We are absolutely THRILLED to
announce our newest partner - Kim Schaf, Founder and President of Sleep
Training Solutions and the Midwest Regional Director (USA) for the Association
of Professional Sleep Consultants (APSC). Check out Kim's bio and 5 tips for
newborn sleep below! You can learn more about Kim by visiting her website at
5 Sleep
Tips for Newborns
Does this sound familiar? You
were the model pregnant mom-to-be, taking classes on Breastfeeding Basics,
Newborn Care 101, prenatal yoga, signing dad up for Daddy Bootcamp and you even
resisted going hog wild with the Chunky Monkey at 11:00pm every night...
But then baby came home! You know
what size diapers to buy, how to feed your little one, and buckle her into her
carseat...but sleep? That's a pipe dream right behind winning the lottery.
Newborn sleep is tricky for two
reasons. First, newborns have nights and days mixed up, and until their
biological clocks figure that out (with your help of course!), there won't be
much difference in sleep between the two. Second, babies need to feed
frequently. This definitely puts a damper on long stretches of sleep.
But here's the good news...there ARE
things that you can do to encourage your baby to be a good sleeper!
Here are 5 goals to work toward with
your little one:
1. Help your baby learn
how to fall asleep without a sleep prop (feeding to sleep, rocking to sleep,
walking-while-bouncing to sleep, etc.).
When a child uses a sleep prop to
fall asleep, it becomes very difficult for her to fall asleep
independently...which means for every wake up, you'll have to recreate the same
scenario that got her to sleep at bedtime for every night
waking! When babies stop relying on their sleep prop to fall asleep,
bedtime is quicker, night-wakings decrease (or are eliminated all together,
depending on age) and babies will be able to put themselves back to sleep when
they wake too early in the morning.
2. Swaddle your baby
If you have ever watched your baby
sleep (something you probably do on a daily basis!), you've most likely seen him
throw out his arms like he's falling. This is called the Moro Reflex and
swaddling can help prevent the baby from startling himself awake. As
babies get older, however, some start to rely on that tight fitting blanket to
lull them to sleep at which point swaddling becomes a sleep prop. It
is best to start weaning your baby off of the swaddle sometime between 8-12
weeks of age.
3. Use a pacifier in the beginning
You've probably noticed that
your newborn has a very strong need to suck. This is normal during the first
few months and using a pacifier is a great way to fill this need. That said,
after about 2-3 months of age, babies can satisfy this need during feedings.
Parents often find using a pacifier past this point makes it more of a sleep prop,
and that's something you want to avoid!
4. Set up a calming bedtime
routine
None of us come home from an evening
out, walk in the door, and get right into bed, but often we transition babies
to bed that quickly! Start with a bath, maybe give a little massage with some
baby lotion, get her cozy in a sleeper and new diaper, sing a song and feed
her. Do the routine in the nursery to start getting her used to her
new room. Remember, it's never too early to start a bedtime routine
and it is a great way to cue the body and the brain to settle down for sleep.
5. Remember that your child is
growing and learning every day and longer stretches of sleep are right around
the corner!
Assuming your child is healthy and
gaining weight at a normal rate, night feeds will typically diminish between
11-13 weeks. Our biological clocks are programmed to be more alert and awake
during the day and asleep at night...and babies are working towards this in the
first 3 months of life. At about 6 weeks, their little bodies are beginning to
adjust and will typically sleep 3-5 hours at a time. When babies are
about 12 weeks old, most are able to consolidate their feeds during the day
which will promote consolidated sleep at night. Once this happens, babies can
sleep 10-12 hours at a time.
So in these first few months, use
these tips to set a foundation for healthy sleep habits and you'll be rewarded
with a full night's sleep soon!
Kim Schaf is the Founder
and President of Sleep Training Solutions and the Midwest Regional Director
(USA) for the Association of Professional Sleep Consultants (APSC). After
completing an extensive training and mentoring program with one of the world’s
most respected child sleep authorities, she became a Certified Infant and Child
Sleep Consultant and offers expert guidance to resolve behavioral sleep issues
for families in Chicago and across the country. Kim has a Master of Arts degree
in Teaching and is a member of the American Sleep Association, the North
Suburban Children’s Business Network and the Neighborhood Parents Network. She
lives in a northern suburb of Chicago with her husband and two small children,
both of whom are excellent sleepers.
Photo Credit: Dreamstime
