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Sleep is not under our control and cannot be forced. Up to around 3 months, there is a huge variation in the amount of time your baby will sleep - it can range from just over 9 hours to 20 hours.
Sleep cycles are short at about 45 minutes. Your baby has a very small stomach and needs to feed around the clock to meet their needs. Although managing night feeds can be challenging, it is also a quiet time away from the business of the day.
It’s not until around 8-12 weeks that your baby’s circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycle) matures enough for them to begin to tell night from day. Babies have increased amounts of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep so will wake more easily.
It is thought that the sleep cycle and arousal from sleep is a protective mechanism against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). At this stage, it is advised that you have your baby in the same room as you (day and night when sleeping), until at least 6 months of age.
Recognising sleep cues
These can vary from baby to baby, but you will begin to recognise your own baby’s cues over time. The cues will also change as they grow.
They may yawn, rub their eyes, pull at their ears, become quieter, or you may notice them frowning, pulling their hair, being less engaged and responsive, having a glazed look, and drooping eyes, they may want to suck/feed, or arch backwards. However, becoming irritable and beginning to cry are late signs and can lead to your baby becoming over-tired.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is rare, so don’t let worrying about it stop you from enjoying your baby’s first few months.
Putting your baby on their back to sleep, in a cot in the same room as you, for the first six months is one way to reduce your baby’s risk even further.
Not smoking during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and not letting anyone else smoke in the same room as your baby, will also help to protect them.
One of the biggest challenges for new parents is getting used to the changes that a baby will bring to their night-time routine. Most young babies wake and feed frequently both day and night, regardless of whether they are breastfed or bottle fed. It might be reassuring to know that it is both normal and essential for your baby to feed during the night. Babies grow quickly in the early weeks and months of their lives and have very small stomachs. Therefore they need to feed around the clock to meet their needs.
Putting your baby down to sleep
To keep your baby safe and to reduce the risk of sudden infant death (sometimes called cot death) always make sure:
- You put your baby down on her back to sleep, never on her front or side.
- The cot is beside the parents’ bed for at least the first six months.
- The mattress is firm and flat – soft beds, bean bags and sagging mattresses are not suitable.
- Your baby is not overdressed or covered with too much bedding (no more than you would use yourself).
- The bedding must not be able to cover the baby’s head.
- The room is not too hot (16-20ºC is ideal).
- The room where your baby sleeps is a smoke-free zone.
If you decided to share a bed with your baby
Some parents choose to sleep with their baby in bed and some fall asleep with their baby during the night while feeding and comforting whether they intend to or not. Therefore it is very important to consider the following points:
- Keep your baby away from the pillows.
- Make sure your baby cannot fall out of bed or become trapped between the mattress and wall.
- Make sure the bedclothes cannot cover your baby’s face or head.
- Don’t leave your baby alone in the bed, as even very young babies can wriggle into a dangerous position.
Be aware:
- It is not safe to bed-share in the early months if your baby was born very small or preterm.
- Do not sleep with your baby when you have been drinking any alcohol or taking drugs that may cause drowsiness (legal or illegal).
- Do not sleep with your baby if you or anyone else is a smoker.
- Do not put yourself in a position where you could doze off with your baby on a sofa or armchair.
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