Newborn Sleep Problems

When a newborn baby comes home from the hospital, his sleeping hours are erratic. This is normal, but it is up to his parents to start a routine that he will associate with bed time.

Habitually Waking During the Night

A newborn baby sleeps up to 18 hours a day, but these sleep patterns are broken into napping periods of one to two hours. While she is acclimating to her parents' habits and home schedule, the baby will wake frequently at night to be fed. She needs to eat every two to four hours in the first few months of life, but as she gets older, the frequency of feeding decreases. As she gets older, if she has not learned how to "self-soothe" or find a way of falling asleep on her own, she may develop sleeping problems.

Resists a Bed Time

The newborn baby who has just come home from the hospital may sleep through the day and then be unable to sleep at night. This pattern could develop when he begins to be aware of his family and activity in the home. When he would normally be growing sleepy, he is instead resisting sleep to continue to be a part of the evening's activity. When it is time for his parents to put him to bed, he puts up a fight.

Good Sleep Associations

The newborn baby who is having a hard time developing regular sleep habits has not learned to make the association between getting sleepy and being placed in her crib. Instead, she is allowed to fall completely asleep with the bottle or breast in her mouth, or she is put to bed with a bottle of formula or juice. If her parents are to get a good night's sleep, they need to teach her to make the association between sleepiness after feeding and being put into her crib alone.

Special Sleep Object

A newborn who is having a hard time falling asleep alone in his crib can be given a special sleep object such as a blanket or a small stuffed toy, or he can learn to suck his fingers or thumb until he is able to soothe himself to sleep. Having a special "lovie" or "blankie" that goes to bed every time he goes to bed will help him to transition with that object from wakefulness to sleep.

No Bed Time Routine

A newborn baby who has not learned to associate sleepiness with her crib and bedtime probably does not have a nighttime bedtime routine. Her parents can only help her by developing a routine that will help her to make a quiet, peaceful transition from daytime activity to nighttime sleep. If parents give her a warm, soothing bath every evening around the same time, change her to pajamas and quietly rock her until she gets sleepy, she will learn the association.