Newborns
Bringing home a newborn baby is an exhilarating experience, but it can also be overwhelming, even for me on the second child, but especially for first-time parents. Understanding your baby's basic needs, such as sleep, feeding, and playtime, is crucial for baby and parents, but especially for keeping the peace because babies will cry - a lot. In this blog post, we'll provide you with essential tips, specific metrics, and a sample eat, play, sleep schedule to help you navigate these early stages of parenthood.
Sleep
Newborn babies spend most of their time sleeping, as it is vital for their growth and development. However, their sleep patterns can be erratic and unpredictable at this age. Here are some specific metrics to help you understand your newborn's sleep needs:
Total sleep hours: Newborns typically sleep for 14 to 17 hours in a 24-hour period. However, this varies from baby to baby, and some may sleep more or less.
Nighttime sleep: Aim for 8 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep during the night. Newborns often wake up for feedings every 2 to 3 hours, so the sleep stretches will be shorter. I personally recommend feed that baby every 1.5 - 2.5 hours to ensure they get enough milk to get longer stretches of sleep.
Daytime naps: Newborns take several short naps throughout the day. Each nap can range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Aim for a total of 4 to 6 naps.
At this point, you’re not thinking about sleep training at all, you’re simply just going to be thinking about hitting the appropriate awake times and getting some sleep yourself, which brings me to my next point - awake times. Take notes.
Awake Times
Newborns have short periods of awake time between sleep and feeding. Here are some average awake time guidelines for newborns:
Newborns up to 6 weeks old: Awake time can vary greatly during this stage, typically ranging from 45 minutes to 1 hour. Some newborns may only manage to stay awake for 30 minutes at a time, while others can handle slightly longer periods.
Newborns 6 weeks to 3 months old: As your baby grows, their awake time gradually increases. During this stage, newborns can handle awake periods of 1 to 1.5 hours before needing to rest again.
Milestones
Milestones are things that you will witness your baby be able to do - almost like growing new skills. Some they will pick up all on their own (so keep a sharp eye out) and some you will have to teach them.
In the first few months of life, newborns reach several important milestones. Here are some milestones you can expect during this stage:
Lifting the head: By 1 month old, your baby will start to have more head control during tummy time. Psttt - You can start tummy time from day one!
Focusing on objects: Newborns begin to track objects with their eyes and may briefly fixate on faces or toys within their visual range. I recommend start with black and white pictures and objects in their first 8-12 weeks.
Smiling: Around 6 to 8 weeks, your baby may start to respond to stimuli with smiles, especially when they see familiar faces or hear soothing voices.
Recognizing voices: Newborns can differentiate between familiar voices and may turn their heads or respond to their parents' or siblings voices.
Grasping reflex: At around 2 to 3 months old, babies start to develop the ability to hold onto objects and bring their hands together. I recommend a wooden ring and rattle..
Sample Eat, Play, Sleep Schedule
While every baby is unique, having a basic routine can provide structure and help parents anticipate their newborn's needs. Here's an updated sample schedule, including specific metrics:
7:00 AM: Wake up, diaper change (if they will allow before feeding), and feeding.
8:00 AM: Short awake time (45 minutes to 1 hour), followed by tummy time and gentle play.
9:00 AM: Naptime (1 to 2 hours). For 2 hours, follow my independent sleep tricks.
11:00 AM: Wake up, diaper change, and feeding.
12:00 PM: Awake time (1 to 1.5 hours) with sensory play and interaction.
1:00 PM: Naptime (1 to 2 hours).
3:00 PM: Wake up, diaper change, and feeding.
4:00 PM: Awake time (1 to 1.5 hours) with tummy time and gentle play.
5:00 PM: Short nap (30 minutes to 1 hour).
6:00 PM: Wake up, diaper change, feeding, and family dinner.
7:00 PM: Quiet bath, small feed, pajamas, quick book, and bed.
8:00 PM: Bedtime.
Caring for a newborn is certainly a learning curve because you are getting to know baby and their preferences while they are also getting to know you. Understanding the basics of sleep, feeding, and playtime, along with specific metrics and milestones, will help you establish a routine that works for both you and your baby. By following these tips, adapting them to your baby's individual needs, and celebrating their milestones, you'll be well-equipped to provide a nurturing environment that supports their growth and development. Embrace this special time with your newborn and cherish the incredible moments that come along the way.
