BOSTON —

A Boston hospital is working to help premature infants sleep more like babies. Doctors say it's not as easy as it sounds.

Nearly half of all infants weighing less than 5.5 pounds experience apnea and suddenly stop breathing. Advertisement

The episodes can be terrifying for parents and time-consuming for hospital staff.

"When I saw him in the incubator, the first thing I thought was, 'Oh my God, how is he alive?'" said Martina Brito.

Her son, Joaquim, weighed just 2 1/2 pounds when he was born last July.

"I did not imagine he was going to be that small or that red," Martina said.

She and her husband, Luis, quickly learned that any baby born earlier than 28 weeks is considered extremely preterm.

Their risk is high for serious complications, such as jaundice, brain bleeds, i

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