The joys of motherhood begin the moment a child is brought into the world. But, along with that joy comes the daunting task of waking every few hours to feed and soothe your baby. Finding ways of helping your infant sleep for longer stretches of time is a priority during those first few long and tiring months.
Anatomy of Newborn
Newborn babies can sleep for up to 16 hours a day, according to MayoClinic.com. However, because of an immature nervous system, a baby up to two months old cannot generally sleep for more than one to two hours in a row at any given time. In addition, an infant has a small stomach that can only hold a few ounces of milk at one time and must be fed every two to three hours.
Guidelines For Feeding
Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, understand than a newborn baby cannot drink more than just a few ounces at one feeding. Nutritionist Sue Gilbert recommends learning your baby's hunger cues and feeding accordingly for the first two to three months. This allows your infant to learn a sense of trust and closeness with you. Also, allow your infant to decide how much he needs to eat during this time to avoid overeating.
Dangers of Over-Feeding
While it might be tempting to add extra feedings or additional milk to your baby's feeding schedule in hopes of getting a bit more sleep, it can be detrimental to your child's health later in life. According to Fit Pregnancy, overfeeding a newborn baby can hard wire her metabolism and influence obesity later in life. Obesity has been linked to heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Time Frame for Sleeping Through Night
A newborn baby can only sleep one to two hours at a time, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Most babies will begin to sleep at least five hours at night between two and three months of age. All babies should be sleeping a full 10 to 12 hours a night by the age of 6 months.
Other Factors in Sleep Patterns
MayoClinic.com suggests encouraging healthy sleep habits in babies. Encourage activity during the day and monitor naps to be sure your newborn starts to understand the difference between day and night. Following a consistent bedtime routine allows your baby to know what to expect next and prepares him for sleep.
