Oh, what excitement! The first days of your baby's life are so special. Even if it is difficult to wake up often during the night to breastfeed him and even if you are taken up by the avalanche of emotions born at the same time as your baby, everything is an incredible novelty. So many things happen in the first days of your baby - the baby sleeps in periods of 4 hours, a lot, you have to breastfeed him often (every 2-3 hours), bathe him, change him often and to find your routine again.
But how much should the baby sleep in the first days of life?
What does a typical sleep schedule look like for a newborn?
On average, a newborn sleeps 11 to 16 hours a day. However, newborns can only sleep for 1 or 2 hours tied up. In the first 3 months, the baby will begin to sleep for longer periods of time, but most infants do not manage to sleep more than 4 - 6 hours per day or night. Their sleep is still fragmented.
You must understand that it is normal for the baby to have an irregular sleep cycle from birth until 3 months because at this age they have not yet developed their circadian cycle (sleep-wake cycle).
Also, their sleep is unpredictable due to feeding needs. In the first month, the baby may need to eat every 2-3 hours, and in two months every 3-4 hours. As the baby grows, he will give up night meals.
Fortunately, the baby's sleep schedule can change and after 3 or 4 months he will be able to sleep for several consecutive hours. However, this is not true for all babies.
Can baby tell the difference between day and night?
At first not. Up to one month, the amount of sleep he gets during the night will be equal to that during the day. From 6 weeks to 3 months, his body temperature and melatonin (the sleep hormone) will help him start developing a sleep-wake cycle to distinguish between night and day.
The sleep cycles of newborn babies are much shorter than those of adults. Sleeping newborns spend almost half of their time in REM sleep. In contrast, older children and adults spend much less time in REM sleep. Studies show that this is necessary for newborns so that their brains can develop properly.
You must know that every child is different, so you should not impose a rigid schedule in the first days and even months. Thus, you will allow the baby to enjoy what he needs.
Also, slowly - slowly you will be able to easily establish a routine, depending on his health and comfort needs. Instead of trying to impose a rigid schedule, you should rather focus on the "eat, play, sleep" cycle. Make sure that the baby always sleeps with his head and face uncovered. The safest place for him is in his crib , alone.
