Newborn sleep - there are no bad habits!

As a new parent, you may already feel overwhelmed with advice on newborn sleep. You might worry about creating “bad habits” or that your baby needs to learn to fall asleep independently. Let me assure you: during the newborn stage, there are no bad habits! Newborns rely heavily on you for comfort and help as they adapt to life outside the womb. Let’s dive into some essential tips to help you and your baby get the rest you both need, without stress or worry.

Newborns Need Lots of Sleep (But in Short Bursts)

Newborns typically sleep 16-18 hours a day, but these stretches are often short, lasting just a couple of hours at a time. This is perfectly normal and expected, as their small tummies can only hold so much milk, and they wake frequently for feeds.

It’s important to understand that newborn sleep is unpredictable. For now, your baby doesn’t have a sense of day and night, and their sleep cycles are shorter than yours. During these early weeks, your baby needs a lot of support, so focus on providing them with comfort, security, and nourishment rather than worrying about forming sleep habits.

For the first 6 months your baby should be in the same room as you when they're asleep, both day and night. This can reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Use the guidance by The Lullaby Trust for sleep safety.

Key Newborn Sleep Tips

1. Feed on Waking (After the First Few Weeks)

Once your newborn is a few weeks old and weight gain is fine, start shifting to feeding after they wake, rather than as the last step before sleep. This helps break the association between feeding and falling asleep, which can be useful later on as your baby grows. However, during the early days, feeding for comfort is perfectly fine, and often, your baby will doze off while feeding. Allow this to happen, and know that you're doing a wonderful job supporting your little one’s needs.

2. Watch for Wake Windows for better naps

During the newborn stage, it’s helpful to monitor your baby’s wake windows and not just focus on their sleepy cues. A wake window is the time your baby is comfortably awake between naps. For newborns, this is typically quite short, ranging from 45 minutes to an hour. Keep an eye on the time is one of the best ways to ensure you’re putting them down when they’re tired, but not overtired. If they're overtired, it can be a struggle to get them down for a nap/bedtime.

3. Teach Day vs. Night from the Start

During the first few weeks of life, newborns don’t yet understand the difference between day and night. You can help guide them by creating a distinct environment for each time of day. During the day, keep the room bright, talk to your baby during feeds, and engage with them as they wake. Do naps in the daylight for the first 6 weeks.

At night, keep the room dark and calm. Feed with minimal interaction, and avoid stimulating activities. Over time, this will help your baby learn that daytime is for being awake and night-time is for sleep.

4. Use White Noise for Comfort

White noise can be an incredibly helpful tool in soothing your newborn. It mimics the sounds they heard while in the womb, which can make them feel more secure and calm. White noise also helps drown out external noises that could disturb their sleep. Be sure to keep the white noise at a safe volume and position the device away from your baby’s head.

5. Swaddling

Swaddling can be a wonderful tool to help your baby sleep better, as it mimics the snug, secure feeling of the womb. Newborns are born with a startle reflex, which can cause them to jolt awake during sleep. Swaddling helps to minimize these sudden movements by gently containing their arms, reducing the likelihood of waking up. Additionally, the warmth and comfort of the swaddle can soothe your baby, making it easier for them to relax and settle down for sleep. When done correctly, swaddling can promote longer, more restful sleep for your baby, helping them feel calm and secure. Be sure to follow the safety guidance by The Lullaby Trust on swaddling.

6. Bedtime routine

Establishing a bedtime routine from as early as 2 weeks old can be a great way to set your baby up for healthy sleep habits. Babies thrive on consistency, and a simple routine helps signal to them that it's time to wind down and get ready for sleep. The routine doesn’t have to be complicated—it can be as easy as a warm bath, a gentle massage, feeding, and some calming cuddles. Repeating these steps in the same order every night helps your baby begin to recognize that bedtime is approaching, which can make settling easier as they grow. Starting early gives both you and your baby a sense of rhythm, making bedtime smoother and more predictable over time.

7. Rest When You Can – Don’t Hesitate to Ask for Help

Finally, it’s important to remember that your rest matters too. It can be tempting to power through when your baby is sleeping, but taking the opportunity to nap or rest will help you recharge. Accept help from your partner, friends, or family, and don’t feel guilty about it. The newborn phase is demanding, and having a support system makes all the difference.

No Bad Habits, Just Gentle Guidance

When it comes to newborns, there’s no such thing as forming “bad habits.” In those early months, your baby needs a lot of support—whether it’s rocking or feeding to sleep, it’s all part of nurturing their development. However, you can still begin laying the foundation for healthy sleep patterns from the start. Simple changes, like creating a soothing sleep environment or gently guiding your baby towards a bedtime routine, can make a big difference over time. This is exactly where my newborn sleep package comes in. It offers personalized guidance and lots practical advice to help you establish positive sleep habits early on, setting your little one up for long-lasting, restful sleep.

The Newborn sleep package includes:

• Access to an in-depth online 'newborn sleep program' with advice for encouraging good habits in the early days.

• Creating the perfect sleep environment to help your baby nap and sleep better.

• Crucial techniques for implementing long-lasting healthy sleep habits that will grow with your baby.

• Putting in place the perfect bedtime routine, tailor-made to your family’s needs.

• Guidance on understanding age-appropriate wake windows up to 3 months old, helping you recognize the best time for naps.

• Conclusive Follow-up 1:1 support call to be used while your baby is under 3 months old, with personalized advice and recommendations.

  
  

This is the perfect solution if you want to set your baby to sleep better now and as they grow. And don’t worry, this is NOT sleep training—it’s all about establishing gentle routines and practices that make sleep easier for both you and your little one.

Ready to get started? Click below to buy the programme and use the code: NBSleep50 to get 50% discount off. Radha Sleep Nanny New born sleep programme | Radha Sleep Nanny

Wishing you all the best on your parenting journey.

Radha Sleep Nanny