Sleeping Like a Baby?

Your newborn, like you, is tired from the delivery. He or she is also growing rapidly, which uses up a lot of energy. As a result, expect your baby to sleep a lot. Your newborn may sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day, but he or she probably will not sleep for long stretches. Most wake every few hours. If your baby does want to sleep throughout the day, gently wake him or her about every 3 hours for feedings.

Where Baby Sleeps

Because newborns are so small, your baby may feel more secure sleeping in a bassinet rather than in a crib. If you're using a crib, try wrapping your baby in a blanket (swaddling) before putting him or her down to sleep. During the first weeks after birth, you may find it easiest if baby sleeps in your room during the night. However, babies can be noisy sleepers. If you will rest better with the baby in another room, that's okay. An electronic baby monitor can help you hear whether your baby is awake.

Patterns, Not Schedules

Ask any parent. There are no rules for when a baby sleeps-or doesn't. Although you can't schedule when or how long a baby sleeps, you can adjust patterns to fit a night-day cycle. Treat night and day differently.

• At night, put your baby to sleep in a bassinet or crib. When your baby wakes, feed and change him or her quietly. Keep the lights dim and limit any distractions, so the baby will go back to sleep sooner.

• During the day, put your baby in a cradle or infant seat to sleep. Wake your baby for feedings, and talk and play with your little one. Make funny faces for your baby. (Newborns see best at about 12 inches.) The longer your baby is awake during the day, the better he or she is likely to sleep at night

Help Your Baby Fall Asleep

Train your baby to sleep despite normal household sounds. If you go out of your way to be quiet now, the family will always have to tiptoe and whisper so the baby can sleep. Instead, make sure your baby is fed and has spent quiet time in your arms before being put to bed. Most babies like rhythmic motion. Rock your baby or gently push the cradle. Try massaging your baby's stomach and feet. Sing softly or play lullaby tapes. If unusual noise-such as construction work-is expected, screen it out. Play a tape of water sounds or run a cool humidifier or fan in the room where baby sleeps.

Safety Tips

• Place your baby on his or her back or side to sleep.  You may need to use a rolled blanket or a crib wedge to keep your baby positioned on the side. Newborns who sleep on their stomachs have a higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• Never put a newborn down to sleep on a pillow, a waterbed, or a sheepskin. Also, do not place stuffed animals in the bassinet or crib. Doing so puts your baby at risk for suffocation. This is less of a concern when your baby is older and can lift his or her head.

Crib Safety

Most new cribs are built to meet federal safety standards. But if you're using an old crib, keep the following points in mind.

• Make sure the space between crib bars is no more than 2 3/8 inches, so baby's head won't fit between the bars.

• Also, make sure there are no loose or missing bars, no sharp edges, and no cut-out areas on the headboard or footboard.