5 Newborn Sleep Tips
Newborns need lots and lots of sleep! They’ll sleep 15 – 20 hours of a 24-hour period.
This sleep will be made of many short segments, with feedings in between. Newborns will sleep often and sporadically because their circadian rhythms are still developing. Predictable schedules will start at around 4 months of age.
What to do:
- Provide lots of sleep throughout the day and night. Most babies will like to be nursed to sleep, or held, or rocked to sleep. This is appropriate and healthy in the early months. Don’t worry about creating habits – you can address those after 4 months.
- Prepare the environment for healthy sleep. Make sure the bedroom is cool, dark and quiet. Black-out curtains and white noise machines are really helpful.
- Consider swaddling. It can help your newborn sleep through the jolts of movement caused by the Moro reflex and recreates the feeling of being held.
- Look for ways to give yourself at least 4 hours of sleep at a time, without interruption. It can make a big difference to your overall health.
- Always follow the Public Health Agency of Canada’s recommendations on Safe Sleep for Babies.
For more help, I offer a Newborn Package to help you establish a healthy sleep foundation for your family, providing skills that will last a lifetime.