As the circadian rhythm starts to develop, nights begin to start to take shape in the upcoming weeks. This is the first stage of sleep development and becomes a time where you can begin to nurture the basics of healthy sleep habits. Since nights organize first our focus at this time will be concentrated on bedtime and their night stretch. This will be the first building block in nurturing your infant’s sleep patterns. Naps will continue to be unorganized and unpredictable so at this stage your goal should be to help your baby sleep during the day when they are tired. Before now your infant was sleeping and waking to feed in whatever intervals drove their feeding patterns. By this time, the circadian rhythm is also helping to drive more regular feeding patterns and drive for a regular night time stretch. As their system is evolving, you can help it along by implementing some predictability in night routines and sleep regularity. Developmentally, once you start to notice your baby...

Make a plan with your partner on how you will manage to get the sleep you need in these early months. Discuss how you can share night time baby duties. Splitting the nights (Mom on duty first 5 hours & Dad takes second part of the night), or Mom is on during the week and Dad can offer to take over on weekend nights when he is off work. Be creative in making sure each person is able to get the sleep they need every day. This may mean arranging for a few hours of care during the day with a baby sitter or relative so mom can nap or once dad comes home from work – he can take over for a few hours so mom can rest. Promote A Healthy Sleep Environment Establish a nice, relaxing and consistent night time sleep environment. Keep your baby’s sleep environment consistent at bedtime as it will be for the rest of the night. Everything should remain the same so when baby wakes at night – they can learn that this period is for sleeping. If the environment remains the same during...

Most babies will be feeding in 2.5-3 hour intervals at this age. At night your baby will begin to extend to one longer stretch of sleep without a feeding that will be up to 4-6 hours. After this long stretch they will wake in a regular feeding pattern (every 2-4 hours between eight to twelve weeks) for a feed the rest of the night. If it has been 3 hours since your baby’s last feeding then it is likely they will need to be fed especially if it is after their longer stretch. Your baby will also have a growth spurt around the twelve week mark. During this growth spurt your baby will want to feed more frequently and you will need to follow their lead. This usually lasts a few days then feeding intervals will begin to resume in a regular feeding pattern again. If your baby’s sleep or feeding patterns change and it is around this time frame – it may signal your baby is going through a growth spurt and indeed will need to feed during night...

Sleep needs are still highly variable between babies at this age. Current research has shown that there can be a variation of up to 8-9 hours in a 24 hour period in babies 6 months and under. One study showed a difference of up to 12 hours between babies. Below is a chart that shows the wide range of variability based on a compilation of research in infant sleep in the last 15 years. Sleep Needs in Healthy FT Babies Under 6 Months 9-20 hours – in healthy full term babies 0-8 weeks 9.4-17-18 hours – in healthy full term babies at 3 months of age As you can see, this range is very broad and shows that there is no typical infant schedule or normal sleep average for babies under 6 months. This is why it is important to not compare your baby to your neighbors, friends, sisters, etc. because it can vary by such a large amount. You may have spoken to a friend whose baby sleeps 13 hours a day, while yours only sleeps a total of 10 hours (remember: that just might be the...

By this time you should have gotten into a more predictable feeding routine with your baby. Average feeding times will still hover around 2.5-3 hours during the day for most babies this age. Because of the emergence of that circadian rhythm – you will now begin to experience a longer more consolidated stretch from your baby at night. You may have noticed that your baby may be able to sleep for a 4-6 hour stretch at night without a feeding at this stage. Remember – they are only going to take that one long extended stretch in a 24 hour period so regular feedings every 2-3 hours during the day will help to ensure this long stretch comes at night. That may means waking your baby at that 3 hour mark during the day if feeding time approaches and they are still not awake from a nap. There will be a major growth spurt that takes place around that twelve week mark so if you begin to notice feeding patterns shifting around that eleventh or twelfth week – take that as a sign that...

Having a fussy baby can be frustrating. There are many ways to soothe your fussy baby, including massage, soothing techniques, and babywearing. Babywearing is found across all cultures and countries. Whether it’s a simple piece of fabric wrapped strategically around your body or a more structured carrier, the purpose is the same; to hold your baby close and carry her while you go about your day. Baby carriers make it easier and more comfortable to carry your baby. Babywearing takes practice. Babywearing International advises that “parents and caregivers often benefit from thinking of babywearing as a skill they can learn, rather than as the result of a product they can buy.” With so many baby carriers on the market, there are lots to choose from. Mixing in your preferences with those of your baby may send your head spinning. Regardless of which carrier you choose, there are some basic benefits and safely tips. BENEFITS OF BABYWEARING Less Crying Studies have shown...

We keep telling you to sleep when your baby sleeps. This works out well if you are co-sleeping, as your baby sleeps in your bed with you, making it convenient for you both to sleep at the same time. Infants sleep a great deal, sometimes for as little as thirty minutes at a time. If you are utilizing a family bed for nighttime sleep, then nap time is the perfect time for you to lay down and sleep as well. Some parents find that if they nap with their infant, their baby actually sleeps longer. Naps are also the perfect time to test the waters and see how your baby handles sleeping without you. Remember, your infant will need help falling asleep, and once she's drowsy or fully asleep, you can transfer her into a bassinet, cosleeper or even a swing. If she wakes, soothe her, and work toward getting her back to sleep. You can always try again tomorrow. If you cannot nap with your baby, then we suggest putting baby in a crib for naps. A crib is safe and secure, meaning that you...

Swaddling has been in practice by many cultures throughout the centuries and has become increasingly popular in North America in the past ten years. In general, swaddling is tightly wrapping your baby in a blanket to restrict the movement of his limbs. As simple as it may seem, swaddling comes with risks and benefits. There are some major safety concerns that every parent should be aware of if you are swaddling your baby. These risks include SIDS, hip dysplasia, pneumonia, and over-heating. However, if swaddling is done properly and safely many of those risks can be avoided. Plase keep in mind the following information and research is based upon swaddling babies at night. It is not recommended that you swaddle your baby during her wakeful hours, as she needs time to move and explore her world and environment. If you decide that swaddling is not for you there are alternative techniques to help get your baby to sleep at night. A Safe Way to Swaddle The first step is to learn how...

The world can be a stressful place, for both parents and their babies. As a new parent you are learning how to balance a life that is completely dependent on you. Although everything you do conveys your love for your baby, the benefits of stopping and really connecting with him through infant massage are astounding. Studies have shown a broad range of benefits linked to infant massage. Whether psychological, physiological, or developmental it’s clear that spending relaxed one-on-one time can only bring positive results for both you and your baby. One of the primary goals of most parents is how to get their baby to sleep more and cry less. A study done at the University of Warwick found that massage helped babies under six months sleep better, cry less, and be less stressed. Researchers found that levels of the stress hormone cortisol were lower in babies who were massaged. Benefits of Infant Massage • Relaxation As the stress hormone cortisol decreases, oxytocin,...

 Stranger Anxiety When your baby is a newborn, he does not have a sense of self. Essentially, he thinks that you are he and he is you. He smiles at the feet and hands he sees waving without realizing that they are his own. As your baby grows and becomes more aware, he gradually begins to figure out that he’s his own little person with his own body, emotions, and thoughts. He finally starts to understand that you are the ones who care for him, his mommy and daddy (exciting!) When this happens, your baby may become anxious when another person tries to hold him (even grandma). This is actually a good sign!   Though it may be frustrating when grandma visits and wants to hold her grandchild only to have him meltdown in her arms, your baby is showing you that he understands the difference between mommy and everybody else. Many people confuse stranger anxiety and separation anxiety, and while they are similar, separation anxiety doesn’t normally begin to occur until...