All You Need To Know About Newborn Baby Sleep
Wondering, how much should a newborn sleep? You’re not the only one. For any first-time parent, conquering those challenging newborn sleep patterns will take time. Whether you’re concerned about your newborn baby sleeping too much, or frequently waking through the night, take a look at our baby sleep advice guide to find the answers.
How many hours do newborns sleep?
Sleeping is crucial to newborn babies’ growth and development, both physically and mentally. It comes as no surprise then that, on average, a newborn can sleep for 8-18 hours a day. However, it’s important to remember that every newborn is different and this includes their sleeping patterns.
How often do newborns sleep?
Newborns will sleep and wake sporadically throughout the day and night, waking for feeding primarily. But being too hot or cold, uncomfortable or in need of changing can also wake a baby from their sleep.
As their sleep cycles are much shorter, babies will often only sleep for a couple of hours at a time. Although most newborn babies are asleep more often than they are awake, disturbed nights can be hard to cope with as first-time parents – try to tackle this early on by sharing night time bottle feeds between you and your partner.
A newborn baby’s sleep routine does depend on your baby’s needs. Though, you can try to adjust it to your preferred schedule. For example, feeding your newborn before you go to sleep can sometimes allow you a longer sleep as they may not wake for feeding as quickly. However, it’s important to be prepared for routines to suddenly change as your baby grows and develops into different stages.
How much should a newborn sleep? And when should I sleep?
Understanding your newborn’s sleep needs, and why they wake so often, can be extremely beneficial to your own sleeping patterns too. Initially, sleep whenever your baby does – this will be one of the best ways to catch up on some much needed sleep when they are sleeping frequently in the day. It’s very normal for your newborn baby’s sleeping routine to change from day to day, meaning adaptability and patience with your newborn’s developing body and mind is crucial for dealing with sleep deprivation.
3 ways to get a newborn to sleep at night
Starting a positive newborn baby sleep routine is important, and it can help them get to know when it’s time to go to sleep. Differentiating between day-time and night-time early on could help quickly establish a night time sleeping routine for your little one. Here are just a few ideas to help get your newborn baby sleep routine more closely aligned to your own!
- Light: Like us, babies are influenced by external factors, such as daylight and warmth, when trying to sleep. Opening curtains, making the room light and playing games in the day is a great way to establish there is a difference between day and night, and your baby will soon learn this.
- Silence: Keeping the house as quiet as you can at night, combined with the dark, will naturally encourage your newborn to associate this with sleeping.
- Calm time: Initially, your baby will wake up, requiring feeding, changing or attention on a frequent basis. Try and put your baby down as soon as they’ve been fed or changed and avoid playing with your baby in the night – they will gradually learn that night-time is solely for sleeping. For feeds and changes, try to keep the lights dimmed to keep this time as relaxing as possible.
Newborn babies and sleep: Safe Sleeping
Keeping your newborn safe while they are sleeping is of the utmost importance. Position your baby on their back to sleep, with no loose bedding or pillows in the crib. Use a firm, flat, cot mattress to help them maintain a safe sleeping position and keep an eye on their temperature to ensure that they are neither too hot nor too cold. Consider using a wool-filled baby sleeping bag to help your little one maintain a healthy sleeping temperature.
Hopefully, you’re more clued up on the big questions when it comes to your newborn’s sleep. If you’re looking for more newborn baby sleep advice and tips, read more about helping your little one maintain a healthy sleeping temperature.
