It's all exciting and new with your new baby but your are tired!
When is my baby going to sleep? Many books are now published on the topic of sleep training for babies which often include some form of allowing baby to cry it out or may include a system of scheduling. It's a huge topic and money maker for those out there teach training methods. I believe it's very important to understand from the beginning that all babies are individuals and are born with their own personality and disposition. One book or one ideology may not be your answer. What might work for one baby may not work for another. Or for that matter it may work for one family may not work for another. Things to consider when trying to "get baby to sleep"
- It's normal to be tired with a newborn, sleep when the baby sleeps, even during the day
- Newborns shouldn't really be sleeping more than 2-3 hours at a time because they need to eat
- Get help from supportive friends or family, after you have fed the baby if baby is still awake let someone else watch him/her
- It's normal for babies of all ages to want to be held - a lot, it's instinctual
- Six hours of continuous sleep is considered a full sleep through for a baby.
- Some babies naturally sleep more than others
- Some need help by rocking or soothing from parents
- Some get hungry and need to feed more frequently
- Allowing a baby to 'cry it out' is physiologically stressful on a babies delicate system
- Scheduled feedings was originally designed for formula fed babies, not breastfed babies. (Studies have noted that scheduling a breastfed baby often leads to an underweight baby at 6 months)
- Breastfeeding on demand is less stressful on mother and baby. Breastfeeding will not be on a predictable schedule. It's a myth that formula fed babies sleep longer. The latest studies have concluded that breastfeeding mom's get more sleep than formula feeding moms
- Swaddling is not recommened anymore because of the possible overheating of baby which can lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Sometimes you just have to accept that there is not always a magic bullet for your baby to sleep. Sometimes it's just patience and time.
- And remember you can be doing everything just right by your baby and your baby just doesn't want to sleep at that time. If you think about sometimes you don't sleep for whatever reason, let's allow babies to be themselves and steer away from trying to "control the baby"
- Take what you read with a grain of salt and test it with what research and safety experts say
