New -Born Sleep Tips

- Laura Thompson | 30th April 2021 -

New Mum or Mummy to be? Congratulations!

If you’re anything like me you’re read a LOT of stuff about EVERYTHING! So I just want to let you know that I don’t want these tips to cause anxiety or overwhelm, there are no expectations when it comes to new born sleep. They don’t know the difference between day and night, need to wake frequently to feed and crave being close to you, needing lots of help to fall asleep. All of this is normal, natural and age appropriate so enjoy every snuggle with absolutely zero guilt, there are no bad habits forming! These tips are here to help your new born sleep as well as they possibly can and to begin shaping sleep for when they are developmentally ready to sleep longer stretches and learn independent settling skills

Tip 1 – Wake Windows

New-borns sleep A LOT! They need around 16 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period and so that doesn’t leave a lot of time to be awake. In fact new born babies can only manage to be awake for around 45-90 minutes at a time. So it can be helpful to keep half an eye on the clock to try and get baby back to sleep when they have been awake for this period to avoid over tiredness.

Also look out for the following tired signs.

Tip 2 – White Noise

White noise is a sound that contains every frequency within the range of human hearing in equal amounts it is a consistent sound that can be very comforting for new born babies as they are used to having the constant gentle noise inside the womb and the muffled noises of the ‘outside world’. In fact for a new baby complete silence can be a little unsettling. We instinctively shush babies because it mimics the sound of the mother’s heartbeat and this white noise helps activate babies ‘calming reflex’.

Playing white noise allows your baby to have something to focus on and helps them to relax (and hopefully sleep!) and it can also be helpful for drowning out external noises around the house.

I recommend a sound machine you can use for the duration of the night, this means that when baby stirs  if the noise is constantly there is may be enough to help them fall back to sleep without any other intervention.  

Place the sound machine across the room from your baby, in terms of volume for calming your baby you will need the noise to be fairly loud, around 65-70 Db, after this I suggest to gradually turn the volume down and leave it in the low 50s. You can download any free decibel app on your phone to measure this.

Tip 3- Swaddle

Swaddling is another really helpful tool for soothing new-borns as it again mimics the close feeling of the womb and helps activate the calming reflex. Wrapping a baby up gently in a light, breathable blanket will help them feel snug and secure.

It will also avoid baby waking from the startle reflex as  a swaddled baby’s arms and legs will be contained in the swaddle. There are many swaddle bags on the market that mean you can simply zip your baby into the swaddle and have peace of mind the blanket is safe. Please also check the lullaby trust for more tips of safe swaddling, they state the following;

• Use thin materials

• Do not swaddle above the shoulders

•  Never put a swaddled baby to sleep on their front

•  Do not swaddle too tight

• Check the baby’s temperature to ensure they do not get too hot

• Stop swaddling once your baby starts to show signs of rolling 

(https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/swaddling-slings/)

Tip 4 – Bedtime Routine

You can start a bedtime routine from the day your baby is born! I’m talking anything elaborate! A few simple steps you do every night at around the same time will begin to help baby learn the difference between day and night

This could be a bath or wipe down, baby lotion or massage, PJs, swaddle and feed. Turning the lights low and beginning to make things slower and quieter for the evening will all help too. Does this mean you can do this at 7pm and your baby will then be asleep for the evening, probably not! They will likely still feed or need more cuddles – all fine! It simply means that we are making a distinction between day and night so that when they are old enough to go to bed and stay in bed all evening, you have already laid those foundations.

Tip 5 – Layering Associations

I’ve already mentioned that new born babies need lots of help to fall asleep and this is normal and OK! Your baby will probably fall asleep feeding or being rocked or cuddled. You’ll begin to learn what will predictably put your baby to sleep and you will start going through the motions on auto pilot! When you get to that point, just have a think about what this is and now think about if you can add some more sleep associations which will help you down the line. Let me explain, if you feed your baby to sleep, perfect – keep going! It may be that one day, in a few months, you would like to move away from that so you can take some simple steps now to make that transition smoother. Whilst feeding, add a bottom pat, a shush, a song, stroke their cheek or head – whatever you choose! This ‘thing’ that you add you can then use to gradually help baby learn to self-settle (whenever you are ready, from 4 months onwards!)

Tip 6 – Transferring Baby

Babies like to be close to us and who doesn’t love a new born sleepy cuddle!? There will be times however when you want or need to put your baby down – to shower, tend to another sibling or you know … sleep yourself! So let’s talk about how you can transfer that sleeping baby to their crib.

Make sure they are in a deep sleep! Wait around 10-20 minutes from when they fell asleep and watch for these signals;

• Slow, steady breathing.

• Eyes darting around under their eyelids (rapid eye movement)

• Floppy arms – pick up their arms and drop it gently.

• Do they respond if you put your thumb in the palm of their hand?

Once they are in this deep sleep, hold them close to your body as you move them to the crib, lower slowly and place them in the cot bottom first. Lay them on their side and then slowly onto their back. Place your hand firmly on their tummy to resettle if needed … breathe!

Now grab that cuppa or take a nap, the laundry can wait!

Did you know I have packages especially for newborns so you can ask me all your questions or get support throughout this phase!?

Take a look at my newborn services here!