We all know that new born babies have a different sleeping pattern and it only changes as they grow.  You need to adjust to your babies’ sleep patterns but you also need to have your right amount of rest. To deal with having a newborn baby in the house, you’ll need more information about your little one. 

What are the sleeping patterns of a newborn baby?

• The body clock of most newborns is confusing during the first few days and nights. Most wake up during the night and sleep during the day.

• There are no set sleeping hours for a newborn, but generally they sleep about eight to nine hours during the day, and eight hours during the night.

• Your baby has a small stomach, and would get hungry every few hours. Expect that your baby would not sleep eight hours straight, but would need feeding every few hours.

What are the side effects of lack of sleep on mommy’s health?

• Your stress level can get worse if you do not have enough sleep. This will not be beneficial for you and your baby.

• When the body lacks sleep, it is more prone to illness. Enough sleep helps your body become capable of fighting diseases and staying healthy.

• Lack of sleep makes a mommy cranky. You may become less patient or less understanding when you have less than five hours of sleep.

How can you balance sleep hours and caring for the newborn baby?

• There are no to-do lists for this, but one trick is to sleep when your baby is sleeping.  Instead of doing household chores when your baby finally takes a nap, catch a few hours of rest as well. The dishes can wait.

• Find someone to help you during the first few months. This would ensure that your baby is properly taken care of while you catch a few hours of sleep.

• If you can’t find an extra help, split baby duty shifts with your partner. Make sure that each of you get at least five hours of continuous sleep.

• Do not share your bed with your baby. After feeding or comforting your baby when he wakes up, bring your baby back to the crib when you are ready to sleep.

• Your first instinct would be to comfort the baby every time he awakes at night. But, if you are sure that the baby is not hungry, it is suggested that you give him a few minutes before you rush to his side. This will help your baby develop his ‘self-soothing’ skill.

The baby becomes the top priority of any parent.  It is human instinct to take care of your baby but you have to understand that, you need to be strong and healthy for you to be able to care for your baby.  You will not be able to give baby the best care if you are always tired and lacking sleep. Make sure to try and manage getting enough rest within the day. Ask your doctor and talk to fellow moms about your baby’s needs and sleep patterns to better understand and care for your little one.

Sources:
http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/newborn/behrslep.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00068/NSECTIONGROUP=2
http://consumer.healthday.com/encyclopedia/article.asp?AID=643886
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-and-everyday-life/handling-stress.html
http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/ask-the-expert/sleep-infants-and-parents