If there is one thing all parents share in common it would be lack of sleep. While babies spend most of their time during the first few months sleeping, most parents don’t. From late night to middle of the night feedings you feel more like a walking zombie. Just remind yourself this phase will fly by sooner than you know it. We have a few tips for sleep-deprived moms that will help you keep your sanity.
On average, newborns typically sleep about 16 hours a day but some babies will sleep more or less. If your baby was born prematurely you can expect them to sleep a little more than average. Newborns, in particular, may change up their sleeping habits from day to day especially depending on their environment. For instance, if you are planning a trip to the mall or running a few errands, your baby may sleep longer than the day before as car rides usually lull babies to sleep.
You have likely heard the old adage ‘sleep when baby sleeps’. For most parents this is easier said than done, but it is vital for both you and your baby. Your sleep is constantly interrupted for night time feedings and if you aren’t catching up on a few Zs when you can during the day it will wear your body down and impair your thinking and function. Find someone who can give you a hand during the day for those first few weeks such as your partner, a friend, a relative, or even a nanny so you can get some much needed rest.
Some parents are very fortunate to have babies with perfect sleeping habits that even begin sleeping through the night as early as 4 weeks! However, most babies generally won’t sleep through the night until about 6 weeks or later. This is mainly because their tummies are small and fill up quickly therefore requiring more frequent feedings than older babies. There are a wide range of sleep issues we will cover to help you because we all know a sleeping baby equals a happy mommy.
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