ONE THING that is certain when you have a newborn is that sleep won’t come easy for the next couple of years.
Well, the experts at Babysense have revealed to The Sun just how you can get that much-needed sleep that is crucial for your and your baby’s health.
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MIMIC BABY’S SLEEP ROUTINE
The average parent with a newborn only gets 5-6 hours of sleep per day, while the average newborn (0-3 months) spends 14-17 hours each day sleeping.
However, this time is broken into sleep sprints since newborns wake to feed every 2-3 hours.
Once babies pass three months old, their sleep cycle drops to 12-15 hours per day.
Their sleep sprints stretch to 5 hours and some babies even begin sleeping through the night.
The best time to sleep is when your baby is sleeping, even if that means sneaking in short naps during the day.
MAKE SLEEP A PRIORITY
Your baby may be your new top priority, but make sleep your second.
Sending an email, doing household chores, and texting your friend can wait.
A temporarily messy home is worth a little extra shut-eye, so be easy on yourself as you rearrange your priorities in the first weeks of bringing a newborn home!
KEEP CONSISTENT FEEDING SCHEDULES
Newborns can’t do much besides eating and sleeping, so it’s no wonder their sleep schedule is entirely dictated by their feeding routine.
Average newborns feed every 2-3 hours.
If yours tends to sleep a bit longer, try waking them to eat and ensure they’re fed.
A full belly means they will fall back asleep and stay asleep instead of waking up hungry.
This will allow more time to rest, practice self-care, or get a few chores done.
NIGHTTIME RITUAL
By following a nightly ritual, you can set the stage for sleep for both you and your newborn.
Some activities to associate with sleep and the nighttime are taking a bath, singing a lullaby, dimming lights, changing their diaper, and getting them into fresh pajamas, as well as creating an all-around quieter atmosphere.
SHARE A ROOM, NOT THE BED
Many parents are tempted to sleep with their newborns, but this is not a safe practice!
Bed-sharing can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), so it’s vital to keep a separate bed for the parents and for the baby.
Instead, try “room-sharing” and bring the crib into your bedroom rather than in a separate nursery.
Keeping the baby nearby helps with the demand for constant feeding and soothing that comes in your first few weeks.
ASK FOR HELP
Firstly, if you have a partner, encourage them to take a hands-on approach.
Take turns caring for the baby at night and during the day.
If the baby is still breastfeeding, keep bottles of pumped milk at hand so your partner can also experience feeding while you have your well-deserved rest.
Secondly, the proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” is true. Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for help.
A BABY MONITOR
If you don’t have the luxury of help 24/7, a baby monitor can be your extra eyes and ears.
Any moment your baby is not being watched is not only dangerous but unsettling for parents.
Creating peace of mind is the first step to resting alongside a newborn baby.
Design a safer, stress-free space with baby monitors.
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