40 Were you a baby that slept a lot? Did you sleep in your own cot? Too much excitement and stimulation just before bedtime can energise babies and keep them awake. 1 in 1000 babies die in Italy due to SIDS. SLEEPING Sleep plays an important role in keeping our body and mind healthy and it is fundamental for a baby s brain development and emotional well-being. How much sleep? Babies sleep patterns vary: some sleep more than others; some sleep for long periods, others in short bursts; some sleep through the night, some do not for a long time. Each baby has its own rhythm of waking and sleeping. Here is an average amount of sleep babies need during a 24-hour period, including daytime naps. Newborns (0-3 months) usually sleep more than they are awake, around 18 hours a day, but they rarely sleep more than two hours at a time. 3-6-month-old babies start sleeping for shorter periods during the day and longer at night since they ll have fewer night feeds. They will need about 15 hours of sleep. 6-12-month-old babies need about 12-15 hours of sleep a day; night feeds may no longer be necessary, but teething discomfort or hunger may wake them at night. burst: scatto cot: culla, lettino cuddle: coccola feed: poppata to jiggle: oscillare leggermente lullaby: ninna-nanna nap: sonnellino nappy: pannolino to overheat: suriscaldarsi to soothe: calmare to startle: sussultare to wind down: rilassarsi 90 BABIES AND CHILDREN 1-2 year-old babies need about 12 hours of sleep and most of them will still need a nap during the day. Night and day Some babies find it hard to understand the difference between night and day, so it is a good idea to differentiate between them from the early days. During the day it is important to let light in, play games, and not worry about everyday noises; at night, however, lights are to be kept low, voices down, games should be avoided, and establishing a bedtime routine is a good idea. Bedtime routine Winding down activities before going to bed for the night might help adapt to a healthy sleeping pattern. A useful routine could include: having a bath; changing into night clothes and a fresh nappy; reading a bedtime story; giving some cuddles; singing a lullaby. Sleeping safe Some rules may help babies sleep soundly and safely, altogether reducing the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) : have a baby sleep on their back, keeping their head uncovered and avoiding overheating; place the baby in the feet to foot position, with their feet touching the end of the cot; do not share a bed with the baby; do not let anyone smoke near the baby; place babies on a firm, flat surface to sleep, taking them out of car seats as soon as possible.