Regularity is an essential ingredient of a soothing bedtime routine. Consistency breeds comfort, which helps lull your baby into a peaceful sleep. It is a massive misconception that formula-fed babies sleep better than breast-fed babies. Research shows that babies sleep the same whatever milk they’re given. Please don’t blame your breastmilk. Though it’s possible, through sleep training, to encourage your baby not to bother you at night, try to remember that, to an extent, night waking is simply a part of being human. Babies are not ready to operate independently at birth, and since separation from the caregiver is one of the surest life-threatening situations, it’s no wonder the infant brain and nervous system is primed to protest. When you can expect your baby to start sleeping through the night depends on several factors, including baby's age, weight, whether or not you are breastfeeding, and your family's nighttime feeding habits. Sleep training isn't for every parent, so don't try it if you're not comfortable. Just know that letting your baby cry a bit won't scar him. If anything, you're teaching him to sleep on his own — a skill he'll use for the rest of his life. If you are using a second-hand mattress for baby make sure the mattress you choose was previously completely protected by a waterproof cover, with no rips or tears and is in good condition. The mattress should also still be firm and flat to keep your baby sleeping safely. 
What happens if babies don’t get enough sleep? They can become overtired — where they’re exhausted and moody but also too wired to relax. Make bedtime the same time each day to regulate your child’s body clock. A bedtime routine is a powerful cue leading up to sleeptime and should take place in the room in which your baby sleeps. It should be simple, comforting and predictable with calming and quiet activities, such as lullabies and simple rhyming stories, all of which will help your baby to wind down before going to sleep. Try bringing their bedtime a bit earlier, and make sure they have a 30-minute wind-down period (not in a room where the TV is on) before bedtime. Where your newborn sleeps is just as important as how they fall asleep. The safest place is a flat, empty cot or portable cot in your bedroom. Side-car-style baby sleepers that pull right up to the side of the parents’ bed are also a safe option when used as instructed. For sleep training guidance it may be useful to enlist the services of a sleep consultant.
Keeping It In Perspective
Infants tend to sleep a lot, typically 14 to 18 hours a day. It can take several weeks—or months—before baby’s sleep settles into a pattern. In the early days, schedules are erratic, since babies have a small stomach and can’t go more than one to four hours without eating. Bedtime for the newborn is naturally late- often as late as 11 pm! As your infant grows, he develops the ability to consolidate night sleep. (He learns to sleep more at night and less during the day.) If your baby could be in the habit of going to bed a little too late and is experiencing disturbed sleep in the night, they’ll be overtired and even though waking is the issue introducing earlier bedtime may help your baby to sleep later in the morning. We all need sleep. It helps little ones to grow and develop. Longer periods of sleep loss can significantly impair learning and cognitive processing. Young children who do not get enough sleep are at greater risk of becoming obese as older children and adults. No single approach will work with all babies all the time or even all the time with the same baby. Don’t persist with a failing experiment. If the “sleep program” isn’t working for your family, drop it. Develop a nighttime parenting style that works for you. Babies have different nighttime temperaments and families have varied lifestyles. Whether its something specific like 4 month sleep regression or really anything baby sleep related, a baby sleep consultant can guide you to find a sleep solution as individual as your baby is.
Cuddling your sweetie or letting her drift off to dreamland in a swing may feel warm and cozy, but if she wakes up later on, she may fuss when she realizes that you (or the swing) are no longer there. Parents can make the mistake of setting the wrong bedtimes, and try to force their babies to fall asleep at a time that’s out of sync with their internal clock. And sometimes parents are overly complacent about certain things — like a baby’s vampire-like, nocturnal schedule. If you assume this is something you can’t change, it can become a self-fulfilling prophesy. Always place the baby down to sleep on their back in a cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for the first six months - and do this as part of their regular sleep routine, including daytime naps. You can never underestimate the staying power of a bedtime story. There is no reason why you can’t read to a newborn - they will know your voice and as they get older, they will look forward to a nightly story with mum or dad and learn to associate it with bedtime. Warm the cot with a hot water bottle or beanie before you put your baby down. If your baby is falling asleep on you, then the change of temperature may be causing them to wake. By warming the mattress it can help keep them asleep. Remember to remove the hot water bottle before you put your baby down and check it isn’t too warm. A sleep expert will be with you every step of the way, guiding you on how best to find a solution to your sleep concerns, whether its ferber method or one of an untold number of other things.
The Early Days
Many parents are surprised by their newborn’s sleep pattern. During the first day of life, most babies are alert for about an hour and then they can fall into deep sleep for twelve to eighteen hours. (Like most of us, they’re exhausted by the whole ordeal.) We know that in the early 1990s, there were thousands of babies worldwide dying suddenly and unexpectedly every year. The reason the number of deaths is much lower now is due to the new advice being followed by parents, such as lying babies on their backs to sleep. Baby sleeps best when the temperature is consistent and cool. That also means baby shouldn’t be over-bundled: Instead of heavy clothes, dress baby in layers, so you can regulate baby’s temperature and comfort levels accordingly. The number one cause of night wakings in babies is a feed-sleep association. How would you feel if you fell asleep on your pillow and woke up in the middle of the desert – you might scream too! Well, the more you feed your child to sleep, the more they need food to fall asleep, anytime they wake up. Since virtually all babies are now placed on their backs to sleep, parents quickly find that they must help them fall asleep for naps and at bedtime, throughout the night, and sometimes in the middle of a nap. Techniques might include a tight swaddle, a specially designed sleep rocker, and co-sleeping. Having a baby is a steep learning curve and aspects such as gentle sleep training come along and shake things up just when you're not expecting them.
Swaddling is a common practice used to help settle young babies and promote sleep. We recognise that in some parts of the world this is also referred to as wrapping, but in the UK is referred to as swaddling. If you are breastfeeding, caffeine may affect your baby’s sleep. The recommended limit for breastfeeding mothers is 6 cups of tea or 2 cups of coffee a day. For filtered coffee, you should only have one cup a day. Although babies with changing sleep routines can be a little fussier, you've got to cut your baby some slack in the snoozing department during these transitions. Do what you can to comfort your little one through the disruptions to her schedule. There's nothing like climbing into bed after a long day, placing your head on a soft pillow, and drifting off to sleep—only to be abruptly awakened by your baby's cries. The good news for exhausted parents: Newborns sleep a lot, 14 to 17 hours a day, or about 70 percent of the time. But those snoozes come in random bursts of slumber. Your baby is not on any kind of schedule, at least not yet. If you're looking for a compassionate, effective and evidence-based approach to sleep or just advice on one thing like sleep regression then a baby sleep specialist will be able to help you.
Give Yourself A Break
Make sure that if your infant is falling asleep in a stroller, car seat, swing, or bouncer, swaddled or not, they are always within eyesight and earshot. Each year, babies die from asphyxiation when their chins tuck too closely to their chest from a seated position in their car seat. The same goes for any type of wrap or carrier—always be vigilant about making sure your baby is able to breathe easily. Instead of “just making it through” in a zombie-like, sleep-deprived state during the day, you will have the energy to proactively parent your child in terms of play and conversation with your baby. When it comes to sleeping and babies, the most important thing to do is hang in there and don’t feel that you are doing anything wrong. All babies (and parents) go through this and it will settle down eventually. We hope, for now, that these newborn baby sleep tips help and that you can enjoy fewer disturbed nights in the future. You can find supplementary particulars regarding Baby Sleep Trainers at this NHS article.
Related Articles:
What Are Sleep Specialists And Why Is This Subject Essential To You?
A Well Planned No-Nonsense Guide To Sleep Experts
What Are Sleep Consultants And Why Is This Matter Invaluable To You?
