Can you sleep train a newborn?

 

You’ve brought baby home from the hospital – fully prepared to get no sleep – and now you’re more exhausted than you’d ever thought possible. (Happy, delighted, so full of love too, but ex.haus.ted.)

Your little wakes up at odd hours, including countless times throughout the night, and you’d love a more predictable routine. You’ve heard about sleep training, and you’re wondering if it’s the secret to sleep you’ve been looking for…

*          *          *

Can you sleep train a newborn?

I remember the first time I brought home my son, I was a complete mess. I wasn’t sure if I was doing this whole parenting thing right. And I was so so tired (which affected my patience, my decision-making skills, and my confidence.) There was lots and lots of crying – both me and my son.

Then I started to read up on newborn sleep, and there were so many contradictory articles and books. Just like you, all I wanted to know was, can you sleep train a newborn!?

Well, I’m here with some bad news friend: you can’t sleep train a newborn.

But I won’t leave you hanging or feeling helpless, hopeless, drained, and exhausted.

Because, while you can’t sleep train a newborn, you can set the foundation for healthy sleep.

When I finally logged off the mommy blogs and Facebook, I turned to the scientific, evidence-based research on sleep instead (having a PhD, this is what I know best!). Through trial and error and paying quite a few dues, I was eventually able to get my baby boy to sleep through the night at four months with three predictable naps during the day! 

And when my next little one, a baby girl, came along a couple years later, I started shaping her healthy sleep habits even earlier and she was sleeping through the night at 8 weeks old! Amazing, right!?

[BTW, you can skip the rest of the blog (and skip the totally sleepless nights too) and get your Healthy Little Sleepers Blueprint for Newborns (0-3 months) right now. It’s an online program that helps you navigate the newborn sleep journey and begin laying down the foundation for healthy sleep from the start!]

You can have that beautiful, wonderful sleep schedule too. You’ve just got to know a few things about newborn sleep. Let’s start with why sleep training doesn’t work for our littlest littles.

*          *          *

Why can't you sleep train a newborn?

You might have noticed that your newborn is a great sleeper – they can sleep anywhere from 14 to 17 hours a day! But despite all that sleep, they’re still not capable of being sleep trained, here’s why: 

Newborns haven’t developed their circadian rhythms yet. That means their bodies are not yet trained to fall asleep regularly (like adults do - and older babies, for that matter). Newborns simply sleep when they get tired.

Newborns don’t have a sense of day or night. They don't produce enough melatonin, which is needed to put their sleep cycle into a more regular rhythm. And they aren’t even born with the ability to produce melatonin… yet.

Newborns can’t go all night without feeding. Most need to eat every two to three hours, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). So that means you will be up feeding them 4 to 5 times throughout the night.

Newborns can’t self-soothe. When babies are really young, they may need help to fall asleep, through shushing, swaying, and rocking - especially when overtired.

Newborns communicate their basic needs by crying. When newborns cry, they’re signaling  that they’re hungry, tired, uncomfortable, sick, or have a dirty diaper. 

Newborns can’t make (sleep) associations. There’s a saying that’s true for a reason: you can’t spoil a newborn. So while they’re at this age, you can hold them, nurse them, rock them, cuddle them, be totally obsessed with them – without stressing about whether or not it’s going to cause a sleep issue.

*          *          *

 How do you set healthy sleep habits for newborns?

Though it’s not possible to sleep train your newborn baby, you can help them develop healthy sleep habits from the day you bring them home.

Help your little learn day and night. When they’re awake during the day, keep them stimulated and keep the lights on (or, even better, take them outside for a bit of sunlight). During the evenings, keep things quieter and dim the lights to send the signal that it’s time to wind down.

Try to get full feedings. Once your little gets some milk in their belly, they’ll be ready for more sleep, but try and keep them awake long enough to get a full feeding in. A full belly means they’ll be able to sleep for longer stretches.

Start a sleep routine. Regular bedtime and nap time routines will help signal to your newborn that it’s time for sleep. As they get older, they’ll pick up on those cues and go down easier. 

By the time your little reaches about the four-month mark, you’ll be able to start sleep training and getting these healthy sleep habits down pat. But, until then… keep the coffee brewing and get your Healthy Little Sleeper’s Newborn Blueprint!

What you'll get:

• Access to the online program on how to set healthy rhythms for your newborn

• Videos on swaddling, catching wake windows, and how to calm a fussy baby

• PDF downloads to help you face the specific challenges that happen during the newborn stage: My Baby has Reflux, Now What?, The 411 on Feeding + Sleep, Time for Tummy Time

• A private community for support and answers (from me and my team) to ANY newborn- or sleep-related question you may have

• The confidence of knowing exactly where to start, what to expect, and how to put your little one down without tears!

Healthy sleep is right around the corner (for your newborn and for you!) – no more second guessing, zombie-like mornings, or frustration just like Katherine below! Get the Newborn Sleep Blueprint now!