Understanding your babies sleep, 0-2mths

The first months of a baby's life can be overwhelming, emotional and sleep deprived for parents. Newborn babies don't know the difference between day and night - their tiny stomachs don't hold enough breast milk or formula to keep them satisfied for very long. They need food every few hours, no matter what time of day or night is.

By two months most babies are sleeping 6 to 8 hours through the night, but each baby is different. Never let how your friend's baby is sleeping (and yours isn't) stress you out. While your baby is little it is much easier to train them into a regular patter by just following some basic guidelines.

What is normal infant sleep over the first two months?

As babies grow, their periods of wakefulness increase. A newborn may sleep as much as 16 hours a day (or even more), often in stretches of 3 to 4 hours at a time. This may interfere with your sleep pattern. Have patience, this will change as your baby grows and begins to adapt to the rhythms of life outside the womb.

Always sleep your baby on his back. If your baby is making noise, sweating, moving around, or making extra effort to breath, they need to be seen by a paediatric sleep specialist.

Where and how should my baby sleep?

For the first few weeks of life, most parents place their child's crib or bassinet in their own bedroom. This is sometimes more practical when you are getting up to feed your baby regularly than putting them in another room. There is research that suggests that having an infant sleep in a separate crib or bassinet in the same room as you can reduce the risk of cot death. Never place a baby to sleep in an adult bed alone.

Crib / Cot Safety

Make sure your baby's crib complies with safety standards. The headboard and foot-board don't have openings or cut-outs that could trap your baby's head. Don't use pillows, quilts and other soft or plush items on the bed. Don't place your bed near draperies or blinds where your child could be strangled by cords. Make sure your mattress fits snugly in the bed frame so that your baby won't become trapped in between the frame and the mattress.

Swaddle Baby

Most midwives will agree that swaddling your baby in the early days will not only keep them warm, but also help them to feel secure. Learn more about merino and the Merino Kids ™ award winning Cocooi ™ babywrap.

Back to Sleep

Experts recommend that healthy infants always be placed on their back to sleep, not their stomachs. The incident of cot death has decreased by more than 50% since that recommendation was first made in 1992. It is now also recommended that premature infants sleep only on their backs.

Flat Head Syndrome

Flat Head Syndrome is caused when babies spend a considerable amount of time with their head resting in the same position. Additionally, in an effort to reduce the instances of cot death, parents and caregivers regularly place babies to sleep flat on their back. Although this technique definitely saves lives, it can contribute to Flat Head Syndrome.

Babies are born with soft, pliable skulls, so when they rest in the same position on a regular basis, their head can develop a flat spot where it presses against the mattress. A preferred option is to place the baby to sleep with his head at alternating sides of his cot, encouraging him to tilt his head in various directions to view the room. By finding ways for the baby to take pressure off the flattened areas, the head will grow in a uniform manner. As babies continue to grow and develop, their increased mobility and physical capabilities will ensure that their heads do not regress to earlier flattened shape.

Co-Sleeping

Experts recommend against bringing your baby to sleep in your bed for safety reasons. Although many cultures endorse co-sleeping, there is a risk that the baby can suffocate, and studies have shown that there's a higher incident of cot death (sudden infant death syndrome) in households where the baby slept in his parent's bed.

Those which should never co-sleep with an infant include:

1. Other children, particularly toddlers, because they might not be aware of the baby's presence
2. Parents who are under the influence of alcohol or any drug because that could diminish their awareness of the baby
3. Parents who smoke because the risk of cot death is greater

How important is routine at this early stage?

How we sleep is based in large on habit and what our bodies use as the signals that it is time to sleep. Always putting your baby in the crib for sleeping will help signal to the infant that it is the place for sleep. Keep in mind, though; it may take a few weeks for your baby's brain to signal the difference between day and night. Unfortunately, there are no tricks to speed this up except to be as consistent in your routine as possible.

If you start to introduce some sort of bedtime routine (bathing, reading, singing) to help get your baby to relax in the coming months it will pay off! Even though your newborn may be too young to get the signals yet, setting up the bedtime routine now can keep you on the right track later.

How can I encourage my newborn to sleep?

You can help adjust your baby's body clock toward sleeping at night by avoiding stimulation during night-time feedings and diaper changes. Try to keep the lights low and resist the urge to play or talk with your baby. This will reinforce the message that night-time is for sleeping.

Overly tired infants often have more trouble sleeping than those who've had an appropriate amount of sleep during the day. So, keeping your baby up in the hope that he will sleep better at night will not work.

Always before you place baby in bed ensure your baby is winded, at a comfortable temperature and has a fresh diaper.

What if my baby is fussing?

For the first months of your baby's life, "spoiling" is definitely not a problem. It's OK to rock, cuddle, and sing as your baby is settling down. In fact, studies have shown that babies who are carried around during the day have less colic and fussiness.

If you feel your baby us unsettled, check he does not have wind and has a fresh diaper and is at a comfortable temperature.

What if my baby is difficult to rouse from sleep?
You may want to talk with the doctor if your baby seems overly irritable and cannot be adequately soothed. In addition, if your baby is difficult to rouse from sleep and generally seems uninterested in feeding, speak to the doctor immediately for reassurance or further medical guidance.