How to Sleep with a Baby at Home
It is a very exciting day when you first bring your baby home. Your baby is now a part of the world and everything feels so new. Along with the excitement and joy, one thing can become a problem: sleep. The unpredictable schedules of newborns can make parents feel more like zombies.
Newborns are known to sleep for a long time – 16-17 hours per 24-hour period. These hours are often broken up into smaller naps, which don’t match your sleeping schedule. Just as you are about to drift off, your child wakes you up for a feeding. This leaves you in an endless cycle of interrupted sleep. There is hope. While it may seem like a never-ending struggle, you can still make progress. You can set the foundation for better sleep habits in your family by implementing a few strategies.
At this stage, newborns cannot be expected to sleep all night. They need frequent feedings. There are some steps you can do to help your baby get into a routine that works for them while making it easier for everyone else to sleep. These tips will not guarantee you sleep through the night, but they can make it easier to adjust to parenthood and manage the transition.
1. Differences between Night and Day
You’ll have to teach your baby the difference between day and night as soon as possible. Your baby has been used to the constant rhythm of warmth, movement and muffled noises for nine months in the womb. As they adapt to the outside, they may become confused as to when to sleep or when to be awake.
Create an environment that encourages the natural rhythms for both night and day to help your child understand the differences. Expose your baby to the natural sounds and light during the day. Allow them to experience the daily hustle and bustle with gentle music, light conversations or the hum of TV. These sensory cues help them to recognize that the day is here and everyone is awake.
At night, however, you should keep the atmosphere calm and quiet. Keep the lights dimmed and your movements quiet when you change or feed your baby. Avoid stimulating activities and keep your voice low. Your baby will learn to associate the night with rest and sleep. They’ll also gradually begin to understand that sleep is a priority at night. This will help your baby establish a sleep-wake pattern that is crucial to their development.
2. Mimic the Womb
The feeling that your baby has of being in the womb is one of the most comforting memories they will have when they are born. They were swaddled and warmed by your warmth for nine months. The steady beat of your heartbeat soothed them. The outside world may feel harsh and unwelcoming. It is only natural for your baby to resist falling asleep by themselves. Your baby may want the same comfort and security they experienced in utero.
There are several techniques and products that can help your baby sleep more comfortably and feel secure. A cocoonababy is a sleeper that gently cradles and supports your baby in a way that mimics the womb. It helps your baby adjust to the outside world more easily because it creates a cozy and familiar environment.
Swaddling is another technique. Swaddling can make your baby feel safe and secure, since it simulates the space that they are used to in their womb. Swaddling also helps prevent the startle reaction, where babies jerk their legs and arms unintentionally, waking them up. Swaddling your baby can help them sleep better if done correctly. Be sure to always follow the safe swaddling rules and not wrap your baby too tight. Use breathable fabrics and leave room for the hips of your baby to move.
Consider using gentle lullabies or white noise machines to simulate the sounds of your womb if you still find that your child is having trouble falling asleep. White noise machines can mimic the constant sounds they heard while in utero, such as your heartbeat or blood flow. These soothing sounds can be used to drown out distractions and create an atmosphere conducive to sleep.
3. Limit ‘Awake’ Time
Although it may be hard to believe, newborns need more sleep than you think. Most newborns are only able to tolerate 30-60 minutes of being awake before showing signs of fatigue. This may seem like only a few minutes, but it is important to respect the natural sleep requirements of your child and keep them from oversleeping.
Overstimulated babies may have difficulty falling asleep if their awake time is too long. Overstimulation can be characterized by fussiness, flailing of arms and legs and eye-rubbing. When your baby begins to show these signs, you should start to prepare them for a nap. You can avoid a cycle of overtiredness by learning to recognise your baby’s signs.
While it’s tempting to play with your baby or teach them new things, keep in mind that their bodies and brains are busy processing the world. To avoid overstimulating your baby, it’s important to limit their time awake. They will be more likely to fall asleep in a calm and soothing environment.
4. Stop worrying about self-settling
Self-settling is a concern that new parents often have. Self-settling is the ability of a child to fall asleep without assistance from their parents. This is a skill that develops with time. For newborns,it’s normal to require help in falling asleep.
Self-settling is not a concern at this stage. Forcing your baby to fall asleep by themselves too early can cause unnecessary stress. Your baby will need comfort, closeness and reassurance for now to feel safe. As they drift to sleep, you can sing, rock, feed or cuddle them. These moments are crucial for bonding and help your baby to feel loved and safe.
It is important to remember that your baby will develop self-soothing skills as they grow. This doesn’t have to happen overnight. Some babies are more likely to develop self-soothing skills than others. It’s important that they learn at their own pace. Don’t worry about guilt if you provide the comfort that your baby requires. In the early stages of parenthood, it’s important to meet your baby’s needs and nurture them. It is not about creating a rigid schedule.
5. Tired signs: Know them!
As a new parent, it’s important to know when your child is tired. While crying is the most obvious sign, there are also other subtler cues. They include:
- Yawn — A classic sign your baby is becoming sleepy.
- Jerky Movements – Babies can exhibit jerky or twitchy movements when they’re ready to sleep.
- Babies sucking on their fingers or hands– Babies will often suck their fingers or hands when they are tired and ready to sleep.
- Staring into the distance– A tired baby may stare into space and appear to be unfocused.
You can intervene to prevent your baby from becoming overtired. This will make it more difficult for them to fall asleep. It can take some time to learn your baby’s signals, but practice and observation will make you more sensitive to them. You can create a routine to calm your baby before nap time, like dimming the light or playing soft music.
6. Breathe deeply and reflect every day
In the first weeks and months, sleep deprivation can be overwhelming. It may seem impossible to endure another sleepless evening or the never-ending cycle of feedings and naps. Remember that this difficult time won’t last forever.
Keep in mind that your baby’s age is still only a couple of months. Your baby may have a difficult time transitioning from the womb into the world. The baby has spent nine months in a safe environment, the womb. They are surrounded by warmth and sound. And they can feel your heartbeat. Everything is brand new to them and can be overwhelming. During this period, the baby will be learning to adapt to a new environment. He’ll need comfort, warmth and closeness.
Even though the nights may seem long, remember that your baby’s only going through an adjustment period. Although it might feel like a lot of work, your baby is learning and growing rapidly. They won’t need you as much in the future. Soon they’ll be more independent and their sleeping habits will be more predictable.
Spend a few moments each day reflecting and being grateful for small things. Try to enjoy the quiet moments with your baby, even if you’re tired. You and your newborn will cherish the soft sounds of breathing, their hands on yours and sweet cuddles. Even though sleep deprivation can be hard on the body, you will look back fondly on these moments.
Soon, these precious moments will be gone, and your baby will have a regular sleep pattern. Sleepless nights are a thing of the past as your child grows and develops their own sleep patterns and rhythms. These moments are challenging but they’re also forming the foundation of your relationship. Cherish your closeness with your baby, as they will soon have their own personality.
Final Thoughts
Sleep deprivation is a common problem for new parents, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. It is possible to establish a sleep routine that benefits both you and your child. It’s important to be patient, consistent, and understand that it takes time for sleep patterns to form. It’s not necessary to have a schedule that is perfect right away. You should instead find ways to ease both your baby and yourself into the new phase as gracefully as possible.
As your baby grows, so will his or her sleep habits. It may seem like the constant waking up and late night feedings will never stop, but it won’t. As your child becomes more familiar with the world outside, they’ll sleep longer and longer, and those nights when they were awake every hour will become a distant memory. You’ll soon be looking back at those early days and wondering just how quickly they passed.
Take it day by day. Each day will be unique, and some will be harder than others. You will feel like you have hit a brick wall at times, but it is okay to step back and take a breath. Accept the challenges that come with early parenthood, and embrace its unpredictable nature. One day, you’ll realise that this time is short and the sleepless night will have been worth it. As your child grows up, you’ll wonder how the time passed. So cherish every moment.
Sleep will come. Sleep will come. It may not happen right away or in the manner you had imagined, but it is coming. Each phase of parenting is a journey, filled with ups and downs. But each one has its beauty. Be sure to take care of yourself, and rely on your family for support. Ask for help when needed. No one expects that you will do it alone. Support is essential during this difficult time.
