Welcoming a newborn into your life is an exciting and overwhelming experience. As new parents, you're likely filled with joy, questions, and a bit of uncertainty. Sarah Taylor is a Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant and Licensed Pediatric Occupational Therapist who has experience with children ages newborn - 8 years of age.
Sarah will share some of her favorite tips for brand new parents with newborns to make the experience smoother and prepare these babies for great development and sleep as they get older! These tips are for babes 0-3 months of age.
TIP #1: Track Your Baby's Feedings
Feeding on demand is crucial in the first few weeks. Don’t worry about overfeeding – your baby will let you know when they’re full. Tracking when your baby eats can help you start to establish a pattern for them and ensure they are getting plenty of great feeds during the day to help them sleep better at night.
You can use the notes app in your phone or download a phone application like Huckleberry or GlowBaby
These applications also cue you to document other things like diaper changes, medications and sleep. These are great to have for your Pediatrician appointments as well.
See feedings per day based on age to the right:
TIP #2: Set Them Up For Sleep Success
Newborns sleep a lot, typically 16-17 hours a day, but in short bursts. Here’s what to expect:
Sleep Cycles: Expect 2-4 hours of sleep at a time, day and night.
Awake Time: Try to keep your newborn awake for 45 minutes to an hour at a time. If you can take them outside during these wake windows, this can help with developing their circadian rhythm.
Routines: Bedtime routines are under-appreciated for this age. Start creating a calming bedtime routine now and this will start preparing their brains to know when it is time to sleep. You don't need to bathe a newborn with soap daily, but you can do a water bath nightly to establish a routine. Bath, pjs, swaddle and a book is a great, simple routine you can start at this age.
Sleep Environment: Always place your baby on their back to sleep on a firm mattress, free from soft bedding, pillows, and stuffed animals. Occasional contact naps are okay too at this age! It is just important to start showing them how to sleep independently as well.
Independence: When you begin to feel comfortable, try waiting a minute or two before you go and feed your baby overnight. They may go back to sleep. You can also try soothing them in other ways before you go straight to feeding. Click here to download my newborn sleep shaping guide!
TIP #3: Engage In Lots of Developmental Play
Developmental play and tummy time are crucial for your newborn's growth, aiding physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Engaging in simple activities like talking, singing, and gentle play stimulates your baby's senses and fosters bonding.
Tummy time: starting from a few minutes a day, placing your baby on their tummy strengthens their neck, shoulder, and arm muscles, prevents flat head syndrome, and enhances sensory exploration.
Use toys, mirrors, and face-to-face interactions to make these activities enjoyable and effective, setting a strong foundation for your baby's healthy and happy development.
Wake Windows: Engaging in developmental play not only helps with your child's development, but improves their awake time helping them sleep better during naps and night time sleep.
TIP #4: Remember The 5 S's
The 5 S's are an easy acronym to remember for ways that newborns love to be soothed. Remember these when your baby is upset or crying and you are not sure why!
Swinging
Shushing
Sucking
Swaddling
Side position
TIP #5: Eat, Play, Sleep
Another phrase to keep in mind is "Eat, Play, Sleep". When you can, try to feed your newborn when they wake from a nap, then have them engage in developmental play (discussed above) and then have them nap. This will decrease them from associating eating a bottle right before a nap. We don't want to create this association of feeding to sleep because then they will continue to require this overnight. Eventually, we want them to connect sleep cycles on their own!
Looking for frequent fun tips on newborn care, infant development, baby sleep and more? Follow us on Instagram! @LittleSlumberStars
Contact Sarah if you have personalized question or are ready to start a customized sleep plan for your little one as they grow out of the newborn phase!
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