When you bring your little one home, you’re met with adorable features and a unique newborn scent. However, the reality of sleepless nights often follows closely behind. Newborns are notorious for unpredictable sleep patterns and frequent awakenings, which can leave parents feeling utterly exhausted. While older babies can be sleep trained—learning to soothe themselves to sleep—newborns are simply not ready for this process.
Can You Sleep Train a Newborn?
Not really. The reason is that very young infants lack an understanding of day and night. They are not equipped to adhere to a sleep schedule or self-soothe. Instead of sleep training, consider implementing gentle strategies to help your newborn develop healthy sleep habits.
Understanding Newborn Sleep Patterns
Newborns typically sleep around 14 to 17 hours a day, but this sleep is fragmented. It’s crucial to remember that this erratic sleep is completely normal and part of their development.
How to Foster Better Sleep
While you can’t officially sleep train a newborn, you can create a conducive sleep environment. Keeping the nursery dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature can help. Additionally, establishing a calming bedtime routine can signal to your baby that it’s time to wind down.
When to Start Sleep Training
Most experts recommend beginning sleep training after the baby is around 4 to 6 months old, when they are developmentally ready to learn self-soothing techniques.
Coping with Sleep Deprivation
In the meantime, prioritize your own rest as much as possible. Consider napping when your baby sleeps or sharing nighttime duties with your partner.
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In summary, while sleep training a newborn isn’t feasible, creating a supportive sleep environment and waiting until they’re older to begin training can help ease the transition into better sleep for both you and your baby.