How Long Do Newborns Sleep a Day?

According to the AAP, newborn babies sleep an average of 16 to 17 hours a day over a 24-hour period but usually in 1-2 hour segments. And, according to The National Sleep Foundation, newborns sleep between 14 and 17 hours a day.

As a sleep consultant for over 10 years, I want to point out that there is quite a big difference between a 3-4-week old versus a 12-week old but both are considered a “newborn.” Sleep needs change rapidly and, therefore, you can expect your 3-4-week old to sleep more than your 12-week-old, for example.

This is one reason why we break down newborn sleep patterns by the week. If you compare a 1-week-old who is eating and sleeping virtually all day and night, you will see that a 6-week-old is awake much more.

It’s important to adjust your expectations as your baby grows and changes so you can make sure you are helping your newborn get the appropriate amount of sleep.

Can your baby sleep too much? The short answer is ‘yes’ but it’s highly unlikely. If your baby is healthy, they are likely sleeping the amount they need and babies need a LOT of sleep! If you are ever concerned, be sure to talk to your baby’s doctor, of course. The total amount of sleep in a 24-hour period will vary from baby to baby. Your baby’s average will stay relatively constant, though, meaning they will sleep approximately the same amount every day unless they are going through a growth spurt or have changed their habits.

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How Long Do Newborns Sleep at Night?

You might be researching newborn sleep patterns and begin to see things about making bedtime earlier. But, don’t do this too early! That’s because newborns will often sleep a maximum of 8-10 hours at night beginning around 6 weeks old, on average. After these 8-10 hours, they might stay awake for playtime for 1-2 hours at a time and you don’t want that to be 3:00 or 4:00 a.m.! Your newborn might stay awake from 3:30 to 5:00 a.m. and then take a 2-hour nap, for example. So, keep bedtime later until your baby extends their nighttime sleep to 11-12 hours which occurs around 3 months old.

Even though your newborn might sleep 8-10 hours at night, it’s important not to let them sleep through feedings until their doctor approves. This is usually after your baby has doubled their weight, established a good weight gain, and is growing appropriately. Every baby is different so be sure to get specific instructions from your doctor.

The newborn days are often the most exhausting for parents because you might be only sleeping in 1 1/2 to 2-hour chunks yourself but take heart it’s a relatively short period of time in your baby’s life! It only feels like years.

You May Also Be Interested In…

• Everything You Need to Know About the Moro Reflex
• How to Swaddle Your Baby: 3 Easy Ways For Better Baby Sleep
• Overtired Baby: What You Need to Know
• 5 Reasons Your Newborn Is Crying

How Long Do Newborns Sleep at a Time?

Now that we know how much newborns sleep in a day, we should discuss how long newborns sleep at a time. Some newborns will take long, luxurious naps for 2-3 hours at a time. Just be careful your baby doesn’t have day/night confusion. If that’s the case, you will want to limit naps to two hours maximum to help them sort this out. Otherwise, we will usually let newborns take long naps. Don’t worry, they will wake up soon enough!

On the other hand, some naps are short, lasting just 30-45 minutes sometimes. Don’t expect all naps to be long but you should expect at least 1-2 long ones and then the remainder are often shorter.

At night, newborns should be awakened to feed every two hours until their doctor tells you that your baby can sleep a longer stretch. Breastfed babies tend to wake every 2-3 hours to eat until at least 2-3 months old while formula-fed babies often go 3-4 hours.

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• How to Handle When Your Baby Only Wants to Sleep in Arms or On Chest
• 10 Cautions About 12 Hours By 12 Weeks Old
• Why Do Babies Fight Sleep?
• 5 Reasons Your Newborn Is Crying

Sample Newborn Schedule

Putting it all together, here’s a sample 6-week-old baby sleep schedule so you can get an idea:

See more sample schedules here: Newborn Schedules By Week

Why Do Newborns Sleep So Much?

Newborns have to sleep so much primarily to grow. It takes a lot of energy to build muscles and for brain development. In addition, they have to process so much of what they see in the world. Remember, everything is brand new to them. Just like we adults might get over-stimulated and sleepy after an outing to an amusement park or party, babies need to recuperate from everything they see, hear, and learn during the day on top of all the growth that is happening!

You May Also Be Interested In…

• How to Get a Newborn to Sleep at Night: 7 Steps
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How Long Should Your Baby Sleep in Your Room?

The AAP recommends that you share a room with your baby until 6-12 months, on average. It is important to note that they recommend “room-sharing without bed-sharing.” Sharing a room with your baby is considered the safest and can reduce the risk of SIDS. But, sharing a sleep surface can be dangerous. Always be sure to review the most up-to-date safe sleep recommendations.

You May Also Be Interested In…

• 5 Tips to Using the Arm’s Reach Co-sleeper Bassinet
• How to Gently Transition Your Baby From Co-sleeping

Conclusion

I hope this post has helped you learn more about newborn sleep patterns and will help you establish healthy sleep habits from a young age. Be sure to check out our free e-Books for more information about how you can help your family get better sleep!

References:

AAP Newborn Sleep Needs
AAP Sleep Needs by Age
Sleep Foundation Sleep Hours
Safe Sleep Recommendations

The post How Long Do Newborns Sleep? appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

How Much a Newborn Sleeps

Newborns sleep a lot. In fact, newborns sleep 14 to 17 hours a day but they can’t stay awake long between sleep periods. Your newborn might only stay awake for 1 to 2 hours throughout the day and night. Of course, you want most of their sleep to be at night with the 1 to 2 hours of awake time during the day. If your baby has newborn day/night confusion, you’re not alone!

If you are having any trouble with getting your newborn enough sleep, be sure to check our Newborn Sleep Schedules By Week.

What Should a Newborn Wear to Sleep?

To decrease your baby’s risk of SIDS, you want to make sure you dress your newborn appropriately. Overheating can increase the risk of SIDS so putting your newborn in appropriate sleep-wear is not only more comfortable but safer.

But, what should your newborn wear to sleep?

Of course, this will depend on your local climate, whether you have central heating and air conditioning, and what clothing you have available. The ideal room temperature for sleep is 68 to 70 degrees. Your baby’s skin should feel cool to the touch, not frigid, and never too warm or sweaty. If your baby feels very warm or sweaty, you are dressing your baby too warmly which is not as safe.

Most newborns should sleep in a maximum of 3 layers: a onesie, pajamas, and a swaddle blanket or wearable blanket.

A onesie is a little undershirt that has snaps on the bottom to make diaper changes easier. In some cases, if the onesie is long-sleeve, you might not need to put a sleep-n-play or pajamas over it. For babies who are warmer or in a warmer climate, skip the second layer and go straight to a swaddle blanket or sleep sack.

If your baby has sensitive skin or eczema, consider buying organic sleepwear whenever possible.

Do Newborns Have to Be Swaddled?

Most newborns sleep better when they are swaddled (wrapped up like a little burrito.) But, it isn’t mandatory. Some babies come out of the womb and want their freedom. Unfortunately, even if they don’t want to be swaddled, sometimes the moro reflex will wake them up constantly. For these babies, it’s better to swaddle them even if they appear not to like it.

My son, for example, would resist the swaddle but once he fell asleep, he slept much better. Some babies like mine just have FOMO.

If you are using a SNOO, it has a built-in swaddle to make it easier and keep baby safely on their back. Otherwise, you should use a good swaddle blanket and make sure your baby can’t break out making a safety hazard.

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What Do Newborns Wear If Not Swaddled?

If your newborn isn’t swaddled or when it’s time to stop swaddling, we recommend a sleep sack or wearable blanket. There are many on the market, so we’ve gathered the top 10 sleep sacks for you.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Nested Bean vs. Love To Dream
Zipadee Zip vs. Love To Dream Swaddle Up

I hope this article has helped you decide what your newborn should wear to sleep. Be sure to also learn 15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Need to Know.

References:
https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/s/sudden-infant-death-syndrome-sids/symptoms-and-causes

The post What Should a Newborn Wear to Sleep? appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Newborn Bedtime Routine Ideas

Bedtime routines will change over time as your baby goes from newborn to young baby to a toddler or preschooler. The best bedtime routines typically have a few things in common. Good bedtime routines start and end the same way, are consistent, and most of all, they are soothing.

A bedtime routine, especially for your newborn, does not have to be very long or complicated. Most bedtime routines are ~10 minutes at nap time and ~20-30 minutes at bedtime. Here is a sample bedtime routine:

1. Give the baby a bath.
2. Apply some lotion with lavender for calming comfort.
3. With the lotion, do a little baby massage.
4. Put on a clean diaper (if you are not doing Elimination Communication).
5. Put on your baby’s onesie and pajamas.
6. Turn on white noise.
7. Swaddle your newborn safely and snugly.
8. Feed and burp your baby.
9. Rock or sway gently for a few minutes and lay them down on their back in their bassinet, bedside bassinet, or crib.
10. Soothe them while in their bed, if necessary, to get them to fall the rest of the way to sleep.

At first, your baby won’t know this is a routine but when you do this consistently for enough days in a row, it will cue them to fall asleep easier and faster.

You May Also Be Interested In…
SNOO: Is It Really Worth It? And, Alternatives.
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Can You Do a Newborn Bedtime Routine Without a Bath?

Some parents find that their baby is not soothed by a bath. Some babies don’t like them while others like them a little too much, and then don’t like to get out. Both of my boys got very hyper when they took a bath!

Also, keep in mind that we all sleep best when our body temperature is lower. A warm bath can increase our body temperature and make it take longer to fall asleep.

So, feel free to do your baby’s bedtime routine but without the bath. You can do a bath earlier in the day or you can consider wiping your baby down with a warm, damp cloth instead.

Until your baby is older and moving around, they aren’t accumulating much dirt to need a bath every day. And, in fact, it can dry out their skin considerably. And, if your baby has eczema, it’s not a good idea to use soap every day.

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FREE e-Book: 15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Should Know

When Do You Start a Bedtime Routine for Baby?

At what age should you start a bedtime routine for your newborn? It doesn’t hurt to start from birth but until your baby can stay awake for longer periods of time, it might feel like all you have time for is a feeding and diaper change before your baby is falling asleep, again!

In the early days, newborns don’t stay awake very long. Sometimes they stay awake for only 45-60 minutes at a time! Most newborns stay awake 1-2 hours TOPS.

There is no right or wrong age to start a bedtime routine but we encourage them as early as 4 to 6 weeks old. Until then, your baby might not need anything special to fall asleep since many newborns are so sleepy in the first place.

Time to Put Newborns to Bed

As your newborn’s day/night confusion goes away, they will start to stay awake for longer periods of time during the day. They will take naps and it might start to feel like daytime is now distinct from the nighttime. This is the time we start to think about setting a specific “bedtime.”

When you decide on the time to put your newborn to bed, you must keep in mind that newborns often only sleep 8-10 hours at night (on and off with feedings). During this time of day, they will sleep consecutively waking only for feedings and then go right back to sleep. During the day, they will stay awake for 45-90 minutes at a time, on average.

The last thing you want is for your baby to stay awake from 2:00 to 3:00 a.m., take a 1-hour “nap,” and then stay awake again from 4:00 to 5:00 a.m.

Therefore, you want to set your newborn’s bedtime to be late around 10:00 or 11:00 p.m. That way, if they sleep 9 hours, it will be from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., for example. Be sure to put your newborn on a schedule based on their age in weeks.

Bedtime Routine for a Toddler and Newborn

If you have both a toddler and a newborn, the bedtime routines can be a bit more challenging depending on the age of your toddler.

If you have a 12-18-month-old and a newborn, your toddler might be too distracting and unable to be quiet while you put your newborn to bed. For that reason, I recommend you put your toddler to bed first and then your newborn later. If your newborn’s bedtime is still late, this should be easy to do. You can put your newborn in a sling or wrap if they are fussy and need to be held a lot. If your baby is content, you can consider putting them in a bouncer and give your toddler more individualized attention.

If you have a 2-year old or 3-year old, your toddler might be better able to help put the baby to bed if the time to put your newborn to bed has moved to earlier than your toddler’s bedtime. If this is the case, ask your toddler to help such as getting the diaper, helping with the baby massage, etc.

If both your toddler and newborn are going to bed around the same time, you can try combining the bedtime routines but you will need to allow for extra time (~30-60 minutes). Toddlers can delay things quite a bit. Here is a sample combined bedtime routine for a toddler and newborn:

Sample Bedtime Routine With a Toddler and Newborn

1. Undress one child at a time and apply some lotion with lavender for calming comfort.
2. With the lotion, do a little baby massage.
3. Put on a clean diaper (if you are not doing Elimination Communication).
4. Put on your baby’s onesie and pajamas for both.
5. Place the baby in a bouncer and read books to both children (usually with your toddler in your lap so they can see the pictures).
6. Have your toddler get in bed and turn on lullaby music and white noise.
7. Swaddle your newborn safely and snugly.
8. Feed and burp your baby while chatting with your toddler.
9. Tell your toddler good night, turn off the light, and leave the room.
10. Rock or sway the baby gently for a few minutes and lay them down on their back in their bassinet, bedside bassinet, or crib.
11. Soothe them while in their bed, if necessary, to get them to fall the rest of the way to sleep.

I hope this post has given you all the tools you need to create the best bedtime routine for your family!

Newborn Baby Sleep Help That Works

Need help encouraging your newborn to sleep better, and to sleep longer stretches at night and during the day? We have a great resource designed to do just that. Check out Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep, an e-Book from The Baby Sleep Site^®. Available in PDF format as well as a variety of e-reader formats, Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep is the tired parents’ #1 newborn resource. Essential Keys lays out everything you need to know about helping your baby to sleep better right from the start. It also includes information on feeding (both breast and bottle), baby communication, bonding with baby, daily routines, sample sleep schedules, and more. Download your copy today!

Or, if you are interested in personalized, one-on-one help for your newborn, why not consider one of our personalized sleep consulting packages? Our consultations allow you to work directly with one of our expert sleep consultants, and to get a Personalized Sleep Plan^® that will work for your family.

First, browse our extensive list of package options and select the one that looks best for your situation.
 
Browse our list of consultation package options here.
 

Once you make your choice and purchase, you will immediately receive an e-mail with your Helpdesk login information. You’ll be able to log in and start your family’s sleep history questionnaire right away – it’s that simple!

The post Newborn Bedtime Routines and Time to Put Baby to Bed appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

What is Colic?

Colic is a fairly predictable time of day when your baby will cry for long periods of time. Some babies will cry for an hour or two but other babies can cry for multiple hours. My friend’s baby cried for 5-6 hours every day!

The most challenging part about colic is that it’s impossible to soothe the baby and stop the crying. When a colicky baby is crying, it comes on unexpectedly and for no apparent reason. You can’t simply change a diaper, for example.

The word ‘colic’ is used to label a healthy baby who cries for long periods of time every day for weeks on end. There has been a movement to share with parents and caregivers that all babies will go through a period of increasing crying. It’s just that some babies have much more of it (and labeled with colic) and other babies have much less of it (not labeled as colicky). It is called The Period of PURPLE Crying.

Diagnosing a baby with colic implies that some babies have it and others don’t. However, according to Dr. Ronald Barr, a Developmental Pediatrician and World Expert on Infant Crying, all babies go through this period, and some simply easier than others. Those who do not get labeled with colic simply have newborn evening fussiness.

Colic Signs and Symptoms for Baby

The most common signs and symptoms of colic include the following:

• Baby cries for a long period of time (2-3 hours or more).
• The crying is predictable every day. For example, your baby cries for 3 hours from ~7:00 to ~10:00 p.m. every night.
• Crying is usually in the evening.
• Baby looks like they are in pain when they are crying.
• Soothing doesn’t seem to help.

What Causes Colic?

Nothing causes colic so much as all babies will have this period of a gradual increase of crying until it peaks. This is a developmental period and a phase that will pass, eventually. The crying starts spontaneously every day and then stops just as quickly as it started.

This time period can be very frustrating and you might doubt yourself as a parent. But, this is not a reflection on your parenting skills and there are no long-lasting effects from all of the crying.

There are some theories that a baby can get overstimulated adjusting to the outside world but there has been no definitive cause as to why some babies have longer periods of crying than others.

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FREE e-Book: 15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Should Know

When Does Colic Start?

Colic for your baby starts around 2 weeks old. Crying will gradually increase over the next days/weeks until it peaks. At what age the crying peaks varies from baby to baby. For some babies, it will peak at 3 weeks while others can still cry for hours each day until 2 to 3 months old.

When Does Colic End? How Long Does Colic Last?

Thankfully, colic will end, eventually, even though it may feel like an eternity!

Once your baby’s colic peaks, the crying will gradually reduce over a period of days/weeks and end by 3 to 4 months old. Therefore, colic lasts 1 to 12 weeks and it’s impossible to know how long your baby will have it.

We do know, however, that there is often a 6 week peak of fussiness. After this, many babies will gradually fuss and cry less over the next few weeks. For my son, this was exactly true and he was much less fussy by 8 to 10 weeks old!

How Do You Know Baby Is Not Sick?

When your baby has colic, there is a pattern of crying meaning it happens every day at the relatively same time of day. Since this pattern of crying will last weeks or months, your doctor will rule out health issues and diagnose your baby with colic.

If your baby is sick, there will probably be other things going on such as diarrhea, vomiting, fever, weight loss, not feeding, etc.

Because you won’t know if your baby is showing a pattern of crying from colic for a number of weeks, it is very important to have your doctor do tests and examine your baby just in case it is a medical condition. Your doctor needs to rule out other reasons for the crying first and foremost.

Colic Remedies: How to Soothe a Baby with Colic?

Unfortunately, the definition of colic includes precisely that your baby is crying for long periods of time and cannot be soothed. I’m going to be honest here. Therefore, the ways you soothe a baby with colic will not likely be very successful. However, few parents can sit back and do nothing while their baby is crying.

As usual, I recommend you make a plan for how you will handle your newborn every day when the crying starts.

If you have help, I highly recommend you take turns, too. For example, if you know your baby will cry for 3 hours beginning around 6:30 p.m. every day, you can plan to let your spouse go for a walk or take a bath in another part of the house for the first 30-60 minutes while you take the first shift. During the second hour, you can switch places.

If you don’t have help, you can plan to try soothing the baby for 30 minutes, use a swing for 30 minutes, put on headphones for 30 minutes while walking the baby around the kitchen, and so on. If you know what you will do every day, you can reduce some of the frustration that comes with expecting you’ll be able to stop the crying. Accept the baby will cry and simply follow your “protocol” to get through it.

But, what about the baby? How can you soothe the baby? Here are a few things you can try:

• Use a Swing
• Turn off the TV and other noise in the house
• Dim the lights
• Try Gripe Water or Colic Calm

Don’t feel bad taking a break!

Obviously, some parents get very frustrated hearing their baby cry for such long periods of time every day. This is understandable! It’s always best to take a break rather than possibly hurt your baby. Put your baby down in a safe place in another room for 10 to 15 minutes if you need a break. It won’t hurt the baby and you can regroup. After all, your senses can get overstimulated, too!

5 Tips to Help Your Colic Baby Sleep Better

If there’s any chance that over-stimulation increases colic, it will help you and your baby to help them sleep better. No, we can’t get rid of all crying nor can we “fix” colic but helping your baby sleep better will recharge you during the day. If you’re lucky, you can nap during the day so you have more patience in the evening.

Here are 5 tips to help your newborn sleep better:

• Swaddle Your Baby – The benefits of swaddling are clear and can help calm a fussy baby. Be sure to swaddle the correct way for maximum positive impact.
• Use White Noise – Using white noise can help your baby drown out noises in the house. If your baby is easily over-stimulated, this should help calm them. The volume should be about that of a shower running so you may need to turn it up.
• Wear Your Baby – Using a baby wrap and simulating your newborn back in the womb can do wonders. Make sure you check the weight for the wrap you use so it’s safe. Many babies will snooze in a sling or wrap.
• Don’t keep your baby awake too long – The easiest way to over-stimulate the baby is to keep them awake too long. Babies are taking in so much around them. Therefore, many babies can only stay awake 45-60 minutes at a time until they are older. Be sure to use an appropriate newborn schedule by week.
• Offer Skin-to-Skin Contact – The benefits of skin-to-skin contact are plentiful but the biggest benefit for the purposes of soothing a baby with colic is to help regulate their heart and breathing with yours. Kangaroo Care has been shown to have many benefits to your baby and to you. And, the best part is that any caretaker can do it!

I hope this article has helped you understand colic better and, most importantly, helped you feel less alone. And, I hope that you now know that this is not a reflection on your parenting skills. It’s simply a test of your patience.

Newborn Baby Sleep Help That Works

Need help encouraging your newborn to sleep better, and to sleep longer stretches at night and during the day? We have a great resource designed to do just that. Check out Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep, an e-Book from The Baby Sleep Site^®. Available in PDF format as well as a variety of e-reader formats, Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep is the tired parents’ #1 newborn resource. Essential Keys lays out everything you need to know about helping your baby to sleep better right from the start. It also includes information on feeding (both breast and bottle), baby communication, bonding with baby, daily routines, sample sleep schedules, and more. Download your copy today!

Or, if you are interested in personalized, one-on-one help for your newborn, why not consider one of our personalized sleep consulting packages? Our consultations allow you to work directly with one of our expert sleep consultants, and to get a Personalized Sleep Plan^® that will work for your family.

First, browse our extensive list of package options and select the one that looks best for your situation.
 
Browse our list of consultation package options here.
 

Once you make your choice and purchase, you will immediately receive an e-mail with your Helpdesk login information. You’ll be able to log in and start your family’s sleep history questionnaire right away – it’s that simple!

The post Colic in Baby: 5 Tips to Help Your Newborn Sleep appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Parents around the world use swaddling as a way to comfort fussy babies, reduce crying, and develop more settled sleep patterns. Often when we see babies getting ready for bedtime and being swaddled, their bodies are tightly wrapped in a cloth, sheet or light blanket. This is where a potential hidden danger exists. Not allowing the hips and legs to move freely can promote the most common birth abnormality, hip dysplasia. Because this condition can be challenging to detect, even by a trained physician, it’s important to know about safe swaddling before using a swaddle for naptime or sleeping for the night.

What is hip dysplasia and what does swaddling have to do with it?

Loose hip joints are the most common abnormality in newborn infants and affect approximately one in ten babies. While this may be difficult to detect and usually goes away during the first few weeks of life, loose ligaments around the hip can lead to complete hip dislocation, continuing joint instability, or poor development of the hip socket. This range of hip abnormalities is called Hip Dysplasia.

If left undetected, hip dysplasia in children can result in a limited range of motion, consistent pain, swayback which is a painless but exaggerated waddling limp or leg length discrepancy, hip click or “pops”, among other issues. When not treated, adults and adolescence can experience a range of pain when walking, running, sleeping, limping, and a sensation of catching, snapping, popping, or locking that is usually painful.

“Improper swaddling may lead to hip dysplasia or developmental dysplasia of the hip. When in the womb the baby’s legs are in a fetal position with the legs bent up and across each other. Sudden straightening of the legs to a standing position can loosen the joints and damage the soft cartilage of the socket.” According to Dr. Charles Price, Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (www.hipdysplasia.org) “Hip dysplasia often goes untreated because it can be difficult to detect. Hip dysplasia is often curable without surgery if discovered within the first six months of life.”

How is hip dysplasia detected?

You may remember seeing your newborn being examined as if he or she was a frog. The pediatrician pumps those little legs, and many may think the doctor is checking to see if your baby’s knees work. Not quite…she is checking your baby’s hips which are not fully formed at birth and must be examined in the early months to ensure healthy development.

Why all this concern over hips? Won’t they just grow as the baby does? The simple answer is yes they will grow along with the rest of baby’s body; however, this part of baby’s body must be monitored to ensure the hips are developing correctly and with the flexibility necessary to lead a healthy and pain-free life.

What can a parent do to protect her child?

The best thing new and expectant parents can do is to be aware of the warning signs and/or risk factors for hip dysplasia. A recent study in the UK revealed that the current system of checking newborns is failing to result in too many late diagnoses leading to surgery.

If your baby exhibits one or more, you may want to ask for an ultrasound which is the best way to confirm if the condition exists:

• breech birth
• family history
• first born female
• reduced fluid volume in the womb
• neck tightness
• foot abnormality from compression in the womb

Knowing how to safely swaddle your baby before sleeptime:

Since baby’s hips are not fully formed at birth, parents must take extra care when selecting baby products that can affect hip development. Infant swaddles, which recreate the intimacy of the womb by wrapping baby’s body in a snug manner, must be loose on the bottom so baby can kick and move his legs freely.

There are many ways to swaddle babies by using blankets or commercial products designed for swaddling. In order for swaddling to allow healthy hip development, the legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips. This position allows for the natural development of the hip joints.

The baby’s legs should not be tightly wrapped straight down and pressed together. Swaddling infants with the hips and knees in an extended position may increase the risk of hip dysplasia and dislocation.

The IHDI has developed a video to teach you how to swaddle your baby properly in order to keep your babies hips healthy and safe. 

Hip Dysplasia is no laughing matter: how a comedian put it on everyone’s radar

Larry the Cable Guy is best known as one of the leading comedians in the country along with being a Grammy nominee and Billboard award winner. He also started the Git-R-Done Foundation which supports various charities including the International Hip Dysplasia Institute which he co-founded with Dr. Price. Why his interest I hip dysplasia? His own son Wyatt was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at a time when there was no resource of information on the condition for parents to access. He eventually met Dr. Price whom he credits with curing his son without surgery. Throughout the process, Larry and his wife Cara felt lost trying to educate themselves on the condition. Today the International Hip Dysplasia Institute is the leading resource on hip dysplasia to improve the health and quality of life of those afflicted with hip dysplasia. The Institute also brings together medical centers worldwide to promote prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hip dysplasia.

Charles T. Price, M.D. is Director of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute and Director of Pediatric Orthopaedic Education at Orlando Health. He is internationally known for his clinical and academic achievements including numerous scientific publications and book chapters on a variety of subjects. He has developed and chaired the International Pediatric Orthopedic Society meeting since its inception 10 years ago.

The post Shedding Light on Sleep, Swaddling & Hip Dysplasia: Why the Most Common Birth Abnormality Still Puzzles Physicians & Baffles New Parents appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

Newborn babies sleep a lot when they first come home. Your 1-month-old baby should sleep 16 hours or more per 24-hour period with usually 8-10 hours being at night and 6-8 hours during the day. The amount of nighttime and daytime sleep varies quite a bit baby to baby.

Contrary to what many people think, newborn babies generally do not sleep in very long stretches at night until they are a bit older and will eat every 2-3 hours all day and night.

Let’s learn more about your 1-month-old baby’s sleep needs:

1-Month-Old Baby Sleep Patterns

Your newborn baby’s sleep patterns have to develop over time. How your baby sleeps at just a couple of weeks old will change significantly over the coming weeks and months. Your 1-month-old will sleep up to 16 hours a day, sometimes more, and only stay awake 1-2 hours at the most. I know it may feel like all your baby does is eat, sleep, and poop, but this changes quickly.

1-Month-Old Baby Schedule

Many Type-A parents (like me!) tend to thrive on a schedule, so you may naturally ask when your 1-month-old can be put on a newborn sleep schedule. Clock-based, predictable schedules are still a few weeks or months away, but you can start the process by choosing a couple of fixed points to your day. For example, you can get the baby up every day around the same time or set his or her first feeding time to be a particular time every day.

Some of us are more schedule-oriented than others, so don’t feel the schedule has to be rigid. Unless your baby is fairly predictable, naturally, it isn’t likely to work out anyway. If your baby seems to change a lot, you may want to consider changing the schedule as your baby grows and changes. Our newborn sleep schedules by week can guide you for these first several months.

1-Month-Old Baby Naps

1-month-olds nap on and off all day and this is the time period during which many babies can sleep anywhere and everywhere. Not all babies can and will do this, however. For some babies, they need to be in a quiet, darker room in order to nap well while others nap best in a crowded room. All babies vary but keep in mind that babies this age tend to nap 4-6 times a day, depending on how long each nap is.

1-Month-Old Baby Nights

At night, your 1-month-old will likely sleep in 2-3-hour stretches and still eat frequently at night. Your baby will likely sleep a variable number of hours at night in total, so don’t expect an early bedtime just yet. If you put your baby to bed too early at this age, you are likely going to be starting your day too early in the morning. The ideal bedtime varies with age.

Instead, plan for your baby to go to bed for the night when you do a bit later at night around 10 or 11 PM. If your baby does have a long stretch of sleep at night, you want it to be at the same time you are trying to get some sleep yourself.

1-Month-Old Baby Mood and Fussiness

Your 1-month-old baby will be going through a rapid period of growth and development, so he or she may be a bit fussier in the coming weeks with a peak in fussiness around 6 weeks old. But, have no fear, the happy baby times are coming!

You may also be interested in:

• 10 Tips to Help Your Newborn Sleep
• How and When to Stop Swaddling Your Baby
• 15 Baby Sleep Facts New Parents Need to Know
• Essential Keys to Your Newborn’s Sleep

Tell us about your 1-month-old’s sleep in the comments below!

The post How Much Your 1-Month Old Baby Should Sleep appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.

It hasn’t been very long since your little bundle of joy arrived. Congratulations to you! However, it is true that the first month is no less than a bit of a haze for you. To take and understand the responsibilities of an ideal parent needs time. The entire routine of feeding, changing diapers, sleeping, etc. can be exhausting. Still, you must cope up with every change your newborn has brought in your life with a smiling face. C’mon! that’s your baby and it’s all worth it.

Isn’t it?

It is also important to ensure our child grows with a sound body and brain. Be involved with your child in different activities like family games, reading books, coloring etc. If you do so, you’ll raise a psychologically and physically developed person.

In fact, there are several sensory activities for the newborn child during the first month which are very crucial. These tried and tested activities are really beneficial for the proper growth of your darling.

Some significant activities are mentioned below:

Cuddle With Your Baby:

Cuddling with your baby is no less than a bliss!

Right?

Who doesn’t like to hold a little one in their arms and shower with a lot of kisses? It will not only let the beautiful bond between you and your child grow but also have many other benefits. If you cuddle with your baby, it will boost up his/her psychological development.

Also, babies who are blessed with more cuddling can sleep better. Further, they can manage stress easily and have good autonomic functions like heart rate and body temperature. When both parents shower the baby with hugs and cuddles, the baby feels secure and happy. It also increases the family bond

Talk To Your Little Darling:

This is what will act as the foundation of language development in your kid. Just make sure that you’re talking to him/her clearly. Whatever you might be planning to talk to him, make it very clear to avoid any further interference in speech development of your child.

Whether it is about anything that is around, a lullaby, or a story, everything will be helpful. Also, you shouldn’t hesitate to use a high-pitched voice while talking to your baby. The newborn must get drawn to you. Moreover, avoid mispronunciation.

Face to Face Moments:

Research has already proven that infants love to look at human faces. They enjoy moments when they look at open eyes and smiling faces. So, ensure to look at your baby and smile. Also, you can make funny faces to entertain him/her. Hence, it is smart to be creative and enjoy the adorable cues of your one or a couple of months old maybe.

Sing a Song to Your Newborn:

You can go for any song that you like. Whether it includes nursery rhymes or songs, everything is acceptable. You can sing a song while cuddling, walking, changing their diaper, giving your baby a bath and so on. Singing can be one of the easiest ways to soothe, entertain, and make that special relationship between you and your child bloom.

Give Your Kid a Tummy Time:

It is one of the most important activities for your baby. This activity can build coordination and leads to the strengthening of your baby’s neck, shoulder, arm, and trunk. In turn, these muscles can boost up baby’s motor skills such as rolling over, crawling, sitting up, pulling self up and so on.

Let Your Child Lay on Their Back:

To play with your baby when he/she is lying on their back is an important step. Newborn babies have no idea of where their arms and legs are. Hence, if you lay your child down on his/her back, he/she will get an opportunity to explore his/her hands and feet. This will directly help in the development of eye-hand and eye-foot coordination. You can simply play with your baby’s hands and legs to encourage him/her.

Massage Your Baby’s Body:

It is one of the most amazing activities which has a variety of perks. There are various studies which have indicated that massaging your infant can let the bond between parents and baby develop like never before.

Also, proper massaging can help the baby sleep well at night while developing their main body systems which include respiratory system, circulatory system, skeletal system and so on. Moreover, massaging your baby can act as a pain relief for him/her.

Aren’t these activities easy? These activities can build a strong foundation for your child’s growth and development. However, remember, each baby has their own pace for development. If you feel that your baby is not responding to any of these activities, you can try them a few weeks later. There is no need to panic.

Author Bio:

Lyla Morris is a Founder & Editor at Lylamorris.com. She loves to write about Parenting and Health Care tips also.

The post 7 Sensory Activities for Newborn Babies appeared first on The Baby Sleep Site - Baby / Toddler Sleep Consultants.