Bringing a newborn home is both magical and overwhelming—especially when it comes to sleep! While newborns wake frequently for feeds and cuddles, there are simple steps you can take from day one to encourage healthy sleep foundations.
1. Create a Day-Night Difference
Newborns don’t know the difference between day and night, but we can begin to help their internal clock develop by keeping daytime bright and social, while making nighttime calm, dim, and quiet. This helps signal when it’s time for active play versus restful sleep.
2. Use a Consistent Sleep Environment
A dark room, white noise, and a firm, safe sleep space (like a cot or crib) create the ideal sleep environment. Even if your baby sleeps in your arms or on you, try transferring them to their sleep space when possible to build familiarity.
3. Follow Baby’s Sleepy Cues
Rather than sticking to a rigid schedule, watch for signs of tiredness like yawning, rubbing eyes, or fussiness. Catching these early cues makes settling easier and prevents overtiredness.
4. Encourage Full Feeds
Newborns often doze off while feeding, leading to short, frequent wake-ups. Try keeping them alert during feeds by gently stroking their cheek or changing their nappy halfway through. Full feeds help them sleep for longer stretches.
5. Allow Some Independent Settling
While newborns love being cuddled to sleep (and that’s perfectly fine!), occasionally placing them down drowsy but awake helps them practise self-settling. If they stir, use gentle techniques like patting or shushing before picking them up.
6. Don’t Stress About ‘Bad Habits’
At this stage, you can’t spoil your baby! Contact naps, rocking, and feeding to sleep are completely normal in the newborn phase. Building healthy foundations is about gentle exposure, not rigid rules.
7. Have a Simple Bedtime Routine
A short, calming routine before bed—like a warm bath, a cuddle, and a lullaby—can help signal that nighttime is for longer, deeper sleep. Repeating this each evening creates a sense of security and predictability.
Final Thoughts
Newborn sleep is unpredictable, but these small changes can make a big difference over time. By setting gentle sleep foundations, you’re helping your baby feel safe and secure while gradually working towards more structured sleep as they grow.
Would you like more personalised sleep support? Get in touch for one-to-one guidance or you can purchase my Newborn Sleep Guide.
Comentarios