What To Do About Newborn Sleep Patterns

Newborn sleep patterns are not always as diverse as each individual baby. While every child is a unique individual, as any parent of more than one child knows well, all newborns are consistent in one thing - they cannot tell night from day. All they know is that they are hungry, wet, dirty, too hot or too cold and they want attention.

Their little egos, however sweet they seem, just don't care if you are recovering from a Caesarean section, exhausted or just in the middle of dinner. The opposite is also true, if granny has just arrived for the first time, or you want to go to the store, or to fetch their sister from school, if it is sleep time... that is what they will do.

How To Handle Newborn Sleep

There are two ways to handle your newborn's sleep needs:

• go with the flow i.e. feed them when they are hungry and sleep when they do, or...
• try and impose a routine that your baby gradually adjusts to

Our second son spoilt us for what was to follow. He would wake once in the night, feed for about 15 minutes and then sleep until morning. This was from the very beginning. His sister was a very different kettle of fish. Even when she got a little older and had established a routine it seemed to include long periods in the middle of the night when she didn't want feeding or changing, but just some company.

The first time she slept through we were so exhausted that we slept through a storm that had trees crashing through windows. The other children were born into a quiet country village, the second lived on a main city street. I have since learnt about black out curtains - not a blind. That tends to let in light round the edges. But curtains that cut the light out entirely and ensured a much longer night time sleep for everyone are best to use.

What Does Newborn Sleep Patterns Look Like?

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Generally a new baby will sleep for about 8 hours in the day time and the same at night. It is unusual for a baby younger than 3 months to sleep through the night without a feed. Their stomachs are tiny and so they need to feed little and often. They will usually wake hungry every 4 or 5 hours. It is best not to let them sleep longer than this for the first 5 or 6 weeks.

Premature babies may need to be woken in order to feed. When a baby first wakes he is usually quite quiet. It is best if you feed him before he starts crying with hunger.

Sleep Signs

You will quickly get to know when your baby is almost ready for sleep - a little yawn, stillness, rubbing of eyes perhaps. Put the baby in his cot at that point. Firstly he is less likely to wake because of the movement and secondly he does not begin to associate sleep with being held or the presence of adults - a pattern to be resisted if you don't want to spend the next few years sitting for half of each evening at the bed side of a child who refuses to sleep.

What To Do Now

Try to establish a sleep routine early. Much has been written about the benefits of establishing a newborn sleep patterns early. But keep in mind, this isn't about establishing who is the boss, but about doing what is best for you and your baby. Things such as a regular routine such as a bath at a certain time will eventually help baby to recognise that the day is coming to an end. At some point he will realise that days are for waking and nights for sleeping. Meanwhile close those blackout curtains.

newborn sleep patterns