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Sleep is so valuable to both newborn and parent, yet during those crucial first few weeks and months, it seems that neither gets as much as they want. Well, in today’s blog, we’re going to cover a few ways in which you can get a little more sleep or to maximize the amount of sleep you will be getting during this time. Please share with us your experiences in the comments! Do you have something that works extraordinarily well? Let us know!
Set Up A Nighttime Routine For Your Baby To Help Them Sleep Longer
Getting your baby ready for the “night sleep” or longer sleep cycle can be a little extra work, but believe us it is worth it! If you do things right, then you will ensure that your child sleeps as long as possible so you can too!
- Set up a white noise machine or fan
- Ensure the room is dark and quiet
- Make sure the room is cool but not cold. Around 70 to 72 degrees F should do it
- Try to have a bath just before and start your routine at the same time each night
Set Up A Good Age Appropriate Daily Routine
Depending on the age of your LO, they will need different stimuli, napping, and eating throughout the day. If any of these needs are not being met this can definitely impact their sleep. Tummy time is especially important. Infants aged 4+ months should spend about 50% of their awake periods on the floor exercising, doing tummy time and generally, just exploring their world. Floor time is critical for your infant’s ongoing development.
Crib Time and Self Soothing
Soon your newborn will get to a stage where they are able to begin some crib time and small amounts of self soothing. This can be tricky and sometimes has more to do with a parents tolerance for self soothing than it does for the baby. Having an expert on hand to help navigate this period is definitely helpful.
In general, the goal with any self soothing is to help provide small opportunities for your baby to go back to sleep if they have woken early from a nap, like after 30 minutes which would be a sleep cycle change. The amount of time allowed is highly dependent on the age and personality of the baby. You may elicit to give 1-5 minutes, then go in to assist if needed to help finish out their nap.
Make Sure Baby Is Getting Enough Food Daily
Your baby’s age and weight will determine generally how much milk/food they should be getting daily. It is important to make sure they are getting the proper amount throughout the day because if they don’t get it during the day, they will definitely be asking for it at night. Night feeds are normal for newborns and are to be expected. Try to focus on your baby getting full feeds for the most part, gently waking them if they are having a hard time staying awake long enough to eat. A quick diaper change or burp check is usually quite helpful. Sleep typically starts to regulate quickly once a baby is able to get most of his/her calories during the day.
Avoid Screens 2 Hours Before Bedtime
Frankly this is good advice for all of us, not just babies. The stimulation that occurs when a baby has screen time can directly impact their ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. Try some fun tummy time before bed instead!
Call A Professional To Be Overnight With Your Child
How great would it be to have a professional who is an expert on newborns, care for your baby all night while you sleep for a solid block of hours? Perhaps they can bottle feed your baby or bring baby to you to nurse throughout the night? It would be amazing! We can make that dream a reality for you! Just contact us to set up a free consultation so that we can learn a little about your family and needs. We would love to help your family get the sleep it desperately needs.
Before You Go
We hope you enjoyed learning about tips for getting more sleep with a newborn. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep programs or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one. We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
If you have questions about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help. Please reach out to us here! We always look forward to hearing from you.
The content contained in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace the advice of any medical professional. It is based on our opinions and experience working with newborns and their families. Other’s opinions may vary. It does not represent the views of any affiliated organizations. The reader understands that the term “Babynurse” is often a word used to describe a newborn caregiver. However, unless otherwise disclosed, we are not licensed nurses in any state. By reading and/or utilizing any information or suggestions contained in this blog, the reader acknowledges that we are not medical professionals and agrees to and waives any claim, known or unknown, past, present or future. This blog may contain affiliate links.
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