Expert Advice for New Parents’ Biggest Sleep Struggles

Children crave boundaries and consistency, two things that routines help provide. Children use routines as a way to understand what is expected of them and what to expect of others around them. Predictable routines communicate to them what is coming without any words being said. Research has shown when it comes to routines, the earlier they are started the better outcomes there are for behavior and sleep. Starting a routine can begin day one. We did this with our newborn, and it helped my partner and me to be on the same page. And our son benefitted from this, as he was able to quickly learn cues about what was going to happen next.

Remember to keep wake windows short (45-60 minutes) and watch for early sleepy cues. You will have much better luck with sleep if you prevent your baby from getting to an overtired point. Next, babies are noisy sleepers. Practice “the pause” to give your baby a few minutes to let you know their true needs so you can respond with intention and not interfere with their natural sleep process. Finally, provide soothing, womb-like sensory experiences to help your baby transition from alert to asleep using the 5 S’s- swaddle, shhh, suck, side lying, and side to side swaying.

Throughout my career as a pediatric and neonatal occupational therapist and certified sleep consultant, I have repeatedly observed the connection between sleep and healthy development in the children I work with. I have seen first hand over the years how sleep, or lack thereof, is so closely related to reaching developmental milestones, sensory processing skills, learning and memory, emotional regulation/mood and social skills, and overall family harmony. Sleep is often such an overlooked therapeutic tool we can use to enhance ALL areas of development and is at the foundation of our most basic human needs.

As new and expecting parents, we don’t always get the opportunity to learn about newborn sleep and how to set up healthy sleep habits early on. But knowing the steps we can take during the newborn period to encourage healthy sleep can make getting our newborn to sleep easier and can often prevent sleep challenges later on through gently acquiring independent sleep skills.

Kensey Butkevich of Sleep Easy Clinic is a Certified Child Sleep Consultant and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She uses a developmental approach in supporting your child’s sleep and behavior needs based on evidence-based strategies. She offered to share a clinical perspective on the importance of tracking baby’s daily patterns for improving sleep and health. Thanks, Kensey!