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Welcome to the wonderful world of parenthood! As a new parent, you’re probably experiencing a roller coaster of emotions as you navigate this exciting and challenging journey. One of the biggest challenges parents face in the first few weeks is understanding the normal infant sleep pattern. Sleep is crucial for both you and your baby, but getting enough quality sleep can be challenging when you have a little one who doesn’t want to stick to any schedule.

In this blog post, we’ll help you understand your infant sleep pattern so that you can create healthy sleeping habits from day one. Get ready for some valuable tips and insights for your baby and the rest they need while also keeping yourself sane during those first few weeks!

Introduction

There is no secret that newborns sleep a lot. In fact, your little one will spend most of his time in the first few weeks sleeping. But what is surprising is they don’t sleep like adults. Here’s a look at what to expect when it comes to your infant sleep patterns.
Babies under two months old typically sleep 16-18 hours per day, which is the average newborn sleep pattern. Most of this sleep is in the form of short naps that last 30 minutes to 2 hours. It is usual for newborns to wake up frequently throughout the night. Newborns tend to have their most extended, uninterrupted sleep during the late morning or early afternoon.
Babies will start to consolidate their sleep and have more extended periods of nighttime sleep as they get older.
So don’t worry if your newborn seems to be sleeping all the time or wakes up frequently throughout the night. It is normal developing process for all the babies.

Newborn Sleep Patterns

Newborns have a sleep pattern that is vastly different from adults. They spend most of their day sleeping, with periods of wakefulness for feeding and nappy change. Newborns typically sleep in short bursts of 2-3 hours at a time, waking up frequently throughout the night to feed or be changed. This is because their stomachs are small, and they must feed frequently to maintain their energy levels.

Additionally, newborns spend more time in REM sleep than adults, which is essential for brain development and information processing.

As they grow older, their average sleep pattern will gradually become more similar to those of adults. First-time parents need to understand their infant sleep pattern so that they can adjust to the schedules accordingly and ensure that their newborn gets the rest they need for healthy development.

Understanding Infant Sleep Patterns

Understanding how many hours a day should a newborn sleep can be a challenging task for first-time parents. First-time parents find it difficult in understanding when is the night for their baby and when is the day. The unusual infant sleep pattern frustrated the parents especially mother.

The sleep deprived mother who used to take 8 hours sleep now juggling in between when she can sleep and somehow fall into postpartum depression. Baby crying for a reason that is difficult to understand and these unusual infant sleep patterns are the most struggling part of parenthood. This is the reason parents do not get enough rest in the first few weeks, as caring and understanding the need of a newborn is exhausting.

For taking good care of your baby, it’s important to prioritize self-care by taking breaks when possible and asking for help from family or friends. It’s fine and okay to ask for assistance and take time for yourself.

What To Expect During the First Few Weeks

Mostly days and nights appears to be same for the babies, and that the reason, parents are confused about infant sleep patterns. This means they may be more awake and alert during the evening and nighttime hours and more likely to sleep during the day. First time parents get frustrated of this routine and try to adjust to a new sleep schedule with their baby!

You can do the following to help your newborn (and yourself!) adjust to a more regular sleep pattern:

• Try to keep your baby’s sleeping environment as dark and quiet as possible during the night. It will help them understand that it is time to sleep.
• During the day, expose your baby to as much natural light as possible. This will help them differentiate between night and day.
• Make a bedtime routine that includes soothing and relaxing activities such as a bath, massage, or story time. It will help your baby wind down at the end of the day and prepare for sleep.
• Be patient! It takes time for babies (and parents!) to adjust to a new sleep schedule. Try not to get too stressed or frustrated if things aren’t perfect from the start.

What Is the Average Newborn Sleep Pattern?

Most newborns sleep 16 to 18 hours a day, but they sleep in shorter periods and wake up to feed every few hours. A typical newborn sleeping pattern looks like this:

Wake up to feed

Sleep for 2-3 hours

Wake up to feed

Sleep for 2-3 hours

Wake up to feed

Sleep for 2-3 hours

Wake up to feed

As you can see, newborns wake up frequently throughout the day and night to eat. This is normal and necessary, as their tiny tummies can’t hold much food at once. Newborns should be fed whenever they show signs of hunger, typically every 2-3 hours.

What Factors Impact Your Infant Sleep Pattern?

Newborns’ sleep is broken up into periods of two to four hours at a time. But don’t be surprised if your baby sleeps for only short stretches at first. It takes time for newborns to develop regular sleeping patterns.
There are many factors that can impact your baby’s sleep patterns, including.

-Feeding

Newborn babies need to feed frequently, and this can impact their sleep patterns. Breastfeeding babies may wake up more often to feed, while formula-fed babies may sleep for longer stretches.

-Growth spurts

As your baby grows, they may have growth spurts that can disrupt their sleeping patterns. When babies grow, their feeding demand increases more often and may have trouble settling down to sleep.

-Sensory overload

Too much stimulation from sight, sounds, and touch can keep your baby from falling asleep or cause them to wake up frequently at night. Maintain a calm and soothing environment around him.
-Illness: If your baby is sick, they may have trouble sleeping or may sleep more than usual. If your baby has a fever, is having difficulty breathing, or is excessively irritable, call your doctor immediately.

Keeping Track of Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule

Assuming your baby is healthy and sleeping well, you can expect her to sleep a lot in the first few weeks – up to 16 to 17 hours in 24 hours. But this sleep is far from continuous. Newborns typically sleep for two to four hours at a time, day and night.

The good news is that, unlike adults, newborns don’t have circadian rhythms (the internal body clock that regulates when we feel awake or sleepy based on the time of day). This means they can (and do) sleep at any time of day or night.
The bad news is that it is challenging for new parents to get used to this broken infant sleep pattern – especially if they’re also dealing with nighttime feedings. But hang in there! The frequent waking periods will start to lessen as your baby grows and sleeps more soundly for longer stretches at a time.

Tips on Setting Bedtime Routine for Baby

1-Establish a bedtime routine and stick to it as closely as possible. A calm, consistent bedtime routine will help signal to your baby that it’s time to sleep.

2. Put your baby to bed drowsy but awake. This will help them learn to fall asleep on their own.
3. Keep the environment around your baby’s sleep area quiet and dark. This will help them stay asleep for longer periods of time.
4. Avoid letting your baby become overtired during the day. Because after that a baby will have harder time falling asleep and staying asleep at night.
5. Be patient! Newborns take times to adjust to nighttime sleep patterns. Keep up with your consistent routines, and your baby will eventually catch on!

Common Mistakes Parents Make Trying to Establish Good Sleeping Habits

There are a few common mistakes that parents make when trying to establish good sleeping habits for their babies. One of the most common is letting the baby sleep in their bed too early on. Parents need to keep their baby close to them in the early weeks and months so that they feel safe and secure. Another mistake is not establishing a regular bedtime routine.

Establishing a bedtime routine and sticking to it will help your baby know when it’s time to sleep. Parents often make the mistake of trying to wake their baby up if they’ve been sleeping for more than a few hours. It’s important to let your baby sleep as much as they need to develop healthy sleep habits.

Conclusion

Understanding your infant sleep pattern can be challenging, but with a bit of patience, you’ll soon master this. By establishing an environment that encourages restful sleep, responding to their cues for hunger and comfort needs, and making sure to keep up your own self-care activities, you will be able to help your little one settle into a better-sleeping routine. With these tips in mind, hopefully, the first few weeks with your new baby will be filled with sweet evenings of restful nights’ sleep.