Four important facts about newborn sleep patterns
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Sleepy baby
Newborn babies sleep a lot. I mean, a lot! It's important to understand that newborns can't comfortably stay awake for very long. For most newborns their awake time will include enough time to feed and maybe to change their nappy. Then they're tired again and ready to go back to sleep. But, they often don't sleep for long, so while they're sleeping eighteen hours a day, you may feel like you're lucky to get four.
Newborn sleep patterns do change regularly though, and there are some things you can do to help your newborn learn to sleep for longer periods at night, - see below for some ideas. Just remember though, every baby is different and develops differently. There are no hard and fast rules, and that includes for what you 'should' be doing too. Figure out what works for you and your baby, and be wary of any advice that says you must do something a particular way.
Image: A one week old sleeping baby. Photo credit: Kirsten McCulloch
Newborn sleep patterns do change regularly though, and there are some things you can do to help your newborn learn to sleep for longer periods at night, - see below for some ideas. Just remember though, every baby is different and develops differently. There are no hard and fast rules, and that includes for what you 'should' be doing too. Figure out what works for you and your baby, and be wary of any advice that says you must do something a particular way.
Image: A one week old sleeping baby. Photo credit: Kirsten McCulloch
1. Newborns sleep - and wake - around the clock
Newborns don't usually have their days and nights worked out yet. It takes a few weeks for them to start to differentiate, so don't expect to get a good night's sleep any time soon. Most newborns will sleep for 2-4 hours and then wake up for 30-45 minutes around the clock..
There are some things you can do to help your baby learn to sleep for longer periods at night however. Try some (or all) or the following:
There are some things you can do to help your baby learn to sleep for longer periods at night however. Try some (or all) or the following:
- Start a night time bedtime routine as early as you can, do differentiate this bedtime from all the other bedtimes throughout the day and night. To begin with this will need to be very simple and short, eg close the curtains and turn down the lights, and choose a particular song that you sing to your baby while changing her nappy or feeding her before bedtime every night.
- Keep the lights dim during the night, then turn them up brightly (or open up all the curtains) at the time you designate "getting up time" each day, eg 7am (BTW to think you'll really not be getting up until 7am with a baby is a bit optimistic, but hope for the best, right?). Ideally use only red light during the night, as this doesn't affect your baby's circadian rhythms the way yellow and white light does.
- Keep the stimulation to an absolute minimum during the night. Don't talk to your baby or even sing to her, just feed her quietly in the semi dark, change her nappy only if necessary, and then do whatever it takes to get her back to sleep
- Don't let your baby sleep for longer than 3-4 hours during the day. But be kind to yourself. If you have recently given birth and had almost no sleep last night, maybe today you can let him sleep until he wakes, if it means you're sleeping too.
- If your baby doesn't like to be wrapped (and most really do, even if they fuss a bit while you are wrapping them) try using a snug baby sleeping bag instead.
2. Newborns do not sleep through the night
Actually, most older babies don't sleep through the night consistently either. Some do, or do for a time, but most still need to feed at least once in the night into the second half of their first year.
Also keep in mind that in medical terms "sleep through the night" means sleep for five hours straight between midnight and 6am. So if you read that your baby should be sleeping through the night by a particular age, be aware that that doesn't mean sleeping from 7pm to 7am - some babies will do that, but they are in the minority. Also, beware of any advice that says your baby "should" do sleep a certain way by a certain age in any case.
Also keep in mind that in medical terms "sleep through the night" means sleep for five hours straight between midnight and 6am. So if you read that your baby should be sleeping through the night by a particular age, be aware that that doesn't mean sleeping from 7pm to 7am - some babies will do that, but they are in the minority. Also, beware of any advice that says your baby "should" do sleep a certain way by a certain age in any case.
No Cry Sleep Solution Books
3. Newborn sleep patterns change - regularly
Parents of newborns often find that by the time they recognise a routine with their baby - the routine has changed. Newborn babies are growing and developing so quickly, things change all the time.
Also, babies of all ages can have their sleep routines disrupted quite easily. You might find your baby starts sleeping through the night at some stage, only to stop again the first time she gets a cold or when he starts getting teeth. Or maybe it's a few late nights around the holidays that put the routine off. Whatever it is, don't be surprised if it takes weeks or even months for things to go 'back to normal'. With the speed of your baby's development, by the time he is over that hurdle, he may well be into his next developmental spurt, and things change again. William and Martha Sears' The Baby Book is great for an understanding of baby development over time, as well as well, "everything else you need to know from birth to age two".
Also, babies of all ages can have their sleep routines disrupted quite easily. You might find your baby starts sleeping through the night at some stage, only to stop again the first time she gets a cold or when he starts getting teeth. Or maybe it's a few late nights around the holidays that put the routine off. Whatever it is, don't be surprised if it takes weeks or even months for things to go 'back to normal'. With the speed of your baby's development, by the time he is over that hurdle, he may well be into his next developmental spurt, and things change again. William and Martha Sears' The Baby Book is great for an understanding of baby development over time, as well as well, "everything else you need to know from birth to age two".
4. Leaving newborns to "cry it out" will not help
Even the proponents of controlled crying or other "cry it out" systems agree that they are not appropriate for newborn babies.
The only way your baby can communicate with you at the moment is with her cries, and if you ignore them she will quickly learn that she can't communicate at all. While this may mean less crying (over time) it also means your baby is not developing the essential skills of relationship development that she needs. This is one of the problems faced by those running orphanages where there is not enough staff to respond appropriately to all the babies, who can then develop RAD: reactive attachment disorder.
For ideas on how to help your baby learn to sleep through the night (and in depth information about newborn and older baby sleep patterns) I recommend Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution.
The only way your baby can communicate with you at the moment is with her cries, and if you ignore them she will quickly learn that she can't communicate at all. While this may mean less crying (over time) it also means your baby is not developing the essential skills of relationship development that she needs. This is one of the problems faced by those running orphanages where there is not enough staff to respond appropriately to all the babies, who can then develop RAD: reactive attachment disorder.
For ideas on how to help your baby learn to sleep through the night (and in depth information about newborn and older baby sleep patterns) I recommend Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solution.
What are your favourite baby sleep books?
Add your favourites or vote for those below.
If you loved The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night, you might also enjoy:
1
The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition) by William Sears, Martha Sears, Robert Sears, James Sears
Brought thoroughly up-to-date-with the latest information more...1 point
In this perennially bestselling and encyclopedic guide, Dr. Bill and Martha Sears draw from their vast experience both as medical professionals and as parents to provide authoritative, comprehensive information on virtually every aspec...
1 point2
The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems (Pantley) by Elizabeth Pantley
Does your child:
- nap only in your arms, a sling, a more...1 point
Does your child:
- nap only in your arms, a sling, a swing, or the car?
- require elaborate rituals before sleeping?
- get fussy, act cranky, or have tantrums due to lack of sleep?
- take very short naps--or none at all?
Naps are important to a child's mood, well-being, and development. The No-Cry Nap Solution offers you a proven formula to allow your baby, toddler, or preschooler to get daily restorative rest. You'll learn gentle, loving, tear-free techniques, developed by world-renowned parenting expert...
1 point
3
The Baby Sleep Book: The Complete Guide to a Good Night's Rest for the Whole Family (Sears Parenting Library) by William Sears, Martha Sears, Robert Sears, James Sears
DESCRIPTION: America's favorite pediatric experts more...0 points
4
Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep by William Sears
Why do some families have fewer sleep problems than more...0 points
5
The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp
In perhaps the most important parenting book of the more...0 points
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