Most harried parents will attest that newborn babies do sleep a lot, but that unfortunately most of the sleep is in chunks of one to two hours instead of the longer stretches the parents once enjoyed. While your newborn is likely to need regular night-time feedings for several weeks to months after birth, good sleep habits and the right setting can often help lengthen the time she sleeps between feedings. Check with your doctor before encouraging your baby to lengthen her sleep to make sure she is physically ready to sleep for longer periods of time.
Step 1
Create a comfortable sleep environment. Dr. William Sears, pediatrician and author of “The Baby Book,” recommends keeping the thermostat set at around 70 degrees F. Watch the humidity of the room—too little can lead to him waking with a stuffy nose while too much can make a good environment for the growth of mold, a potential allergen. Sears advises keeping it around 50 percent to ensure optimal sleep conditions.
Step 2
Add white noise to comfort her and minimize jarring household noises. You can purchase a special white noise machine, run a fan or air-conditioner or play a CD of soothing sounds. Dr. Harvey Karp, pediatrician and author of “The Happiest Baby on the Block” suggests that these noises help newborns sleep more soundly because they replicate the noises they heard in the womb.
Step 3
Invest in the right shades. Opaque light-blocking shades can keep the early morning—or late evening—light out of your infant’s bedroom. Keep the blinds open during your baby's naptimes to help him learn the difference between daytime and nighttime sleep.
Step 4
Swaddle your baby. Wrapping your baby tightly in a loose cloth or blanket helps keep her arms from flapping around and waking her up. According to Karp, the added feeling of comfort and security babies get from swaddling can often add an hour to your baby’s sleep.
Tips and Warnings
- Include a warm bath, rocking, lullabies and a feeding in your baby’s evening routine to ensure he starts the night off warm, comforted, clean, dry and with a full belly. Put your baby down to sleep at the first sign of drowsiness since over-tiredness can often negatively affect the length and quality of your newborn’s sleep.
- When swaddling your baby, Karp stresses the importance of doing it correctly. Always put a swaddled baby to sleep on her back and make sure the blanket is not over her face.
Things You'll Need
- Blanket or cloth
- White noise CD
- Light-blocking shades
