Newborns do not have a definite sleeping pattern. Put the baby to sleep with ease by setting the day-night cycle for the newborn. The days with your newborn is filled with immense delight and excitement and not to forget the sleep deficiency. This is true for both the newborn and you as the newborns are barely able to sleep through the night and therefore you are also not able to get a full night’s sleep. But this not a permanent condition as by the passage of 3-5 months, the baby will develop a definite sleeping pattern. It is as the brain develops gradually, the sleeping pattern also begins to show slowly and you might be lucky enough to have your baby slumber till the morning. Here is how you can determine and get a hang of the sleeping pattern of your newborn. In this articleThe Signs to Look For When the Baby Is TiredSetting the Day-Night Cycle for the NewbornEating and Sleeping Must Be Avoided TogetherThe Signs to Look For When the Baby Is Tired: The baby will always give you signals that he needs rest and wants to sleep. These are the most common signs to watch out for –YawningRubbing the eyesLooking away from the one holding himFussing a lotYou need to note here that do not wait for the baby to feel more tired. You will notice that an over-tired baby finds it hard to fall asleep easily. So once you notice these symptoms, put him to bed. If the baby is more tired, the more fussy and cranky will he be. Setting the Day-Night Cycle for the Newborn You need to teach the baby that the night is when we fall asleep and we stay awake during the day. Help him understand that daytime is for having fun and at night we all go to sleep. You can help the baby learn this by keeping a very stimulating environment for the baby during the day, and encourage the baby to be active. Play with the baby and talk to him a lot. After feeding him it is advisable to keep him awake for a while, but there is nothing to be anxious if he still wants to sleep soon after feeding. Now help him understand the night time difference. Make it a low-key environment. There should not be any stimulation, like for instance the lights should be low and there must not be much noise around. You can also feed him in a semi darkened room at night. Gradually, this will make him understand that the night is a boring time and he will learn that it is time to have fun during the day and fall asleep during the night. Eating and Sleeping Must Be Avoided Together A newborn baby, say until he is about a month old, it is alright if the baby falls asleep while you are feeding him. But after that, make sure that the baby does not fall asleep while you are feeding her or rocking her in your arms. Else, this will become a habit and every time you will have to feed her or rock her to sleep, which is unhealthy. If you find that the newborn is falling asleep while you are feeding her, stop and put the baby to sleep and feed him when he wakes up. Some parents have this wrong notion that if you feed the baby with formula milk more or latch her to the breast for a long time, he will be full and thus sleep easily and for a longer time. This is a completely wrong idea. It is just like you do not fall asleep easily, when you overeat so it is, for the baby. The baby should be just comfortable for a good rest. Finally, it is always advisable to follow the advice of the paediatrician regarding the sleeping schedule of the baby. You may to have to adjust the feedings so that he is not without food for over four hours. And above all, you need to be very patient as you help the baby to develop a standard sleeping pattern. At times it is also natural to find that the newborn is having unpredictable or sporadic pattern even after having developed an overall standard sleeping pattern. Consult your doctor when you notice marked changes in the sleeping style or pattern of the baby, it might be just a passing phase or symptom of any illness.
Newborns do not have a definite sleeping pattern. Put the baby to sleep with ease by setting the day-night cycle for the newborn. The days with your
newborn is filled with immense delight and excitement and not to forget the sleep deficiency. This is true for both the newborn and you as the newborns are barely able to
sleep through the night and therefore you are also not able to get a full night’s sleep. But this not a permanent condition as by the passage of 3-5 months, the baby will develop a definite sleeping pattern. It is as the brain develops gradually, the sleeping pattern also begins to show slowly and you might be lucky enough to have your baby slumber till the morning. Here is how you can determine and get a hang of the
sleeping pattern of your newborn.
The Signs to Look For When the Baby Is Tired:
The baby will always give you signals that he needs rest and wants to sleep. These are the most common signs to watch out for –
- Yawning
- Rubbing the eyes
- Looking away from the one holding him
- Fussing a lot
You need to note here that do not wait for the baby to feel more tired. You will notice that an over-tired baby finds it hard to fall asleep easily. So once you notice these symptoms, put him to bed. If the baby is more tired, the more fussy and cranky will he be.
Setting the Day-Night Cycle for the Newborn
You need to teach the baby that the night is when we fall asleep and we stay awake during the day. Help him understand that daytime is for having fun and at night we all go to sleep. You can help the baby learn this by keeping a very stimulating environment for the baby during the day, and encourage the baby to be active. Play with the baby and talk to him a lot. After feeding him it is advisable to keep him awake for a while, but there is nothing to be anxious if he still wants to sleep soon after feeding.
Now help him understand the night time difference. Make it a low-key environment. There should not be any stimulation, like for instance the lights should be low and there must not be much noise around. You can also feed him in a semi darkened room at night. Gradually, this will make him understand that the night is a boring time and he will learn that it is time to have fun during the day and fall asleep during the night.
Eating and Sleeping Must Be Avoided Together
A newborn baby, say until he is about a month old, it is alright if the baby falls asleep while you are feeding him. But after that, make sure that the baby does not fall asleep while you are feeding her or rocking her in your arms. Else, this will become a habit and every time you will have to feed her or rock her to sleep, which is unhealthy. If you find that the newborn is falling asleep while you are feeding her, stop and put the baby to sleep and feed him when he wakes up. Some parents have this wrong notion that if you feed the baby with formula milk more or latch her to the breast for a long time, he will be full and thus sleep easily and for a longer time. This is a completely wrong idea. It is just like you do not fall asleep easily, when you overeat so it is, for the baby. The baby should be just comfortable for a good rest.
Finally, it is always advisable to follow the advice of the paediatrician regarding the sleeping schedule of the baby. You may to have to adjust the feedings so that he is not without food for over four hours. And above all, you need to be very patient as you help the baby to develop a standard sleeping pattern. At times it is also natural to find that the newborn is having unpredictable or sporadic pattern even after having developed an overall standard sleeping pattern. Consult your doctor when you notice marked changes in the sleeping style or pattern of the baby, it might be just a passing phase or symptom of any illness.
