A baby sleeping (Photo/huffingtonpost.com)
Newborn sleeping patterns vary from child to child. Newborn children often spend most of their day alternating eating and sleeping and this continues throughout the entire night. This can be stressing for a parent who has never had a child before since the child can disturb them throughout the night
Newborn babies generally sleep between 16 – 18 hours and this reduces to 14 hours when the child turns from one to three months old. Understanding your baby sleeping patterns is relevant in providing them a wonderful sleep. There are various ways that a parent can use to regulate the sleeping patterns of her child
Create a daily routine
Set up a daily plan and stick to it. Ensure you are with your baby throughout the day and keep them busy and active. This will help the baby to adapt to the routine and will sleep comfortably at night due to tiredness.
Minimize nighttime chores
Newborn babies often wake up to the smallest sound. Do your house chores early enough so as to provide a quite environment where the baby can sleep comfortably at night. Feeding the baby while they are sleepy makes it easier for them to doze off.
Watch out for signs of being sleepy
Learn and understand your baby’s signs that he is ready to sleep. Signs like yawning, rubbing eyes, and fussing show that your child is drowsy. Avoid keeping the baby awake when you see these signs since it will interrupt his sleeping patterns
Check your feeding habits
Newborns need to be breastfed by their mothers. Breast milk contains tryptophan that affects the baby sleep. Feed your baby during the night so that they can easily fall asleep. If you pump your breast milk at night and feed him during the day, the child will sleep during the day and remain awake at night.
Reduce light exposure during the night
Small children require a dark, quiet place to have a comfortable sleep. Even a small amount of light can make a baby wake up at night. Provide a conducive environment for your child to sleep peacefully during the night