Sleeping Arrangements for Newborns
It's not unusual for newborns to have unusual sleeping habits,
particularly for them to want to sleep during the day, and stay
awake at night. Remember, in the womb its dark all the time, so
night and day mean nothing to them. If your baby's sleeping
habits need some adjustment, here are some ways to get him on
track.
Don't keep quiet during the day when he's sleeping When he
sleeps during the day (and all babies will) leave the door to
his room open, and go about your normal daily routine. Keep the
television or stereo on. This will accomplish two things. First,
he will learn to sleep even through noise, which is important,
since this child will be taking naps in your home for four or
five years. Secondly, he will get the idea that the daytime is
not the right time for long periods of sleep.
If he sleeps more than three hours at a stretch, wake him Babies
should nap during the day, of course, but more than three hours
is not a nap. To get him awake, try holding him upright and
tickling his feet. If that doesn't work, take off his shirt. The
chill will wake him. Don't leave him uncovered for long, though.
Once he is awake, sing or talk to him to keep him that way for a
while. This is a great time to put him on a mat for some tummy
time if it's not feeding time.
Now, of course the second half of this problem is the staying
awake at night. This is going to take some time, and babies
usually make some significant adjustments within about three
weeks, though you will be getting up for feedings at least once
at night for a bit longer. Some things you can do to make him
more likely to sleep longer and better during the night are: