Getting Sleep with a New Baby:
Whether you've had 10 children or you are expecting your first a good night's sleep is one of the biggest factors to a happy postpartum recovery. A well rested mama + well rested baby + well rested family = success! My big focus whenever I have a new baby is on making sure everybody gets enough sleep. In fact, I'm a bit militant about it, because I know first hand how terrible life is when nobody is sleeping!
When Robert was born he was just the worst sleeper ever. Literally had to be in my arms 24/7 or else he would be screaming. I could sneak away from him in 20 minute intervals to grab some food, or have a shower, or wash a few dishes before the screaming would start. Worst. Sleeper. Ever. Even still he can struggle with getting enough sleep, and I've since learned that this is a symptom of ADHD, which should have been my second clue (the first being the fact that he could never. hold. still. Not even in my belly!)
You know those unicorn babies you hear about that never cry, are always happy, and sleep through the night without even a peep? That was Edward. He literally slept for 12 hours straight when he was 5 days old. It was amazing. The best night sleep I have ever gotten. I didn't have any postpartum depression or anxiety with him, and we were just coming in to spring time so we spent our days outside in the shade, allowing Ed to examine the leaves above him. Rob ran around to his heart's content all day, and I got my meal planning game under control so we always had food prepared, and I cleverly figured out that I could feed us dinner in the bedroom with a show going for Rob and we could go straight from food to bed with no tears or fuss. Yes, we seriously ate dinner in bed for 6 months so I could get Robert used to the new sleeping situation. I regret nothing.
Charles was pretty much a great sleeper as well. I had a topponcino for him that he loved to sleep on, and both the older boys had transitioned away from sleeping with me to sleeping with Father Lyfe. Yes, we were the crazy family bed people. But they all slept well. I regret nothing
The only problem was I had raging postpartum anxiety after giving birth to Charles. I did not sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time for over a month. The only sleep I got was on the mornings when Father would take all 3 of the boys out and I could finally relax for an hour or two before little baby Charles had to nurse. Then I'd be wide awake and miserable. I talked to my OB and my midwife and they were able to help me work out some lactation safe herbal supplements to take that helped me start sleeping. If you're having more than normal trouble sleeping then definitely talk to your healthcare/postpartum team. You should be able to fall asleep while your baby is sleeping.
So with that background, my top 3 tips for ensuring a good night's rest with a newborn are these:
1) Rhythm. This is pretty much my answer to everything, developing a solid family rhythm, and one I struggled with when it was just Robert around. I've talked about rhythm before and its importance in family life, but this is especially true when it comes to sleep and babies. Establishing sleep cues is one way to ease the transition for infants from womb to a harsh world. Bright lights, loud noises, fluctuating temperatures, all of these can combine to make an uncomfortable experience. A simple rhythm that I've followed with each of my subsequent babies has revolved around the concepts of "eat, play, sleep". If kids (and babies) have plenty of nourishing food, and plenty of unobstructed play time they will very naturally be ready for plenty of sleep. For an infant this means: nursing on demand (or frequent bottles of pumped milk/formula. Smaller doses at frequent intervals mimics the way a baby naturally eats); safe spaces set up for a baby to lie down and explore movement and his environment, preferably outdoors in weather appropriate clothing under shade. My favorite thing is to spread out our baby quilt, add a sheepskin or soft cotton blanket folded up for cushioning, and let the baby lie under the shade of a tree. I've had my baby boys play this way for almost an hour at a time on occasion before they decide they want to be held again. I pick them up, nurse again, and the baby slips quietly off into nap time.
2) Co-sleeping. Co-sleeping is defined as the baby sharing the same room as the mother. Keeping your baby close by in a bassinet, crib, or in a side car for your bed allows you to respond to the baby's hunger and crying cues at night without both of you waking completely up. I have bed shared with all 3 of my boys, and followed safe bed sharing guidelines. If you are in the US bed sharing is highly discouraged because it is believed to put the baby at risk of suffocation at night, but countries with the lowest sleeping death rates - both suffocation and SIDS - also have the highest bed sharing rates. Being in close contact with his or her mother is a protective practice for the baby. For more information on safe bed sharing, cosleeping, and the benefits of a biologically normal sleeping environment, you can visit this article from Psychology Today about the dangers of "Crying it Out", Safe sleeping guidelines found on the Infant Sleep Information Source, and my go to resource the Facebook group "Biologically Normal Infant Sleep".
3) Environment. Creating a sleep friendly atmosphere has been essential for all 3 of our boys. We keep the room cool - upper 60's is all of our preference - and use weather appropriate covers. Warmer blankets for the winter, lighter cotton blankets or sheets for the summer. We play water noises all night long to provide a bit of a sound barrier for any odd noises that may happen during the night - dogs barking, car doors slamming, the latest Avengers movie that Father Ginger and I are watching - anything that might disturb the children and wake them. We put up black out curtains and hang extra blankets over the windows to prevent light from getting in. This is particularly important during the summer when the days are longest. I'm not overly fond of putting my boys to bed after 9:00 pm simply because they can't fall asleep from the light outside. We also give them tryptophan every night in some fruit juice to help encourage seratonin/melatonin production. I've given this to Charles since he was just over a year old. We dissolve tryptophan powder in boiling water, then cool it down with some juice. We give it to them right before bedtime.
For more articles about sleep training, infant sleep, and attachment parenting check these out:
And of course I have tons of articles and information linked to my Pinterest board Pregnancy and Mothering. Check it out!
Comments