
Getting your premature baby into good sleep habits
If
your baby is premature then you’ll need to be patient
and expect your nights to be disturbed. Her stomach is very tiny and she’ll
need to feed little and often in the early days.
You can’t expect to inflict
any kind of routine on a baby who has made an early arrival, as she needs to
feed and sleep as much as she needs in order to ensure her good health.
Swaddling her may help to mimic the close comfort of the uterus and she’ll
probably sleep better if she’s wrapped in this way.
The
reality is that she’ll need to sleep for most of the time in the early days but
will wake often to feed. Once she’s older you can start to worry about routines
but for now, you must go with what she wants and needs.
Why
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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.