By the time infants are around the age of six months, they
usually no longer require nighttime feedings because their bodies are mature
and string enough to sustain a few consecutive hours of overnight fasting, and
many infants sleep through the night; in fact, 70-80% of infants will be able
to sleep all night without interruption by nine months of age. Infants
typically sleep 9-12 hours during the night and take 30 minute to two-hour
naps, one to four times a day – fewer as they reach age one.

It happens that you sometimes tuck your baby into bed when
she is drowsy but not really asleep;  babies who get used to being put to bed in
this fashion are more likely to become "self- soothers", meaning they
soothe themselves to sleep in order to be able to fall asleep independently at
bedtime, and, in case they wake up during the night, such as if the pacifier
falls out of their mouth or they toss around in the crib and wake themselves
up, they can put themselves back to sleep during the night. Infant who have grown
accustomed to parental presence or assistance at bedtime (singing a lullaby,
rocking, telling a story) often become "signalers" and cry for their
parents to help them return to sleep during the night should they happen to
wake up.

There is a number of social and developmental factors that
can also influence sleep pattern and affect its development and evolution.
Secure infants who are attached to their caregiver may have less sleep
problems, but some may also be reluctant to give up this engagement for sleep,
especially if the primary caregiver (mainly the mother) is absent for long
hours during the day (working mothers), in which case some babies tend to wake
up at night as attention seeking behavior (to make up for the hours of the
daytime when their mother is not around). This is especially pronounced during
the second 6 months of the year, infants may also experience separation
anxiety. Illness, as well as increased motor development (babies will be
developing new body movements and may inadvertently wake themselves up at night
while moving their bodies) may also disrupt sleep.

Sleep Tips for Infants

• ·        
  Develop regular daytime and
  bedtime schedules: try putting your baby to bed at the same time everyday
• ·        
  Create a consistent and
  enjoyable bedtime routine: a warm bath, a lullaby, a bedtime story
• ·        
  Establish a regular
  "sleep friendly" environment: adequate room temperature, dimming the
  lights, minimizing noise
• ·        
  Encourage baby to fall
  asleep independently and to become a "self-soother."