Posts Tagged newborns and sleep

5 More Things You Absolutely Need to Know About Your Newborn Baby

August 2, 2012 at 10:15 AM · Filed under babies, infant care, new baby, newborn assistance, parenting, postpartum doula, tips for new parents ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Newborns arrive with a strong drive to survive.

This is the continuation of an earlier post by Tender Times Doula.

6. Your baby’s biology says  “DO NOT LEAVE ME ALONE. “Again, this is a baby animal.  With an instinct to survive. What do puppies, kittens, horses and elephant babies do when they are separated from their mothers? Right…they make noise so that mom can find them and keep them safe.

7. He/she will get the hiccups. Sometimes many times in one day. This will naturally subside by about two months of age. There is nothing you can do to stop them or to prevent them. They will likely bother you more than they will bother your baby.

8. Your newborn will sleep a lot. Maybe as much as 16-18 hours a day. Especially if you hold him/her, cosleep (safely) or use a sling or baby carrier.

9. Your baby is guaranteed to HATE a sponge bath. It is not necessary to do this often. If you do, work quickly, turn off the a/c and fans and keep your baby wrapped in a warm towel. The same suggestions apply for tub bathing a newborn once the umbilicus heals. The water should be pleasantly warm, not cold or you will have one wet, upset baby on your hands.

10. Your baby will  yawn.  It’s not only really, really cute, it’s a  really good clue that  likely means he/she is tired. Swaddle your baby and help him or her to fall asleep. Wait 15 minutes or so and put her down nearby to where you will now go to sleep yourself!

Reach me at elaine@TenderTimesDoula.com or 973-291-8200.

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I invite you to please share the most fascinating/surprising fact about newborns you experienced as a new mom or dad in the comments, below.

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5 Things You Absolutely Need to Know About Your Newborn Baby

July 31, 2012 at 7:29 PM · Filed under babies, feeding a new baby, infant care, new baby, newborn assistance, parenting, sleeping when you have a new baby, tips for new parents ·Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Newborns arrive with a strong drive to survive.

In my work as a postpartum doula I’ve had many parents who express surprise at some of the characteristics of their newborn baby. Here’s a list of a few of the most common traits of newborn babies. All are considered normal neonate or newborn behavior and are generally not a cause for concern.

1. He/ she does not know the difference between day and night. So be sure to sleep when your baby does, because it’s likely you can not count on a sleep routine just yet. * Yes, if you have read any of my other posts, you know, this is my mantra!

2. He/she is nocturnal until at least about four months of age when he/she develops the same circadian (day/night) rhythms as the rest of us.

3. He/she is a baby animal. (Yes, humans are animals!) with a strong instinct for survival and a number of  behaviors designed to insure that survival. Sucking, crying when put down or left alone, crawling to the breast, preferring the arms of his/her mother, who she/he can identify by SCENT in the first week of life are all examples of this drive to survive.

4. His/her skin will peel profusely during the first month or so of life. Yours would too if you just spent the last nine months or so submerged  in water. There is nothing you can do to prevent this. You do not need to apply lotions or potions.

5.  Babies cry. He/she is not crying to manipulate you, but rather to communicate with you. Your baby does not have the thinking power yet to get his/her fist to her mouth. She/he is incapable of higher thought or reasoning. If your baby is crying, pick her up. She is calling you with the only means of communication she has right now and is trying to convey a need, perhaps for food, warmth, comfort or safety. Anyone who tells you otherwise it spreading mis-information.

Reach me at elaine@TenderTimesDoula.com or 973-291-8200.

Visit my website.

Follow me on Facebook for more great info and tips.

I invite you to please add the most surprising/fascinating fact about newborns you experienced as a new mom or dad in the comments, below.

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Best Newborn Sleep Article Ever

July 25, 2012 at 4:32 PM · Filed under babies, family, how to get things done with a new baby in the house, infant care, new baby, newborn assistance, parenting, sleeping when you have a new baby, tips for new parents ·Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sleeping baby

If only babies KNEW they were supposed to sleep at night, the lives of new parents would proceed uninterrupted. But guess what? They don’t know they are supposed to sleep all night yet.

I’m posting this for all the parents of newborns who are up late at night searching the internet for advice on how to get their new baby to  sleep.

If only babies KNEW they were supposed to sleep at night, the lives of new parents would proceed uninterrupted. But guess what? Babies don’t know that they are supposed to sleep all night yet.

So check this out: A Newborn Sleep Habit Every Expectant Parent Should Know About | Being Pregnant.

As a postpartum doula with more than a decade of experience working with families and two children and grandchildren of my own,  I can tell you this advice is some of the best I’ve seen. Be sure to follow the links at the bottom of the article.

One more word of solace. This will NOT last forever. I promise.

For ongoing parenting tips and information, join me on facebook at Tender Times Doula

Email  me at Elaine@tendertimesdoula.com

Check out my website: www.tendertimesdoula.com

Know anyone in Northern New Jersey who is expecting? Pass this on.  Reach me at 973-291-8200

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The best advice ever for new parents on how to get some sleep

October 14, 2011 at 7:30 AM · Filed under babies, breastfeeding, doula, family, infant care, new baby, newborn assistance, parenting, postpartum doula, sleeping when you have a new baby ·Tagged , , , , ,

A postpartum doula advises that the one best way to get sleep when you have a newborn is to sleep when your baby sleeps.

A postpartum ( after birth) doula can teach you about normal infant behavior and help you enjoy the first few weeks after your baby is born.

Wandering around Facebook the other day I noted a funny post from Breastfeeding Arts,  a wonderful local lactation consultant I know.  With  humor, she suggested that the new moms reading her status updates step away from their screens and instead, take a nap.

I repeat her suggestion here for all reading this.

The absolute best, proven way for parents of newborns to get some sleep is to sleep when their baby sleeps.

Why?

The new little person in your house has no built in clock, no regard for day and night. (BTW: This is TOTALLY NORMAL NEWBORN BEHAVIOR.) That new little person also requires frequent feeding to gain the body mass and develop the neurological  capability to EVENTUALLY (but not likely now) put in longer hours of sleep. (BTW: This is TOTALLY NORMAL NEWBORN BEHAVIOR.)

And new parents have no crystal ball to know if  their new baby will chose “tonight” or “later” to be fussy, hungry or just wide awake for no reason! (DITTO- NORMAL NEWBORN BEHAVIOR.)

You will see this same sleep mantra  is repeated on my website.  And, should we work together as client and postpartum doula, you will hear me say it time and again.

Sleep when your baby sleeps.

Yes, I know you are busy. Yes, I know the days at home with a new baby may leave you feeling isolated and needing contact with your friends, job and family. Yes, I know you have older kids. (If so sleep during the day, when the older siblings are at school. If they are small enough to be home, for heaven’s sake – don’t give up their nap or rest time! And by all means, cash in on a few play dates for the older kids so you can rest.)

Sleep becomes your most precious commodity in the first few weeks and months of a baby’s life. So, if you must, divide the time when your baby is sleeping between naps and chores or emails.

But sleep for YOU must come first.

If you anticipate your baby will sleep about two hours or so between feedings, take a nap for the first hour and set the alarm to wake you so you can catch up on whatever is pressing during the second hour of your baby’s nap. You might even decide to give up that email check (phone call, laundry etc.) for another few minutes of precious SLEEP.

Please share your best sleep suggestions for new parents below in the comments box.

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