They say babies have sleep patterns in the womb, I believe it because every morning at 2:30am and 5:30am she is kicking and moving and rolling around and all that stretching hurts 😫😫😫 plus I’m hungry so this is my snack.
WeMoms
2 Apr 2024
Understanding Newborn Sleep Patterns
Unveiling Newborn Sleep Dynamics 💤👶
The typical sleep regimen of a newborn involves extensive slumber during both daytime and nighttime hours, punctuated by intervals for feeding every few hours.
Yet, for new parents, deciphering the optimal sleep duration and frequency can be perplexing. In these early stages, a fixed schedule is often absent, and numerous newborns encounter a common confusion—perceiving nighttime as awake and daytime as asleep.
Evolving Sleep Patterns of Newborns 🌙
- On average, newborns sleep approximately 8 to 9 hours during the day and a comparable duration at night.
- It's important to note that most infants don't achieve uninterrupted sleep (6 to 8 hours) until around 3 months of age or after reaching a weight of 12 to 13 pounds. However, this timeline can widely vary, with some infants not achieving consistent full-night sleep until closer to the one-year mark.
- Given their petite stomach size, newborns and young infants require nourishment every few hours, often around the 3-hour mark. Consult your doctor to ascertain whether waking a baby for feedings is necessary.
Monitor alterations in your baby's sleep routine. If your baby previously maintained a stable sleep pattern but starts waking suddenly, there might be an underlying issue like an ear infection. Certain sleep disturbances could also stem from developmental shifts or overstimulation.
Avoid the hazardous practice of propping a bottle for feeding before putting a baby to bed. This practice can lead to ear infections and choking hazards.
Navigating Sleep Phases of Neonates 🛏️👀
Similar to adults, babies traverse diverse phases and depths of sleep, exhibiting distinct behavior depending on the stage. Sleep patterns in infants begin to take shape during the last stages of pregnancy, starting with active sleep followed by quiet sleep around the eighth month. The two primary sleep categories are as follows:
REM (Rapid Eye Movement) Sleep: This phase is characterized by light sleep accompanied by vivid dreams and rapid eye movements. Despite infants spending roughly 16 hours asleep each day, around half of this duration is in REM sleep. Contrarily, older children and adults sleep for fewer hours, dedicating a smaller portion to REM sleep.
Non-REM Sleep: Non-REM sleep encompasses four stages:
A baby cycles through these stages: Stage 1 to 2 to 3 to 4, followed by a return to Stage 3, then 2, and finally entering REM sleep. This cycle may repeat several times during sleep. Infants might wake during the transition from deep sleep to light sleep, experiencing challenges returning to slumber during the early months.
Diverse Phases of Alertness 🌞👁️
Newborns exhibit varying levels of alertness during their waking hours.
- Upon awakening from sleep cycles, babies often enter a phase of Quiet Alertness, characterized by stillness while actively taking in their surroundings. During this phase, babies might gaze at objects, respond to stimuli, and acknowledge sounds and movements.
- Subsequently, this phase transforms into Active Alertness, marked by heightened attentiveness to sights and sounds, coupled with active movement.
- Following this, the Crying Phase ensues, accompanied by erratic body movements and intense crying. However, prolonged crying could lead to overstimulation. Employ calming methods, such as gentle holding or swaddling, to alleviate distress.
It's advisable to feed babies before they reach the crying phase. During this phase, babies might be too agitated to nurse effectively. In newborns, crying is a delayed indication of hunger.
Cultivating Sound Sleep Habits 🌌🌟
Encouraging healthy sleep habits in babies often necessitates parental intervention, especially when it comes to settling down for slumber. Identifying signs of sleep readiness, fostering independent sleep initiation, and providing an optimal sleep environment all contribute to sound sleep practices.
Signs of Sleep Readiness 🛌😴
Watch for these indications that your baby might be ready for sleep:
- Rubbing eyes
- Yawning
- Diverting gaze
- Fussiness
Promoting Self-Initiated Sleep 🛌🤱
Not all infants instinctively learn to put themselves to sleep. While it's natural for parents to soothe their baby to sleep through rocking or breastfeeding, establishing a consistent bedtime routine is advisable.
However, ensure that the baby doesn't fall asleep while eating or in your arms. This practice could lead to a dependency on such conditions for sleep initiation.
A recommended approach is allowing the baby to become drowsy in your arms and then placing them in the crib while still awake. Playing soft music during this transition can also help establish a bedtime routine.
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Xavier
29 May 2023
Needing advice mamas, my newborn is fighting his sleep. How can I help him sleep? All night he was in and out of his sleep schedule.
Mc🌈👼🏽👶🏽🍼🤰♉👶🏽🤱🏼🩵🩷
Bath? Messages? I'm guessing you do the basic change and feed ECT you can try burping also
27 Mar 2024
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👶🏽💋Picklebuttmama💋👶🏽
Does he like to be swaddled?
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Miranda
30 Jan 2023
Anyone else experience in the newborn when they sleep sudden jerking, or like a spasm like every so often they just jerk out of no where ? benign sleep myoclonus anyone’s newborn experience this?
🐣🐰💐Meghan Renee💐🐰🐣
Yes! All of mine did this as newborns. Doctor told me it is them dreaming. It is normal ❤️
27 Mar 2024
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Charlotte
The first time I felt this I was scared she was seizing or something!! But turns out it’s totally normal 😂
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🌜✨Yaya✨🎄
4 Jan 2023
Never allow your newborn to become overly tired. OMG. She doesn't want to go down now, we been fighting sleep for hours.
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Brianna
14 Sep 2022
It’s really no sleep with a newborn I see … I just can’t take my eyes off her 😩 I’m so alert 🥴
Brianna
Definitely “ TeamNoSleep” .. I’m in love 🥲
27 Mar 2024
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Amanda Lee
20 Jul 2022
Any advice on how to make your newborn sleep in a bassinet or their crib? My daughter screams her head off unless she’s dead asleep… I’m just scared to co-sleep with her being so little.
Keandra
i need advice too cause mannn 😭 my baby turn 1 month on friday and he will only sleep with me and i want him in his own bed
27 Mar 2024
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Thalia
Me too my son 4 days old and he will nap in his crib but night time he wanna be in the bed smh
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Sidney
19 Jul 2022
So my newborn does not like to be set down to go to sleep and it's really hard at night because I don't get hardly sleep at all, any suggestions or advice?
Sidney
thank you
27 Mar 2024
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noodle mom
26 Jun 2022
Can newborns like 2 days old sleep on their side. My newborn keeps rolling onto his side to sleep when I lay him on his back😳 is this safe? (He just came out his swaddles)
Teresha
I think so. My daughter has done it since day one ☝️ so far she’s good.
27 Mar 2024
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Emily
Yeah I heard you can continue to place on their back but ultimately if they turn themselves there isn't much you can do
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susi
13 Jun 2022
My newborn won’t go to sleep after feeding or if he has been burp. If he does sleep after feeding he instantly wakes up the moment we lay him down. I also feel like he is fighting his sleep. Help me!!!
Infinity
My oldest was like that , she ended up having colic 🥴
27 Mar 2024
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Kaylie
I have the same problem with my 1 month old. I switched her to formula today which was a really hard decision for me because I have a good milk supply and really wanted to. She absolutely loved it. She went right to sleep.
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Kaylee
12 May 2022
How to get a five day old newborn to sleep. I’ve tried rocking her, bouncing her to sleep. She’ll fall asleep but as soon as we put her down she’s crying again. She’s not due to eat til 3
thania
I heard a bath will soothe them to sleep 🥹
27 Mar 2024
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Veronica
Just thinking out loud, if she wants to eat, feed her. She’s growing and developing like crazy. Maybe her system needs a little bit more nourishment than her 3 due time is offering.
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