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.
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Last Modified: 13/05/2007
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