Almost all parents will experience sleep deprivation in the first six weeks or so after a baby is born. After all, babies don't even know night from day at that point.
Get out and about
Tiredness can make it more difficult to feel motivated and might mean some mums find it easier to stay at home. But getting out during the day could help you feel less isolated and give you something to aim for, even look forward to, each day (Mind, 2019).
Sleepless nights are common in new parenthood, but they do not last forever. Most babies will begin to sleep for longer periods at night from the age of 6 months old. Newborn babies need to feed every few hours until the age of 3 months. After this, it is normal for infants to feed once or twice during the night.
Here's what the survey found
The survey found that the majority of new parents are getting between 5 and 6 hours of sleep each night. Sadly, no surprises there. On average, each new parent loses a staggering 109 minutes of sleep every night for the first year after having a baby.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine, like a bath
But even adding a few minutes to your bedtime routine could make a big difference. "It's also helpful for new moms to have their own relaxing bedtime routine to unwind after a hard day of taking care of their new baby," says Murray.
Most people find the first six to eight weeks to be the hardest with a new baby, and whilst people may not openly discuss many of the challenges in these early weeks of parenthood (if at all), there are a number of common hurdles you may face at this time.
“Night one is a euphoric night,” said Jennifer Howting, a registered nurse in paediatrics based in Kingston, Ont. “But babies on night two wake up a lot more—they're more alert and are ready to feed. The second night is when the exhaustion really hits [for parents].” Night two can bring a lot of crying.
However, many babies tend to get "easier" around 3 to 4 months old. Around this age, infants may begin to sleep longer stretches and feed on a more predictable schedule. You may also start to adjust to your new set of responsibilities as a parent. This being said, every baby is different, as is every family.
Most mothers also face new sleep challenges after giving birth. Newborns wake up frequently and require feedings throughout the day and night. These demands often force mothers to adjust their sleep schedules and, in many cases, sleep less at night. Additionally, women undergo hormonal changes.
In the first few weeks after birth, babies sleep much of the day and night. Most wake 2 to 3 times during the night for feeds. Babies have shorter sleep cycles than adults and wake or stir about every 40 minutes.
Night two can bring way more crying that the first 24 hours. The theory is that during the second to third day postpartum, your newborn is discovering they are no longer in the comforts of your womb. They are experiencing many new firsts – the feeling of hunger, cold air across their skin, lights and stimulation etc…
Not worrying may be easier said than done, but truly, parental preference is a normal and healthy part of toddlerhood. It can pop up between ages one to three, as children become more independent and learn to express their opinions.
By 6 or 7 months of age, your baby may need some things but want others. At that point, you may be able to resist their demands a little. It's not so much that you're spoiling them if you “give in” to their every wish, but it may be more beneficial to help them understand some limits (often for their own safety).
While there's a lot to learn as a first-time mom, a baby is only considered a newborn for his first 2-3 months of life. Next is the infant stage, which lasts until your baby turns 1 year old.
When your baby is awake, give him or her supervised time on his or her tummy so he or she can develop upper body muscles. Focus and begin to make eye contact with you. Blink in reaction to bright light. Respond to sound and recognize your voice, so be sure and talk to your baby often.
What is second night syndrome? There is a theory that babies fall into a deep sleep for the first 24 hours of their life because of the the effort and stress of birth. After they wake up - by the second night - is when they become aware that life as they knew it has gone. Credit: Getty.
The first few days of your baby's life are very exciting, and pretty tiring. A lot happens. Your new baby will need to sleep about 4 hours, feed and sleep some more. They need to be kept dry and clean, and bathed every day or so.
Sleep deprivation can last for several weeks, or even months, with some moms logging in only three to four hours per night. But, how much sleep do new moms need? The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults between the ages of 18 and 64 sleep between seven and nine hours per night.
It takes about a year for the melanocytes to finish their job and for the final color to come in. While the rate of color change does slow down after 6 months, the color can still change after this time. Sometimes the color change can continue for several years before the eye color becomes permanent.
Most newborns reach a crying peak at about 6 weeks. Then their crying starts to decrease. By 3 months, they usually only cry for about an hour a day. This is what is considered a “normal” crying pattern.