Newborn Sleep Tips
Babies are awesome. They’re adorable and sweet and cuddly and…exhausting. Newborns can feel unpredictable - and until they are about 4 months old, it is usually too early to focus on following a rigid schedule. You can, however, start to implement a routine that will help you fall into a rhythm that is comfortable for everyone. It is so important to spend the first few months bonding with your baby and getting to know each other. If you then decide to sleep train - great! If not, great!
Whatever you decide to do, there are somethings that can help promote independent sleep and ensure that your child is safe while they are sleeping. Until children are about a year old, there should be nothing in the crib with them. No lovies, no stuffed animals, no blankets, no pillows, no bumpers - nothing. You should have a fitted sheet over the mattress. That’s it. For real.
Babies should sleep on their backs. They should sleep on a firm surface. And room sharing (not bed sharing!) is recommended.
Make sure that the room environment is set up for successful sleep. This means that it should be dark, cool, with white noises and safe.
Begin to learn about your baby’s sleepy cues and wake windows. Sleep cues are signs that you child is tired and ready for a nap. Don’t wait until they are overtired- being overtired can me it even harder for them to fall and stay sleep. Wake windows are the amount of time that a child can stay awake from the end of one sleep until the start of their next sleep (this can be from nap to over night sleep, wake-up to nap, or nap to nap). There are ranges based on age, but you know your child best. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works for you.
Do your best to understand baby sleep cycles. More information is available in my free guide. Keep this in mind - some babies will make noises or fuss a bit as they transition through their sleep cycles. Often, as parents, we are quick to respond to their every sound. Sometimes, they just need a few minutes to settle themselves, and sometimes - they aren’t even awake! I’m not talking about full on sleep training here - I’m suggesting that you wait just a few seconds before going in to check on them or help them get back to sleep. You may be surprised!
If you choose, consider using a pacifier and/or a swaddle. Also, Dr. Harvey Karp’s Five S’s can be really helpful in calming a fussy baby. The Five S’s are:
Swaddle - if you are going to swaddle, introduce it in the first four months
Shush - use a shhhhhhhing sound
Swing - rock baby back and forth
Side position - hold the baby on their side, like a football
Suck - use a pacifier or feed
There is more information about newborn sleep in my free guide - you can download it here. As always, if you have any questions, email me at nikki@nikkinelsonsleepconsulting.com.
Visit https://www.nikkinelsonsleepconsulting.com/pricing/p/newborn-sleep-guide now for your free guide!