Newborn Sleep And Newborn Sleep Safety
Because of how much newborns sleep and feed, they wont have a newborn sleep schedule as yet and you are quite a few months away from a newborn sleeping through the night!
They also typically have their day and night upside down because theyve been used to being asleep in Mums tummy during the day when shes been active, and the rocking motion has sent them to sleep, and being more awake at night when Mum is still and trying to sleep herself!
Introducing a bedtime routine and doing daytime naps in the light and fresh air is very helpful for correcting their day and night rhythm.
I also regularly get asked what a newborn should sleep in? I really recommend that as part of the bedtime routine, you put them into a fresh sleepsuit, a baby sleep bag and have them sleep in a darker environment. If this is in their crib or moses basket, make sure baby is lying on their back.
I have an FAQs about safer sleep: Everything you need to know which has some of the key questions and answers you need to know about newborn sleep safety . It covers key things such as where a baby should sleep, a babys sleep position and a babys sleep temperature.
Will A Sleep Positioner Help Keep My Baby On Their Back To Sleep And Therefore Lower The Risk Of Sids
There is no need to use any type of equipment or rolled up blankets to keep your baby in one position unless you have been advised by a health professional for a specific medical condition.
It is much safer for your baby to be in their cot with just the sheets or blankets, and no extras which could be pulled over their face or cause an accident. As babies grow stronger they learn to move and roll and this is fine. For more information, please read our clear cot advice.
How To Help Newborns Get In Sync With The Natural 24
1. Make your baby a part of your daily routine.
When parents include their newborns in their daily activities, newborn may adapt more rapidly to the 24-hour day .
One study took continuous measurements of mother-infant activity patterns for four months after birth. Newborns who were active at the same time of day as their mothers were quicker to develop mature circadian rhythms .
2. Reduce stimulation at night.
When your baby wakes for night time feedings, keep activity to a minimum. Make as little noise as possible, and avoid moving your baby around. Ideally, you want to avoid waking her all the way up. But if that isnt possible, at least try to minimize the hustle and bustle. You want the baby to learn that nighttime is for sleep and quiet.
3. Expose your newborn to natural lighting patterns.
Light cues might not instantly synchronize newborn sleep patterns, but they help.
For example, in one study, newborns slept longer at night if their parents observed a regular policy of turning out the lights by 9pm .
In another study, young babies tended to sleep longer at night if they had been exposed to lots of early afternoon light .
And time spent outdoors might make an important difference. Babies who go outside experience much higher daytime light levels than those kept indoors all day, and may develop stronger circadian rhythms as a result .
4. Try infant massage.
The takeaway? More research is needed on this topic , but meanwhile, this seems worth a try.
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What Do Newborns Sleep In
In general, you do not want to dress your newborn too warmly to sleep, because consider that he or she will likely be swaddled, too, so that is an added layer or in a car seat like I mentioned my son above. Not only could it make your baby uncomfortable, but it also increases the risk of SIDS . Think about layers at every age, because if he or she feels too warm, you can simply remove one layer at night. If she spits up on the outer layer, depending on severity, you can simply replace the outer layer, too.
For newborns who are swaddled, I recommend a onesie underneath a light sleep-and-play outfit . In the summer, you can probably skip the footed outfit or socks, but in the winter, you may want to keep them on. If your newborn is no longer swaddled, read below.
Put Your Newborn In Pajamas
Your newborn should wear a long-sleeve onesie or long-sleeve pajamas. Even though its cute, dont let your baby sleep in just a diaper and blanket. Most babies like to have their hands free, rather than tucked in, and long sleeves are important to keep the arms warm. A zipper or snaps will give you access to the vital diaper area. Pajamas with footies are nice if your baby tends to kick out of blankets. Pajamas will also prevent a chill if you have to unwrap him to change a diaper.
Here are some of our favorites:
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Are There Other Ways To Help Reduce Your Babys Risk Of Sleep Dangers Including Sids
Yes. Heres what you can do:
- Make sure your baby gets all her vaccinations. These shots help protect her from serious childhood diseases and may help prevent SIDS. All children should be vaccinated for their own health and so they dont spread infections to others.
- Dont smoke and keep your baby away from other smokers and secondhand smoke . Babies who live with smokers are at increased risk of SIDS. Keep your home and your car smoke-free.
- Dont smoke, drink alcohol or use harmful drugs during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who do these things are at increased risk of SIDS.
- Go to all your prenatal care checkups during pregnancy. Babies of mothers who dont get regular prenatal care are at increased risk of SIDS.
What Is Bedside Sleeping
Bedside sleeping is when your baby sleeps in a bedside cot. This allows you to be close to them without sharing the same bed.
The idea is that the bedside cot attaches securely to your bed, at the same level as your mattress with the side next to you open. Then you can reach out to your baby without the bother of getting out of bed.
Theres limited research on bedside cots but possible benefits include:
- Making life easier when your movements are limited after a caesarean .
- Closeness might help with bonding.
- You can easily settle your baby back to sleep.
- Your baby will be nearby for night feeds.
- It might encourage breastfeeding if you had an intervention-free birth.
The same health and safety guidelines for bed-sharing apply if you use the bedside cot as they do for your baby sleeping in your bed. Check out our cot safety and safe co-sleeping pages for advice.
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Lighten Up On Summer Nights
On warm nights, keep it light and breezy a basic short-sleeve cotton or organic-cotton bodysuit or T-shirt with a muslin or cotton swaddle or sleep sack layered on top is fine.
A bodysuit or tee on its own is also OK if its particularly sweltering. Of course, if you have the air conditioner pumping, you can probably stick with cotton long-sleeve pajamas with footies.
Pillows And Extra Bedding
Pillows are not necessary for babies they increase the risk of sudden death because they can cover the baby’s face or cause overheating. Older babies can climb on them and get out of the cot.
As a general rule, don’t introduce a pillow until your child starts to sleep in a bed.
Don’t leave toys or stuffed animals in the cot with a sleeping child.
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Sharing A Bed With Your Baby
Adult beds aren’t designed for babies. Before you bed-share, consider whether you think it’s a safe place for your baby to sleep.
Mothers do sometimes bed-share when breastfeeding, however, without some planning and thought it can be very dangerous.
If youre thinking about bed-sharing, talk to your midwife, health visitor or family nurse about how to reduce the risks for your baby.
Baby Sleep Information has more information about bed-sharing
If You Are Breastfeeding You Are Likely To Get More Sleep If You Keep Your Baby Nearby
The World Health Organization recommends that babies share a bedroom with their parents, and its a recommendation that makes breastfeeding less disruptive. A recent study found that breastfeeding women got more sleep when they co-slept with baby . In fact, mothers who co-slept and breastfed got more sleep than did mothers who bottle-fed their babies .
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The Best Sleeping Position For Your Baby
Always put your baby on their back for every sleep, day and night, as the chance of SIDS is particularly high for babies who are sometimes placed on their front or side.
You should always place your baby on their back to sleep and not on their front or side.
Sleeping your baby on their back for every sleep day and night is one of the most protective actions you can take to ensure your baby is sleeping as safely as possible.
There is substantial evidence from around the world to show that sleeping your baby on their back at the beginning of every sleep or nap significantly reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome .
What Are The Different Alert Phases Of A Newborn
Babies also have differences in how alert they are during the time they are awake. When a newborn awakens at the end of the sleep cycles, there is typically a quiet alert phase. This is a time when the baby is very still, but awake and taking in the environment. During the quiet alert time, babies may look or stare at objects, and respond to sounds and motion. This phase usually progresses to the active alert phase in which the baby is attentive to sounds and sights, and moves actively. After this phase is a crying phase. The baby’s body moves erratically, and he or she may cry loudly. Babies can easily be overstimulated during the crying phase. It is usually best to find a way of calming the baby and the environment. Holding a baby close or swaddling may help calm a crying baby.
It is usually best to feed babies before they reach the crying phase. During the crying phase, they can be so upset that they may refuse the breast or bottle. In newborns, crying is a late sign of hunger.
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Dont Assume The Mellow Sleepy Newborn Phase Will Last Forever
We hate to break it to you, but your dozy, peaceful infant who simply falls asleep, milk-drunk, after a feeding may not always be this way. The first few weeks are not always indicative of the kind of sleeper you happened to score in the newborn sleep lottery. Some babies randomly sleep through the night early on but it doesnt mean this will continue indefinitely. Have you weathered the four-month sleep regression yet? Yeah, you might want to read up on that. And even though nursing to sleep or rocking to sleep before naps and bedtime might be working for you now, know that sometimes IT JUST STOPS WORKING. If youre one of the lucky parents with a unicorn baby , try not to gloat. It doesnt necessarily mean that youre doing it right, while that other mom with the colicky, sleepless baby hasnt figured it out. Believe us, shes trying.
Tips For Safe Baby Sleep
For babies who are healthy and under one year of age, sleeping on the back is the ideal position. However, some extra measures would be helpful to ensure safe sleep for your baby .
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Sleeping Practices That Could Lead To Sudden Unexpected Death In Infancy
SUDI includes both SIDS and other fatal sleeping accidents. Here are a few practices that could lead to SUDI:
- Making the baby sleep on the stomach or side.
- Putting the baby to sleep on soft surfaces such as mattress, sofa, waterbed, pillow, or lambs wool, either with or without a parent around.
- Covering the babys head or face with bedding, which may cause accidental suffocation and overheat.
- Smoking during pregnancy or after childbirth.
SIDS can be a significant risk and should be considered when you follow certain steps to ensure that your baby sleeps safely.
What Should A Toddler Wear To Sleep
Many toddlers have an opinion on what they want to wear to bed, so having options that both parents and child are happy with is a good idea.
By law, childrens pajamas must comply with the Consumer Product Safety Commissions ruling that they either be snug-fitting or made from materials that pass specific flammability tests. Check tags for chemical fire-retardants as these may irritate skin. When possible, select tight-fitting pajamas that still allow a full range of motion.
Short or long two-piece pajamas or footed onesies are a good option to keep your toddler covered and comfortable through the night. Footed sleep sacks can still be used at this age as well. Although infants less than a year old shouldn’t use blankets or soft bedding because of the SIDS risk they pose, blankets can be introduced to toddlers.
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