baby

Newborn babies have many needs, not the least of which is sleep. The lack of consistency in sleeping patterns can be frustrating for new parents. As babies grow and develop in relation to size and abilities, so will their sleeping needs and patterns. Parents can do several things to encourage consistent sleep patterns that will promote nights of deep sleep, for all members of the family.

Parents of newborns often struggle to find uninterrupted sleep that lasts for more than 2 hours. Because newborns need to eat often, long periods of sleep during the first weeks are not usually possible, and actually not recommended by most pediatricians. Newborns require regular intake of their mother’s milk or formula, so sleeping for more than 4 hours at a time is not typically feasible.

Once the nutritional needs have been addressed, parents also need to remember that newborns typically do not recognize differences between day and night, and sleep and wake patterns can seem very erratic. It might take several weeks for newborns to adjust their deep sleep time to the nighttime hours. Even when this is occurring, many newborns will still wake 2 to 4 times per night to eat.

Parents can help their newborns adjust their sleeping habits by providing bedtime routines. Some parts of these routines can include bathing, where even a warm washcloth used when changing baby before bed time is effective, reading to baby, or rocking and snuggling. There should be a place used only for sleep, a crib or cradle free of any toys and loose materials. Parents can use a portable crib during the day in a brighter room, perhaps even the main room of the house where there is noise present, during nap times. Creating spaces specifically for deep night sleeping can help develop healthy bed time routines.

Newborns will also wake during the night when they are uncomfortable, either because of a wet diaper or perhaps gas in the stomach. During these waking times at night, parents should try to interact quietly with their babies, while keeping it as dark as possible. Using night lights or dimmer switches can help to give enough light by which to change a diaper without rousing the newborn too much. It is a good idea when newborns wake at night to change diapers, then either breast or bottle feed, and remember to burp the baby, even when she appears to be falling back to sleep.

Helping newborns establish good, quiet sleeping habits does not mean parents can’t cuddle their babies at night. Some parents fear that doing so will cause their newborns to only sleep while being held. During these first weeks, however, babies need physical contact as much as they need food, and sometimes more. Some newborns will wake at night for that physical comfort. Babies develop for 9 months amid the sounds and experiences of their mother’s wombs and are often soothed by sharing closeness. Swaddling the newborns also mimics the close, cradled manner in which they grew and makes them feel secure.

Stories of newborns who sleep soundly at night should not discourage parents if their own infant does not. These are not typical situations, and often these sleeping scenarios do not continue. Newborns grow and change, as will their sleeping routines. Nutritional and emotional needs, and issues such as teething and first colds, will affect the sleeping routines of babies. Establishing quiet nighttime routines that begin with consistent bed time routines can be an effective way to help newborns create sleeping habits that will provide long periods of peaceful rest at night.

Baby Sleeping Blanket Wanting to discover ways to get your infant to sleep through the night? Then visit www.BabySleepAtNight.com for more info and download lots of FREE parenting resources. Baby Sleep Wedges

baby