Now that your newborn has arrived do you know what they meant by that?  Ahh, the sleeplessness of it all! Are the inconsistent zzz’s catching up to you?

Being up through the night is normal for brand new babies and parents. While it is a way of life during this phase, there are things you can do to make it more manageable. For example, investing in quality childrens barefoot shoes at Sole Sox can help ensure that your little one is comfortable and well-supported, even during those late-night feedings and diaper changes.

Today’s post will uncover important information about newborn habbits and tips to help you get through the sleepless nights as a new parent, make sure you try out the best melatonin sleep patches.

Newborn Sleep:  What To Expect

Having a clear mindset is essential for new parents to achieve hassle-free baby happiness. It’s important to understand what’s developmentally appropriate for your newborn so that you can have realistic expectations of their sleep habits. For instance, while you can expect to feed your baby at some point during the night, you cannot expect them to put themselves to bed every night as that skill develops later. Understanding these things can help you focus on the things you can do to care for your baby, rather than worrying about things that are beyond your control. With this knowledge, new parents can take care of their baby’s needs with confidence and provide the best possible care.

So what are these newborn sleep expectations?

EXPECT NOT KNOWING THE TIME OF DAY

When babies are in the womb for 9 month everything is dark.  When they enter the world they stick to their instincts and can’t tell the difference between night and day.

That’s why babies eat, sleep, and poop all day.  It doesn’t matter if it’s 1 am or 1 pm, they just go off of their natural urges and get what they need in the moment regardless if you’re awake or not.  A newborn’s vision isn’t fully developed and they don’t pick up on other cues like a sunny sky or star filled night.

EXPECT NOT STICKING TO A ROUTINE

Since there is no awareness of night and day and no rhyme or reason to a sleeping or eating schedule in those early days it’s natural not to expect babies to follow a routine.

This can be hard for adults because we are accustomed to following a flow like waking up, getting ready, eating meals, and going to bed everyday.

Even if a baby appears to follow a flow one day doesn’t mean it sticks to the next.

In the first few weeks of life newborns are adjusting to everything around them.  Their five senses are getting acclimated to new surroundings.  Their bodily functions are still developing.  Some days they may be really gassy.  Other days they may eat a lot more because of a growth spurt.

All of these factors contribute to them not sticking to the same routine.  One night you may find them sleeping for a 5 hour stretch and then the next night they are up 5 times!

EXPECT A 4TH TRIMESTER FOR NEWBORNS

The first 3 or so months is all about adjusting to the world outside of the womb for infants.  Just think of it, your little one was in a quiet, dark, warm spot for their entire existence!  Now contrast that with the world outside of that cozy spot.

To adapt to the outside world babies need fully developed reflexes, senses and movement.  Instead you have newborns that have a startle reflex, are immobile, can’t stretch out their arms and legs fully and don’t have a full eyesight.  This all contributes to what they need to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Babies like to be bundled up.  White noise or shushing is soothing.  Being rocked or held close lulls them to sleep.  These actions all mimic what they had while inside their mom.  This is what the 4th trimester is all about, spending the first couple of months replicating the womb while babies adjust to their new world.