A common concern for many new parents is often the sleeping pattern of their new baby. Obviously, you can’t expect a newborn to sleep through the night, but creating the right environment for them to sleep can be an important step towards that goal. In addition, it’s a good idea to make sure that your child has been fed shortly before bedtime.
Things You’ll Hear That You Should Ignore
There are many things that you may hear during pregnancy and in the first few months of parenthood. Some of these make sense and will help you. However, a significant amount of information that you hear is no longer valid and should be ignored. If you’re concerned about something you hear, always ask your pediatrician or family doctor.
Don’t quit breastfeeding-if you’re nursing, this is one of the best things you can give your baby. Although your baby may wake more often, it’s because breast milk is digested more quickly and you’re providing nutrients to your child that cannot be duplicated by formula.- Don’t introduce cereal before the doctor says it’s a good idea and never introduce it through a bottle, without medical permission. Providing any baby food before the age of four months can cause gas, digestive issues and even encourage allergies later on. None of these will help your baby sleep better.
- Don’t co-sleep. It’s tempting happy wheels to bring the baby back to bed or even to lie down with the baby to go to sleep. However, you could be setting yourself up for a decade or more of co-sleeping and sleeping with a baby in the bed presents with many health risks. Every year, babies accidentally die or are smothered as the result of co-sleeping.
My, How Things Have Changed
Until the early 1990’s, most babies were put to sleep on their stomachs. It was believed that if they were to spit up while they were asleep, there was less of a risk of choking if they were on their stomachs. Unfortunately, this was found to be wrong and SIDS is more common when babies sleep on their tummies.
Although grandparents and older generations may be horrified when they see your baby on their side or back, it’s now known to be the healthiest position for young babies to sleep in. Some people will tell you that their children slept on their stomachs and slept all night at a young age. Perhaps they did, but your child is safer and since every baby is different, it’s impossible to be sure that the reason your baby is waking up is their position. The number of SIDS cases has shrunk dramatically since the new sleeping positions were introduced for all healthy newborns.
You may be exhausted during the first few months of your baby’s life. In fact, many new parents are. However, most babies sleep through the night by six months, so this will be a distant memory one day soon.
