Bedtime Success for Your Baby

Sleep -- both your baby's and your own -- is likely one of your major concerns as a new parent. Sleep disturbances, particularly nighttime awakenings, can strain and exhaust parents.

Your newborn may sleep up to 16 hours a day, broken up into short periods. However, soon she'll start to sleep for fewer, shorter periods. And in the early weeks, discomfort from colic, acid reflux, or other conditions may cause trouble sleeping (talk to your doctor if you have concerns about these medical conditions). Illness, unnecessary feedings, and anxiety can also disrupt sleep.

In your baby's early months, sleep tends to be lighter and more broken than later on, and your baby may have difficulty sustaining sleep. But don't fret -- eventually you'll find techniques that help, such as rocking or nursing baby, or giving her a pacifier.