You may be amazed at the number of hours your newborn spends sleeping. Newborns do not understand the difference between day and night and they need to eat every few hours, making a normal sleep routine difficult. Understanding how sleep benefits your newborn, and how to keep her safe while sleeping, will help you meet the sleep requirements of your newborn.
Plenty Of Sleep
Your newborn may sleep for up to 16 hours everyday, in stretches of three to four hours at a time. Spending so much time asleep aids in her development. Baby Center reports that your baby's sleep cycles are much shorter than your own so your newborn spends more time in rapid eye movement sleep. Your newborn's brain develops during REM sleep. Baby Center recommends that you allow your baby to sleep as much as she needs to in order to encourage healthy brain development.
Safe Sleep Environment
According to Kids Health, your newborn needs to sleep in a safe place free from potential hazards. Keep your baby's cradle, bassinet or crib free of any stuffed animals, pillows and blankets, as they can pose a suffocation hazard. It is also recommended that you make sure your crib meets current safety guidelines and that it is free of any sharp edges or objects that have cords or ties on them. Most importantly, reports Kids Health, your newborn should always be placed on her back to sleep in order to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.
Consistent Sleep Routine
Your newborn will benefit from a consistent sleep routine at times when she tends to sleep a little bit longer. Creating a consistent bedtime routine will help ease your newborn to sleep but will also begin setting the stage for quality sleep as your baby gets older, reports Baby Center. Your bedtime routine could include a bath, a song and a kiss goodnight. If you notice that your newborn acts tired, it is fine to put her down to sleep even it is early. Common signs of tiredness include rubbing her eyes or pulling on her ears. In order to teach your baby the difference between night and day, interact with her to encourage her to stay awake for longer stretches of time during the day. Keeping her awake during the day will enable her to sleep for longer stretches at night. A consistent bedtime routine in the evening will help encourage longer stretches of nighttime sleep.
