Setting Your Baby Up For Sleep Success
How are you supposed to be the best parent you can be while being CHRONICALLY EXHAUSTED from sleep deprivation? It is hard- really hard! The good news is, you can create good sleep habits without being a drill sergeant. We are here to tell you that you don’t have to put the baby in a crib from day one. You can cuddle them and let them fall asleep on you without setting back their sleep progress! We have a few tips that will set both you and your new baby up for sleep success!
Your Baby Needs To Sleep… A Lot
Understand how much sleep a newborn baby actually needs. Hint: it’s A LOT. Too much stimulated awake time is overwhelming for babies. In order for them to process all of that stimulation, they need sleep, calm, & relaxation. Believe it or not, newborns should get 14–17 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period, says the National Sleep Foundation. Some newborns may sleep up to 18–19 hours a day! If you have a baby that is awake for hours on end during the day, that is not a good thing! Babies will start to produce adrenaline from all of the stimulation around them. I like to call it baby coffee!
From Wide Awake To Fast Asleep
The foundation of good baby sleep is the ability of the baby to put itself from wide awake to asleep. It seems like it is almost impossible to do, but you can create good habits with any baby. Know the signs of when your baby is tired. Is your baby staring into space? Red eyebrows? Parents often miss these early sleepy signs, but the real thing to know is how long has the baby been awake? Has it been more than an hour? It’s time to go to sleep! Babies who are fussy, yawning, and rubbing their eyes are already super tired and should have been put to sleep long before.
Are They Getting Enough To Eat?
You need to make sure that your baby is getting enough to eat during the day. This may sound simple, but it makes all the difference and is easily overlooked. As babies get older, they will start to sleep longer and longer throughout the day if you let them. Sometimes I will hear parents say that their baby slept for 3 and half hours straight during the day and went 5 hours without feeding. If the baby doesn’t eat during the day, when do you think they will? That’s right, in the middle of the night! Which is fine if you have an overnight doula to take care of that. When you’re on your own, well, that is not fun!
Work With Us
Here at Happy Family After, our goal is to help new parents find peace of mind and confidence. The peace of mind that comes from knowing someone is in YOUR corner at all times, supporting and advising, but never {EVER} judging. Honoring YOUR choices and helping you figure out YOUR way of doing things. We’re here to help with a combination of in-person visits, calls, texts, emails, overnight stays, and just being there. Start by contacting us, here!