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If baby’s night-time feeds are disrupting your precious shut-eye, here are a few sleep-saving tips...
It’s just one of the many reasons why being a parent can feel so tiring. If baby’s night-time feeds are disrupting your precious shut-eye, here are a few sleep-saving tips.
Babies don’t automatically know the difference between night and day, but you can start to get them used to the idea that they sleep when it’s dark. When your baby wakes to feed during the night, try to keep the environment as dark and quiet as possible, so it’s easier to encourage them to nod off again when they’re done.
Anticipating everything you need for any eventuality is a parenting super power - have you seen what’s in those baby bags?! Whether it’s the clean nappies and a change of Pjs for your little one, or a midnight snack to help keep you going, think about what you need during your night feeds and keep it close at hand.
While it’s lovely to talk and interact with your baby, try not to give them any cues that suggest it’s playtime. Keep to a gentle lullaby, soothing and rocking to encourage your little one to settle back to sleep after their feed.
Whether you’re breast or bottle feeding, you’ll want to wear something comfortable and easy to clean up or change if your breasts leak or your little one doesn’t always keep all their milk down. It’s useful to have some dry towels or a muslin handy to mop up any mess.
A grumbly tummy full of trapped air isn’t fun for anyone, especially if you’re trying to get your baby back off to sleep. Always wind your baby after a night-time feed, just as you would during the day time.
It’s easy to get obsessed with sleep, and start calculating how much you’ve had and how much you’ve missed, when trying to feed your baby back to sleep. But counting the minutes and watching the night slip away really won’t help. It’s also more likely to keep you awake once baby has dozed off.
Nap when you can during the day and ask friends or family to help out if you’re finding the early shift (not to mention the morning, afternoon and weekend shift) is taking it out of you.
With recent research suggesting that new parents get an average of less than 5 hours sleep per night in the first year of baby’s life, there’s no shame in getting an extra snooze when you can.
Is it ok to not change baby’s nappy at night?
A full or wet nappy will need changing, but if they’re clean and comfortable, then there’s no need to disturb your little one more than necessary by changing them.
Always change your baby’s nappy before bedtime.
How often should I feed a newborn at night?
Parents with newborns can sometimes be surprised at how often they need feeding. Your new arrival has a tiny tummy that feels full very quickly, so for the first few weeks, newborns may need feeding every 2-3 hours. That means right through the night too, so it’s no wonder that new parents can feel a little sleep deprived.
The good news is that as they grow babies need fewer night feeds. By the time they’re around 4 months old, most babies will need 1-3 night feeds. This drops to 1-2 night feeds when they reach 6 months. Of course, this is provided that your little one is feeding well during the day.
Most babies wake themselves up through the night if they’re hungry. It’s best to let them do this unless they have weight or other health issues that mean they need waking for a feed. If you have any concerns about how your baby is feeding, then talk to your GP or health visitor.
Tommee Tippee asked parents for their bottle feeding tips. Get some handy advice from other parents just like you.
