Baby sleep - the basics

One of the most common questions any expectant parents has is ‘how much sleep will I get when my baby arrives?’ Whilst no one can answer this as every baby is different, there are some key things that will help to improve your baby’s chance of sleeping better and eventually through the night.

According to Natasha Mole, Sleep consultant, ‘ its important to establish a good day routine in order to promote sleeping through the night’.

Tinies & Co spoke to Natasha Mole, Sleep consultant and Night nanny to find out more about getting the basics right when it comes to getting your baby to sleep.

Firstly how much sleep does a newborn baby need?

Depending on their weight,  their sleep can be anywhere between 14-16 hrs each day

Where should a newborn baby sleep? 

For both day and nightime sleep, they should sleep in either a crib , bassinet or portable crib that meets the safety standards.  It is important that where they sleep should be secure and well ventilated.

What position should a baby sleep in? 

The safest position for a newborn to sleep is on their back until they are able to roll.  

What are the foundations of getting a baby to sleep through the night?

A good day time routine with the right amount of feeds and the right amount of naps will increase the night time sleep as baby won’t be over tired. Sleep promotes sleep .

When should I start my baby on a routine? 

From 3/4 weeks is normally a good time to start routine for it to be successful. In my opinion with a good feeding and nap routine sleep training isn’t normally needed .

Natasha is a Sleep specialist and Night nanny, to find out more about her services email tashamole@hotmail.co.uk