoulders forward. This allows the baby to bring his hands together in preparation for exploring and play. Ensure that the baby sleeps on alternate sides. Regular repositioning helps to make the baby more comfortable and prevent skin irritation. Placing rolls between the baby's feet also provides him with something to brace against.

The parent and baby should feel comfortable in whatever position that is chosen. You may need guidance regarding sleep behaviours and developmental variations of infants. You are also encouraged to investigate your baby's individual waking, sleeping and crying patterns, as well as to explore his temperament and the environment that influences him.