Sleep Patterns in Newborn Babies

Introduction

An average newborn sleeps much of the day and night, waking only for feeds.

A newborn baby cannot distinguish night and day and may sleep as long as 16 hours a day, in 2-4 hour stretches, between meals.

Sleep patterns

Each baby is a unique individual with his own distinct sleep requirements.

• Newborns generally sleep for 16 -20 hours a day with breaks for meals.
• Their longest sleep period is usually 4-5 hours because this is how long their stomachs can go between meals.
• There is no fixed schedule for newborns because their internal clocks are not well developed yet. This usually lasts till about three months when the baby's sleep pattern begins to shift towards the night. About 90% of babies this age sleep through the night, meaning 6-8 hours at a stretch.
• Sometimes babies may cry or make soft noises when they are in light sleep. They may also wake up momentarily in the night but go back to sleep again on their own. You need not attend to these minor interruptions; let your baby learn to get himself to sleep.
• If your baby continues to cry for several minutes then it's time to respond to his cries. He may be hungry, wet, cold, in pain or he may be sick. Attend to his needs as quickly and as quietly as possible without overstimulating him and put him back to sleep

Sleep positions

The American Academy of Pediatrics, as part of its 'back-to-sleep' standard, recommends that healthy babies be placed on their backs to sleep, not on their stomachs or sides. The incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) has decreased by 50% since that recommendation was introduced in 1992. The only exception to this rule would be babies with deformities of the head or those with large tongues which make them susceptible to develop airway obstruction when lying on their backs.

Sleep areas

Recommendations for infant bedding :

• Place baby on his or her back on a firm, tight-fitting mattress in a cot that meets current safety standards.
• Remove pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, and other soft products from the crib.
• If using a blanket, put baby with his or her feet at the foot of the crib. Tuck a thin blanket around the crib mattress, only as far as the baby's chest.
• Make sure baby's head remains uncovered during sleep.
• Do not place your baby on a waterbed, sofa, soft mattress, pillow or other soft surface to sleep.
• To prevent overheating, the infant should be lightly clothed for sleep and the room temperature kept comfortable for a lightly clothed adult.
• Avoid over bundling and check the baby's skin to make sure it is not hot to the touch.
• While babies should sleep on their backs, other positions can be used during the time babies are awake. Babies can be placed on their stomachs while awake to help develop muscles and eyes and to help prevent flattened areas on the back of the head.

According to this report, bed - sharing or co-sleeping may be hazardous for babies in certain conditions. The report advises the following :

• Place the infant's crib near parent's bed for more convenient breastfeeding and parent contact.
• If a mother chooses to have her infant sleep in her bed to breastfeed, make sure the baby sleeps in a non-prone position, soft surfaces or loose covers are avoided, and the bed is moved away from the wall and other furniture to avoid the baby becoming entrapped between them.
• Adults other than the parents, children or other siblings should not share a bed with an infant.
• Parents who choose to share a bed with their infant should not smoke or use substances such as drugs or alcohol that may impair their ability to care for their babies.

Helping baby sleep

You can help your baby sleep by recognizing signs of sleep and providing the right environment for a comfortable and safe sleep.

• Avoid overstimulation during nighttime feeds and diaper changes.
• Try to keep lights low and the room quiet.
• Most experts recommend allowing a baby to become sleepy in your arms, then placing him or her in the bed while still awake. This way the baby learns how to go to sleep on his own.
• Playing soft music while your baby is getting sleepy is also a good way to help establish a bedtime routine.