According to "Maternal-Child Nursing," newborns typically sleep 15 to 19 hours per day in three- to six-hour blocks. If your schedule requires that you be free to function in the mornings without the responsibility of constantly caring for your newborn, a few schedule changes can assist your baby to sleep at the right times. Babies that do not sleep for at least two hours at a time, or appear to be sleeping excessively, should be seen by a pediatrician to rule out abnormal medical conditions.
Step 1
Establish a consistent daily routine. For example, if you would like your newborn to sleep at a certain time each morning during the workweek, continue with this schedule on the weekends so that your baby gets into the habit of sleeping at a certain time each day.
Step 2
Feed your newborn prior to his bedtime so that he will be able to sleep for several hours. According to "Prentice Hall Nursing Reviews & Rationals: Maternal-Newborn Nursing," newborns are unable to wait more than four hours between feedings when bottle-feeding and three hours when breastfeeding. However, at approximately three months of age, some babies are capable of sleeping for five hours at a time.
Step 3
Provide a calm, quiet environment for your newborn prior to her bedtime. Babies must adequately relax prior to sleeping, according to "Maternal-Child Nursing Care: Optimizing Outcomes for Mothers, Children, & Families," in order form to sleep for more than a few minutes. Singing a quiet lullaby or reading a book in a dimly lit nursery are ideal ways to allow your newborn to relax prior to her morning nap.
Step 4
Rock or hold your baby for 15 to 20 minutes prior to placing her in her crib. Placing your newborn in her crib before this amount of time has lapsed will increase the likelihood that she will awaken as you lay her down in the crib. This occurs because babies do not enter a deep sleep until they have been sleeping for at least 15 minutes, according to "Maternal & Child Nursing Care."
References
- "Maternal-Child Nursing"; Emily Slone McKinney, Susan R. James, Sharon Smith Murray, and Jean Ashwill; 2008
- "Prentice Hall Nursing Reviews & Rationals: Maternal-Newborn Nursing"; Mary Ann Hogan, Rita Glazebrook, Vera Brancato, and Jean Rodgers; 2008
- "Maternal-Newborn Nursing and Women's Health Care"; Sally B. Olds, Marcia L. London, Patricia A. Ladewig, and Michele R. Davidson; 2003
- "Maternal & Child Nursing Care"; Marcia L. London, Patricia A. Ladewig, Jane W. Ball, and Ruth C. Bindler; 2010
- "Maternal-Child Nursing Care: Optimizing Outcomes for Mothers, Children, & Families"; Susan L. Ward and Shelton M. Hisley; 2009
