Eliminate Anxiety Around Infant Sleep - Here’s What’s Normal:
The Newborn Stage: Birth- 2 months
Your baby will:
• Sleep
○ 14-18 hours of sleep per day but in 1-3 hours stretches.
○ You will need a nap (or two)!
• Have no schedule! It’s predictably unpredictable.
• Go to bed late, around 10-11pm, the first few months of life. Don’t worry, your baby will find their “perfect” bedtime.
○ Pro tip: To cope with the late bedtime, split it. Have your partner hang with your baby while you go to bed early. Then swap.
• Experience an early evening peak in crying associated with reduced sleep at 6 weeks of age. Get all hands on deck, don’t do this part alone if you don’t have to!
• Sleep in your room. The World Health Organization (WHO) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room sharing until 6-12 months.
• How to handle infant sleep like a 3rd time mom:
○ Infant sleep works itself out in time even if every baby has a different timeline.
○ Get your baby to sleep better at night by having them nap in a common area during the day. Expose your baby to more light in the early afternoon by taking them on walks or sitting in front of a window to develop their circadian rhythm.
○ Establish a morning and evening routine: Open blinds in the morning, take a bath, sing songs, or read books before bedtime.
○ Keep your spirits up with this mental reframe: You can rest knowing your baby’s neurological and respiratory systems are functioning correctly with all the frequent wakings.