About
What you'll need:
What you'll do:
Sleep
One time to dos:
🔲 ✨Learn about sleep classes/consultants: At some point, you may find yourself sleep-deprived and in need of assistance. While many sleep consultants/classes promise "sleeping through the night" in a short amount of time, it's important to understand that achieving baby sleep can be challenging and there is no quick fix. Being informed about what options are available will help you avoid feeling taken advantage of when on low sleep. Sleep training is typically not recommended until your baby is 5 to 6 months old, but now is a great time to research sleep options and adopt early healthy sleep habits before exhaustion leads to hasty decisions.
Tip: A lot of sleep training resources and advice can be accessed for free (some links provided below) or at a low cost. This is a great starting point. If you prefer guided classes, sleep classes like Taking Cara Babies and The Happy Sleeper may fit your family. These classes tend to be much more expensive and use the sleep training styles (e.g. Ferber) as a base, sometimes with modifications.
Note: I have personally read Precious Little Sleep and taken the Taking Cara Babies courses. Your decision of how to approach sleep is personal to you and your family.
💡 Learn More: @thatsleepdoc: Sleep Training Overview | @thatsleepdoc: Age Appropriate Sleep Schedule | Precious Little Sleep: Power Tools | The Happiest Baby: The 5 S’s to Soothing Babies
🔲 ✨Learn about sleep hygiene: Sleep hygiene refers to the practices that promote quality sleep. While independent sleep and sleep training may come later, you can begin implementing sleep hygiene practices now to pave the way for future success.
Ensure the baby’s sleep environment is completely dark (so dark you can’t see your hand in front of your face)
Create a calm and quiet atmosphere
Only allow consistent nighttime sounds when the baby is falling asleep
Establish a bedtime routine, even though it may be early for the baby (they typically need a sleep routine around 8 weeks), starting now can help you develop the habit.
🔲 ✨Learn about the SNOO: The SNOO is a bassinet equipped with built-in automatic soothing techniques, like gentle motion, that activate when it detects your baby starting to wake. This bassinet could be ideal for you and your baby if you're looking to enhance sleep—especially if your partner is returning to work and you'll be managing solo overnight shifts, or if you simply need to prioritize sleep for everyone's well-being. The SNOO is on the pricier side, but rental and purchasing options are available.
💡 Learn More: SNOO: About | SNOO: Rental | SNOO: Buying Options
🔲 ✨Adjust your sleep routine, as needed: Congratulations on reaching the one-week mark! Take a moment each week to check in with your partner. How are your nights going? Is one of you feeling more sleep-deprived than the other? Are there any changes you should consider?
You might start with shifts and find you need additional support (like a Night Doula), or perhaps one partner is returning to work and adjustments are needed. Regardless of the situation, maintaining open lines of communication is essential. Remember, it will improve but it does take time!
Recurring to dos:
🔲 ✨ Get to know your newborn’s daily sleep patterns: Expect around 16-17 hours of sleep a day. It may be in little bursts of 1 to 3 hours at a time. Reminder! There is a range of normal, if you are ever concerned speak with your baby’s pediatrician.
💡 Learn More: AAP: Getting Your Baby to Sleep | AAP: Waking Up Is (Sometimes) Hard to Do (How to wake a sleeping baby)
🔲 Follow safe sleep guidelines: Your baby's safety is top priority and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) can be a scary topic for new parents. The AAP has guidelines for safe sleep to help reduce the occurrence of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths. Take a moment to review AAP's website in safe sleep.
Important Note: As I am not an expert in sleep, I am only linking to AAP's official policy. If you are struggling to stay awake with your baby or find it difficult to follow these guidelines please speak with your care team to discuss safe options.
💡 Learn More: AAP: How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe: AAP Policy Explained
🔲 Optional sleep helpers: Swaddles, sound machines, and pacifiers can be helpful sleep aids. Try these out to find what works for your family.
Important Note: Swaddle sizing should be monitored to ensure correct fit.
Important Note: Pacifier age should be fore 0-3 Months.
Important Note: Sound machine should be placed away from baby's sleep area and no louder than 50 db.
💡 Learn More: AAP: Sleep