A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Your Baby’s Sleep – Sleeping Like a Baby

Sleep can be one of the most baffling issues of new parenthood. As many of us learn through gritty nights and zombie-like days, babies simply don’t snooze like the rest of us. Here’s why.

1. Newborn babies sleep up to 18 hours per day.

Parents of newborn babies all complain about lack of sleep. But this is really about the parents’ experience – not the baby’s! Newborns need a massive amount of sleep – fifteen to eighteen hours each day. The problem for us is that they break up this sleep into chunks spread out over all 24 hours of the day and night. The good news is that over the early months, their biological clock kicks in and they start to consolidate more sleep during the night.

2. Newborns can only stay awake for 45 minutes to an hour.

Brand new babies can only stay happily awake for very short periods of time – an hour or less. This gradually increases, and by six months, most babies can stay awake for two to three hours, but that still is a very short span of awake periods. If your baby stays awake beyond this “happily awake time,” he can quickly melt down into an overtired and fussy state. He’ll find it hard to sleep, yet won’t be able to stay happily awake either. This becomes a pattern that can disrupt sleep, growth, and temperament. If you want your baby to cry less and sleep better, keep one eye on the clock and one eye on your baby. It’s easy to miss newborns’ tired signals and keep them awake too long. So, watch your little one carefully and help him to sleep whenever he seems tired. More sleep equals a happier baby.

3. Newborns are noisy, active sleepers.

Newborns are not quiet, still sleepers. They grunt, groan, coo, moan, twitch, and shift during sleep. Some newborns even cry or purse while they are sound asleep! These noises and motions don’t always signal awakening, and they don’t always require any action on your part. When you are awakened from sleep by your baby’s sounds or motions, take a minute to observe and listen. You might notice that all the noise and action are occurring during sleep. If your baby is sleeping, don’t pick him up and wake him up – let him sleep! Constant motion can also result in a baby fall. To not let this happen, always use an anti-roll pillow for a newborn so that the little soul can sleep with ease. Comfy clothes and cozy booties help too; babies tend to sleep a little longer when they are comfortably warm.

4. Newborns don’t like sleeping in a totally quiet room.

The environment that your baby enjoyed in the womb was accompanied by a continual symphony of sound, so many newborns find a totally quiet room disconcerting. However, sharp noises like clinking dishes, dogs barking, and television sounds can wake your sleeping newborn. These piercing sounds can jar your baby awake. Using a constant lull of a deep, humming sound, called “white noise,” can mask these noises of the household. The best sounds are actually in the “pink noise” spectrum. Pink noise is a variant of white noise that sounds full, deep, rich, and monotonous. Perfect examples of pink noise are the sounds of a heartbeat, a humidifier, ocean waves, or the pitter-patter of rainfall. This special bedtime noise should be at a volume that masks sharp sounds but not so loud as to harm your baby’s delicate hearing.

5. Newborns don’t have their days and nights mixed up; they think you do.

It’s common for people to make this observation, but newborns don’t recognize day versus night because in the womb, there was little difference. This day/night compartmentalization is a brand new concept for them, and they probably think you are the one who’s mixed up! It will be a while before your baby’s biological clock matches up to the traditional day and night schedule. In the meantime, you can help establish a sleep routine by exposing your baby to natural light during the day, keeping the environment bright and active, and creating a calm and dim atmosphere at night to signal bedtime.

In conclusion, understanding the unique sleep patterns and needs of newborns can help parents navigate the challenges of sleep deprivation and establish healthy sleep habits. By being attentive to your baby’s tired signals, creating a soothing sleep environment, and following their natural sleep patterns, you can support better sleep for both you and your baby.

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