Congratulations! Your family has welcomed a precious baby, which means that newborn sleep is not only new for you, but also for your baby! For newborns, adapting to the bright lights and loud sounds of the outside world and the bumpy silence of a new sleeping space can be a real struggle. Newborn sleep Xi and preferences are often a mystery to new parents who have no memory of their bits and pieces, so I hope these newborn sleep tips help.
Sleep Habits of Newborn Babies
Babies who have just come out of the womb sleep differently than adults and even older babies. Here are some newborn sleep basics:
They don’t know day and night. The natural circadian rhythm of the newborn has not yet been formed. (To help, let your child receive natural light in the morning and dim the lights and close the curtains about an hour before bedtime.)
Newborns have small bellies. Newborns need to eat a lot, including at night. Newborns who are breastfed wake up about every two to three hours, while formula-fed babies wake up about every three to four hours.
Newborns sleep intermittently. Babies under 2 months of age sleep intermittently for 14 to 18 hours a day and wake up to feed throughout the day.
Newborns sleep noisily. Newborns experience rapid eye movement sleep (aka “active sleep”) and non-REM sleep “quiet sleep” every 45 to 50 minutes. This means that your baby will fall into light sleep about every hour, making them more likely to wake up briefly and make short moans or meows. (Learn more about noisy sleep.)
Newborns have a short window of awakening. The daytime wake-up/sleep cycle for newborns is 45 to 60 minutes of awake time, followed by 1 to 2 hour naps. For children between 1 and 2 months old, the wake-up window opens a little, about between one and two hours.
Newborn longs for 5S. Swaddle and boo (white noise) are just two of the “5S” that soothe the baby, and they turn on the baby’s calm reflexes… Also known as the “off switch” to prevent irritability, and the “turn on switch” to promote sleep. (Learn all about the science of 5S.) The swaddling gentle embrace mimics the safety of the uterus, reduces startles, and increases sleep. At the same time, white noise, reminiscent of sounds in the womb, helps 80% of babies fall asleep in as little as five minutes.
Habits of Poor Sleep in Your Baby
Many new parents inadvertently teach their babies sleep Xi habits that make them dependent on adults instead of Xi developing their baby’s self-confidence and self-calming abilities. Here are some of the most common Xi of infant sleep habits that can disrupt your baby’s sleep Xi:
Shared beds: Co-sleeping is a big no-no for a number of reasons. On top of that, it increases the risk of sleep death in infants. Shared beds also make it easy for babies to ask their parents to soothe them to sleep every time they wake up. In addition, studies have shown that the longer babies sleep together, the worse their sleep Xi, including shorter sleep periods and frequent awakenings.
Put it in bed while sleeping: Placing a sleeping baby in a cradle can easily trigger their Moro reflex (also known as the startle reflex) and wake them up. This Xi also made them not know that the cradle was for sleeping.
Contact naps: When babies nap in your arms on a regular basis, they begin to learn that sleep time should happen in your arms… (The only safe place for babies to nap is on their own flat, firm sleeping surface, with no soft items such as cribs or bassinets.)
Quiet room: While a quiet room isn’t exactly a “bad Xi,” it’s certainly not a sleep-promoting Xi! For babies, a quiet, still room feels like a sensory desert – they hate it! Remember, the womb is noisy 24 hours a day, and your baby’s sleeping space should mimic white noise. (Learn more about the power of white noise.)
Your Baby’s Healthy Sleep Habits
During the first few months of a newborn, the best infant sleep Xi is to mimic the feeling of calm in the womb. This means embracing all 5S, including swaddling, boosing, rocking, sucking, and holding your baby in a side/prone position. Therefore, good sleep Xi for newborns include:
Place your baby on your back. Always lie your baby on a flat, firm sleeping surface, with no loose bedding in the crib or bassinet.
Make sure your baby isn’t hungry while sleeping. To help your baby stay full and doze off at night, feed every 1.5 to 2 hours during the day for the first few months. Dream feeding is provided between 10 p.m. and midnight to help and reduce nighttime awakenings.
When your baby is sleepy, put him to bed. Don’t wait until your baby is fully asleep to put them to bed. If your child dozes off despite your best efforts, try wake-up and sleep methods.
Establish a regular sleep schedule. Learn more about creating sleep-inducing bedtime Xi.
Don’t let your baby nap for too long. From around 2 months of age, consider waking your baby up to feed if they nap for more than 1.5 to 2 hours. Longer naps can have a negative impact on your baby’s nighttime routine.
Provide a pacifier before bedtime. Sucking can lower a baby’s heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels while helping to turn on their calming reflex. In addition, scientists have found that sucking on a pacifier while sleeping can reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS. (If your baby is breastfeeding, wait until breastfeeding is confirmed before providing a pacifier.)
How to Break Bad Sleep Habits
Being your baby’s sleep aider can be a warm and adorable experience, and I’m all for that…… As long as you are comfortable with it and you always put your baby to sleep on his back in a safe place. But if you’re feeling exhausted, there’s never been a better time to help your baby Xi learn some new healthy sleep Xi habits. Here are some clues that it’s time to make a change:
You’re exhausted. Do you find yourself grumpy with your family? Are you in a daze at work? Do you notice dangerous driving because you’re too tired? Are you frustrated? Do you switch to bad Xi to cope, such as drinking too much or smoking? (More on the cost of exhaustion.)
You’re frustrated. Do you feel helpless about your baby’s sleep resistance, night awakenings, bed-sharing dependence, frequent breastfeeding at night, etc., and do you often argue with your partner or someone who helps you take care of your child?
Your child is unhappy. Are your babies particularly cranky?Do they seem to be crying about everything?Do your babies seem overtired, do they become very irritable while sleeping, or do they wake up crying a lot during the night?
If you see these signs, it’s time to break the problematic sleep Xi and move to a sleep Xi that promotes sleep and fosters your baby’s calmness, confidence, and abilities. Don’t get me wrong…… You should give your little lover plenty of hugs, shakes, and slaps. But to avoid sleep problems later on, it’s time to help your baby develop healthy sleep Xi and Xi habits that teach them to soothe themselves now and in the future.
How to Improve Your Baby’s Sleep Habits Through Wakefulness and Sleep
One of the best ways to help your baby sleep better is to use wake-up and sleep techniques every time you put your baby to sleep.
Before laying your baby down for a nap or overnight, wrap them in comfortable swaddling clothes, put down a low, rumbling white noise to help them fall asleep (as loud as a shower), feed, and let your baby slowly fall asleep in your arms. However, as soon as you slide your baby into the bassinet, wake them up until they can barely keep their eyes open. (Scratch your baby’s toes or gently scratch his neck to gently wake them up.) After a few seconds, your adorable baby will fall back to sleep.
If your baby does cry, don’t worry! they may feel uncomfortable or hungry, so keep picking up your baby to feed and settle them…… But be sure to wake them up a little again as soon as you put them back.
Yes, this trick may sound weird, but trust me: those few seconds of lethargic waking are helping your child learn Xi how to sleep through the night!