Newborn sleep guide: Everything you need to know about sleep in the first y

The S word is maybe the most talked about point for any new parent, particularly in their child's most memorable year — from the amount you did (or didn't get!), how frequently your child woke for the time being to the number of rests your little one ought to have.

Mastering the elusive world of newborn sleep can be intense, to say the least, especially if you’re sleep-deprived yourself. You’re learning on the job and it can feel like you’re taking a crash course on a whole new topic you know nothing about. Most parents have a never ending list of questions — how long should I let my newborn sleep? How long is a newborn sleep cycle? How can I get my newborn to sleep longer at night?

So to help bleary-eyed new parents, we’ve teamed up with Euky Bear to dive deep into everything you need to know about your baby’s sleep needs in their first year of life — from why sleep is so important, understanding their sleep needs, and how sleep evolves as your baby grows, and of course to expert tips and tricks for helping your little one get a good night’s rest.

Age-appropriate awake windows

The first thing you need to know about baby sleep is their awake time windows.

Awake windows are the length of time your little one is awake between their naps. Understanding this ‘window of time’ based on their age is one of the key factors in settling them for sleep.

Putting down an under-tired or overtired child makes settling such a great deal harder. Unseasoned parents are frequently ignorant about how as often as possible these windows change in those early long stretches of time, yet realizing this can be a unique advantage.

What’s a good sleeping schedule for a newborn?

Kiindred’s resident sleep guru and Mothercraft Nurse Chris Minogue, who has over 35 years of experience helping families get a good night’s sleep, recommends letting your baby sleep for as long as they need in those early weeks as a long sleep will give them the energy they need for a successful feed.

“In those early weeks, those first 2–3 weeks, the baby will sleep anywhere and everywhere. They must get a decent sleep as it gives them the energy to be able to feed well. So once they’ve had a feed, wrap and cuddle them, and allow them to go to sleep,” Chris explains.

“Once you get to around three weeks, you’ll notice the baby’s more alert. They move into a feed, alert, and then sleep cycle. At this point, we need to wrap them, cuddle them calmly, and quietly put them down in their bed,” she adds.

“Now’s the time to dim the environment. By making a quieter environment you’ll notice that your baby will sleep well because of this. With patience, you’ll notice as the baby matures, the sleep will lengthen at night. Just give this time and you’ll be amazed at what they do.”

Setting up solid foundations

Laying out an evening schedule with your child will, eventually, set you up for rest achievement. Starting an evening schedule at around 6 pm can assist your child with slowing down for sleep time by around 7 pm. For instance, a shower followed by a delicate back rub on the changing table or getting them wearing their nightgown and afterward perusing a sleep time story can assist with laying out a rest relationship for your child.

Safe sleep practices

“When it comes to sleeping and your newborn, one of the most important things you can do is make sure that the area they are sleeping in is safe. Red Nose has the ultimate guide when it comes to sleep safety for babies,” CPR Kids founder and pediatric nurse Sarah Hunstead tells us.

Sleep training

The gift of a good night’s sleep is something the whole family can benefit from. And while sleep training is not for everyone, many parents swear by it. Indeed all babies have different needs and may respond differently to sleep training methods, so it’s all about finding what works best for you and your child. But it’s important to note that sleep training does not mean letting your baby ‘cry it out’.

There’s no need to rush into sleep training a newborn, with the ideal age around the four to the six-month mark. At this age, babies will be old enough to be taught how to self-settle.

Newborn not sleeping?

Sometimes the reason your little one is fighting naps (or suddenly taking shorter ones) is that their sleep needs are changing. This is often a cause for stress in parents — just when you thought you had it down, the rug is pulled from beneath you! But there’s a good chance your baby is ready to drop a nap. Observe their daily rhythm and decide if it’s time to transition.

Teething, being too hot or cold and illness can also wreak havoc on their sleep. Hang in there!