Sleep - Birth to 3 Months
 In the first few weeks after birth, babies sleep much of the day and night. Most wake two or three times during the night for feeds.
Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults and wake or stir about every 40 minutes.
By three months, many babies will have settled into a pattern of longer times awake during the day, and longer sleep times (perhaps 4 – 5 hours) at night. Most will still be waking once or twice during the night for feeds.
Sleeping in the same room with parents is safest for young babies.
Secure attachments in infancy are the base for good mental health. A major need for secure attachment is for a parent to respond to infant needs and cues. It is important not to leave your baby to cry (see the topic Attachment).
Daytime and night-time patterns
Developing patterns of when and how you put babies to sleep helps them to settle because they learn what is happening. Babies are usually very relaxed and sleepy just after a feed. For many babies, putting them down to sleep just after a feed is fine, but some babies develop a pattern of waking often and only going back to sleep after another feed.
Very young babies have little idea of day or night and most wake regularly around the clock every two or three hours needing a feed and attention. As a guide, many babies sleep 14-20 hours a day in the first weeks, and by six weeks 25% of babies are sleeping a six hour stretch (not necessarily at night).
Night waking
In the first few months it is common for babies to wake regularly at night for feeds at least two or three times.
Most babies of this age still require one or two night feeds.
By three months many are settled into a pattern of longer sleep times - perhaps four to five hours at night.
Ideas for settling
Routines to get ready for sleep
At this age babies are often relaxed and sleepy after a feed. Some develop a pattern of waking often and needing a feed to settle. Some babies are helped by a daytime pattern of feed and then settling after a small play, cuddle, talk and touch. Watch your baby's signals for when he is alert and wanting to play and when he is sleepy.
Some young babies tend to be more wakeful in the evening or night rather than during the day. It helps babies learn about day and night if you settle them at night in a quiet, dark place and don't play with them or do anything that makes them more wakeful.
Even with young babies you can start a bedtime ritual. You may sing a little song, kiss goodnight, find the dummy (if he has one) and then give a gentle kiss with some special soft words of love when you put him down.
Settling
Put your baby on his back for sleep. Often a tired newborn will accept being put into his crib while awake and will fall asleep on his own. Some new babies settle best in a quiet, dark place, others settle more easily in noisier places. Some babies are harder to settle than others and many need help to relax into sleep.
Some things to try to settle your baby:
* wrap him in a thin cotton sheet
* rock him in a pram, crib or your arms for a short period and then settle him into bed (a baby should not be left to sleep unsupervised in a pram)
* settle him in the crib and then pat him with a cupped hand. Start patting quickly and then slow down as he calms. Pat at about the pace of your heartbeat
* push him in a pram back and forth over a bumpy surface such as the edge between your carpet and tiles or over footpath bumps
* have some constant noise such as humming, singing a little song, relaxing music or household noise - some babies relax if they can hear the vibration noise of the washing machine or dryer.
* check that he is not too hot or cold, and that clothing is not too tight
* a warm bath
* offer another feed, (often called a 'top-up' feed)
* allow him to suck on a dummy or thumb (dummies should not be used until breastfeeding is established at about 6 weeks)
* use a baby sling so your baby is close and can hear your heart beat. This may help him settle and allow you to do a few household tasks.
This article is courtesy of Children, Youth and Women's Health Service - Click Here to read the full article. |