How to Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep

Sleep is essential to everyone, especially babies. It is vital to their growth and development, mentally and physically. That is why parents would love their babies to sleep for long hours. Not only that, but it is also the perfect time for moms and dads to re-energize and go back to slumber.

The first few months can be difficult, especially for first-time parents. Babies don't have sleep patterns yet and do not recognize night and day. You may hear a lot of crying, and you will do a lot of feeding. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), newborns should have between 14 to 17 hours of sleep every day. Their sleep hours are often broken down to shorter periods as they need to feed, and that is because their small tummies can only hold a small amount of milk. Many moms are asking, "how to get a newborn to sleep at night?" While other moms who want to go back to their regular sleeping routines are wondering, "when do babies sleep through the night naturally?" Worry not, mommas, as all of these are only temporary, and your babies will soon learn and sleep throughout the night. We want to share some tips on how you can help your babies doze the night off.

Hungry Baby

The common reason why babies wake up is that they are hungry. Their little bellies can get full right away and don't hold much milk causing them to be awake every few hours and feel hungry. Milk is also digested quickly for breastfeeding babies compared to bottle-fed babies. So breastfed babies tend to wake up after 2 to 3 hours of sleep. You can start a pattern like; wake-feed-burp-tummy time that you and your baby can get used to for the first few weeks. If the baby sleeps longer than the said hours, you can wake them for feedings until they gain weight. You can do this in the first week. After which, you can let your baby sleep longer. All babies are different, some may change their feeding and sleeping patterns after a month, and some may take longer than that. Whatever changes or adjustments you will encounter, we are sure that you will find what works best for your baby. 

Baby Room-Share

American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that you can room-share with your baby for the first few weeks. You can place a bedside crib or bassinet in your room, so you can easily comfort, feed, and change diapers when needed. This set-up is more convenient for you instead of going to the nursery room every few hours. While room-sharing is safe, it is not recommended for the baby to sleep with you in the bed. Bed-sharing may cause safety issues and other sleep-related deaths. Keep the following in mind for safety:

• Place the baby on their backs as this prevents Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS.
• Use a snug sheet for the baby's comfort. Make sure the crib and bassinet have qualified for safety standards.
• Make sure your baby is wearing breathable clothes to avoid overheating. It is advisable to have a cool room temperature.
• Do not place blankets, plush toys, quilts, comforters, and others on the baby crib to avoid safety hazards.

Sleep-Conducive Room

While newborns have their own unstable sleep schedules, you and your baby will learn to establish a routine for the coming months. You can help your baby fall asleep by making the room more sleep-conducive.

• Try to establish a bedtime schedule. It may be too early for a newborn to implement a sleep schedule, but as weeks go by, they can get used to the routine. You can give your baby a warm sponge bath before bedtime. It can help them feel relaxed. Also, make sure to change their nappies so sleep won't be disturbed. Refrain from talking or playing with your baby before going to bed to avoid them getting stimulated. A calm and quiet room will help. Avoid talking loudly and making noises. You can sing a lullaby for your baby while being cuddled to sleep, or you can play soft lullaby songs.

• Place your baby in the crib without waking them. It sure can be tricky, but there is a way to make this work. See first if their eyes are darting under their lids. Check if they are relaxed and breathing deeply. If they do not move when you lift one arm, it means they are in a deep sleep. When moving, lay them flat into the crib, body first, then the head. As you lay them down, keep one hand under their back and the other hand on their tummy. The pressure will ease the transfer. In case they wake up, you can lightly pat them until they go back to sleep.

Something’s Up

There are times when the baby keeps on crying and unable to sleep. It could be because of constipation, teething, cold allergies, and the most common of all, gas or colic. How would you know which is which and what to do? Here are some tips to help you.

Gassy Babies. Babies can usually swallow air when feeding, using a pacifier, and when crying. Signs of a gassy baby include having a hard tummy, bloated, and fussy. To prevent this, keep the baby's head higher than their tummy. It will help the milk go down at the bottom of the stomach and air to go up. After feeding, make sure to burp your baby. Tummy time can also help. Another option is, massaging your baby's tummy gently using a baby oil. Do not also forget the bicycle exercises that you can do to their legs. It causes intestinal movements and can expel confined gas. For cold allergies, constipation, and teething in newborn, it is best to consult a pediatrician. 

You may also read our blog about "4 Tips for Soothing a Fussy Baby"  that may help.

Momma’s Touch

There is nothing more soothing than a mother's touch. It works wonders especially in calming a fussy baby. Experts suggest that skin to skin contact should be done from the moment of birth, infancy, and beyond. Babies are used to their mother's warmth and voice while inside the womb so it makes them feel that they are still inside their mother's tummy. It helps them feel comfortable, safe, and secure.

Overstimulation

Other factors may also cause them to cry. Overstimulation like loud noises or overfatigue can cause them to be irritable. You can feed them or cuddle them to sleep. Swaddling can also be helpful but make sure to follow safe sleep practices. You can also create white noises that can cover up other noises that bother them. You can slowly swing them or give them a pacifier. Knowing what they want or how they feel can be difficult at first, but you will learn to be familiar with them as they grow. Providing solutions to their needs can be a cycle of trial and error, but eventually, you will get to know what works best for them as you go along.

Warmth and Comfort for your Little One!

Speaking of giving comfort to your baby, MEMEENO has been creating belly bands to soothe and warm your baby's tummy. It helps to ease out gas and relieve tummy aches. It is made of three layers of fleece lining, making it self-warming and safe for your baby. It also has different stylish designs you can choose from. So let's snuggle, soothe and love!