They think they are supposed to be awake at night and sleep during the day
What are the sleep patterns of a newborn
Generally newborns sleep a total of about 8 to 9 hours in the daytime and a total of about 8 hours at night But because they have a small stomach they must wake every few hours to eat Most babies dont begin sleeping through the night 6 to 8 hours until at least 3 months of age But this can vary a lot
Some babies dont sleep through the night until closer to 1 year In most cases your baby will wake up and be ready to eat at least every 3 hours How often your baby will eat depends on what he or she is being fed and his or her age Make sure you talk with your healthcare provider to figure out if you need to wake your baby for feedings
Watch for changes in your babys sleep pattern If your baby has been sleeping consistently and suddenly is waking more often there may be a problem such as an ear infection Or your baby may be going through a growth spurt and need to eat more often
Some sleep disturbances are simply due to changes in development or because of over stimulation
What are the different alert phases of a newborn
Babies are also different in how alert they are during the time they are awake
Quiet alert phase
When a newborn wakes up at the end of the sleep cycle there is typically a quiet alert phase This is a time when the baby is very still but awake and taking in the environment During the quiet alert time babies may look or stare at objects and respond to sounds and motion
This phase usually progresses to the active alert phase This is when the baby is attentive to sounds and sights and moves actively
Crying phase
After the quiet alert phase is a crying phase The babys body moves erratically and he or she may cry loudly Babies can easily be overstimulated during the crying phase
It is usually best to find a way of calming the baby and the environment Holding your baby close or wrapping your baby snugly in a blanket swaddling may help calm a crying baby
It is usually best to feed babies before they reach the crying phase During the crying phase they can be so upset that they may refuse the breast or bottle In newborns crying is a late sign of hunger
Caution on swaddling
Swaddling means wrapping newborn babies snugly in a blanket to keep their arms and legs from flailing This can make a baby feel safe and help him or her fall asleep You can buy a special swaddling blanket designed to make swaddling easier
But dont use swaddling if your baby is 2 months or older or if your baby can roll over on his or her own Swaddling may raise the risk for SIDS sudden infant death syndrome if the swaddled baby rolls onto his or her stomach
When you swaddle give your baby enough room to move his or her hips and legs The legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips Dont place your babys legs so that they are held together and straight down This raises the risk that the hip joints wont grow and develop correctly This can cause a problem called hip dysplasia and dislocation
Also be careful of swaddling your baby if the weather is warm or hot Using a thick blanket in warm weather can make your baby overheat Instead use a lighter blanket or sheet to swaddle the baby
Helping your baby sleep
Babies may not be able to form their own sleeping and waking patterns especially in going to sleep You can help your baby sleep by knowing the signs of sleep readiness teaching him or her to fall asleep on his or her own and providing the right environment for comfortable and safe sleep
What are the signs of sleep readiness
Your baby may show signs of being ready for sleep when you see the following signs
Rubbing eyes
Yawning
Looking away
Fussing
How can you help your baby fall asleep
Not all babies know how to put themselves to sleep When it is time for bed many parents want to rock their baby to sleep Newborns and younger infants will fall asleep while breastfeeding Having a routine at bedtime is a good idea But if an older baby falls asleep while eating or in your arms this may become a pattern Your baby may then begin to expect to be in your arms in order to fall asleep When your baby briefly awakens during a sleep cycle he or she may not be able to go back to sleep on his or her own
After the newborn period most experts recommend allowing your baby to become sleepy in your arms then placing him or her in the bed while still awake This way your baby learns how to go to sleep on his or her own Playing soft music while your baby is getting sleepy is also a good way to help create a bedtime routine
Infant Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
You may need to take your infant to a doctor who is a sleep specialist If so you should schedule an appointment at Alaska Sleep Clinic an accredited sleep disorders center ASC not only specializes in pediatric sleep but we are one of only two sleep centers in Alaska with a Pediatric Medical Director Dr Harry Yuan will review your infants history and symptoms If needed the doctor will schedule your infant for an overnight sleep study This kind of study is called a polysomnogram It is the best way to evaluate your childs sleep With the results of this study the doctor will be able to develop an individual treatment plan for your child
It is also important to know if there is something else that is causing your childs sleep problems A sleep specialist can look for other conditions that may be involved These include
Another sleep disorder
A medical condition
Medication use
A mental health disorder
The doctor will need to know if your child was born premature or full term He or she will also need to know your childs weight at birth Inform the doctor of any complications that you or your baby had during or after delivery Describe the problems you have observed and when you first noticed them
An infant who has persistent breathing problems during sleep may need an overnight sleep study This study is called a polysomnogram It charts your childs brain waves heartbeat and breathing during sleep It also records arm and leg movements The sleep study will reveal the nature of your infants breathing problem It also will show the severity of the problem The study requires your child to spend the night at the sleep center A parent or guardian also will need to stay at the sleep center with the child
Treatment
Infants with infant sleep apnea may need a machine to provide breathing support They also may need treatment with medications Both of these options tend to be short term treatments
Infant sleep apnea tends to go away as the child grows and matures Ninety eight percent of preterm infants will be free of symptoms by 40 weeks after conception The problem is more likely to persist longer in infants who were born less than 28 weeks after conception
Any medical condition that causes infant sleep apnea or makes it worse also needs to be treated The treatment will depend on the nature of the medical problem
Long term complications are rare for most children with infant sleep apnea Problems are more likely for infants who need frequent resuscitation Health problems also are more common if the infant sleep apnea is related to another severe medical condition The great news for parents is that many times when sleep apnea is properly diagnosed and treated a child can grow into a healthy adult with no sleep issues
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