Can my newborn sleep alone?

It is up to you where your newborn sleeps. Some parents want to co-sleep and some have their baby in their room in a separate crib; others find their baby’s night-time snuffles and whimpers prevent them from sleeping, so they put their baby’s crib in her own room with a monitor so they can hear her if she needs them.

How newborns sleep

Newborn babies need nearly twice the amount of sleep that an adult requires. They spend a lot more time in the dream sleep stage, which you can distinguish from the other stages by the occasional twitch and her eyes moving underneath her lids. When she is in the ‘deep sleep’ phase of her sleeping cycle, she’ll be hard to wake and will make little sucking movements with her mouth. She may also ‘startle’ in the same manner that adults do as they’re falling asleep.

Safe sleeping

While co-sleeping with your baby can help when it comes to breastfeeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against it, stating that it puts your baby at risk of suffocation if you roll on her or she rolls up against your bedding.

If you do wish to co-sleep, take precautions. Place your baby on her back, well away from you and any bedding or pillows. If you’ve drunk alcohol or taken any medication to help you sleep put her in her crib, and don’t co-sleep if you smoke, as this is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

If you’re worried about SIDS you can do a lot to alleviate your anxiety by creating a safe sleep environment for your baby. Place her on her back to sleep, in a feet-to-foot position in her crib (with her feet at the end of the crib) as this will prevent her from wriggling under the covers; or put her in a baby sleeping bag instead of using blankets. Avoid using crib bumpers, which could stifle her breathing if she rolls up against them.

Checking your baby’s breathing at night

Often new parents find themselves checking their baby’s breathing during the night. This is absolutely normal and nothing to be embarrassed about. However, if you’re constantly checking and worrying to the point that you can’t relax and sleep yourself, speak to your baby’s pediatrician for reassurance about how she sleeps.

It can be hard to even hear a newborn breathing, as it’s so light. You’ll also find it’s not consistent – she’ll breathe quickly, then slowly, and may even pause for a few seconds without breathing, which can be alarming for new parents. These different breathing patterns are all normal and nothing to be concerned about. The slightly erratic style of breathing will change as your baby matures and her lungs grow stronger. Until then her breathing may sound shallow.

How can I tell if my baby isn’t breathing right?

Most breathing difficulties arise because your baby has developed some sort of respiratory infection. If this is the case, call your pediatrician. If your baby’s breathing is labored (she is having trouble taking breaths and you can see her ribs drawing quickly inwards) call 911 – your baby has very narrow airways and it’s important she’s assessed as quickly as possible.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.