Where Should My Baby Sleep?
It’s best to put your baby to sleep in your room but not in your bed to reduce the risk of suffocation, strangulation, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Room-sharing is recommended for at least the first 6 months of life, especially if you’re breastfeeding. Consider these options:
- Bassinet, Play Yard, or Crib: Place one next to your bed for easy nighttime breastfeeding and reduced SIDS risk.
- Side-Attachable Bassinet or Play Yard:These have one side that lowers and attaches to your bed, allowing proximity without the risk of rolling over onto your baby.
- No Smoking: Ensure no one smokes in the room where your baby sleeps.
Avoid letting your baby sleep on non-sleep-specific products like car seats, feeding pillows, or infant loungers. Do not use products claiming to lower the risk of SIDS or any weighted items. Only use products approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that meet federal safety standards for infant sleep products.
How Should My Baby Sleep?
Always place your baby on their back to sleep to lower the chance of SIDS. Once they can easily roll over, they can choose their sleep position.
For bedding:
- Firm Sleep Surface:** Use a snugly fitting sheet on a firm mattress in a crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets current safety standards.
- Clear Crib:** Avoid plush toys, pillows, blankets, unfitted sheets, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, and bumper pads.
- Dress Appropriately:** Dress your baby for the room temperature without overbundling and watch for signs of overheating, like sweating or feeling hot to the touch.
How Can I Make Nighttime Feedings Easier?
- Comfortable Nursing Setup: Use a donut-shaped nursing pillow or a «husband» back pillow with arms.
- Dim Lighting and Quiet: Keep the room dim and quiet to signal that nighttime is for sleeping, helping your baby fall back to sleep sooner.
My Baby Falls Asleep While Nursing. What Can I Do?
It’s common for newborns to fall asleep while nursing. To keep them awake and ensure they finish feeding:
- Undress and rub their back.
- Tickle their feet.
- Burp them.
- Change their diaper or switch breasts.
- Gently compress or massage your breast to encourage more milk flow.
If your baby latches on wrong and falls asleep, break the suction by slipping your finger into their mouth and reposition them to include both the nipple and areola.
Is it OK to Nurse My Baby to Sleep?
In the first few months, it’s nearly impossible to keep a satisfied nursing baby awake. As they grow, encourage them to sleep on their own:
- Put Down Slightly Awake:** This helps them learn to fall asleep independently.
- Consistent Bedtime Routine:** Bathing, reading, and singing can be soothing and signal bedtime.
- Pacifier Use:** Recommended at naptime and bedtime for babies under 1 year to reduce SIDS risk, but only after breastfeeding is well-established (after about 3 weeks).
When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?
Newborns typically sleep in 2-3 hour stretches due to their small stomachs. By 3 months, babies may sleep for a 5-6 hour stretch at night, though this varies. Most babies will eventually sleep longer at night, but individual patterns differ.
Will it Hurt My Milk Supply to Let My Baby Sleep?
Around 3 months, letting your baby sleep longer at night won’t hurt your breastfeeding efforts. Your body adjusts your milk supply based on your baby’s needs. As they start eating solid foods, their need for breast milk decreases, and your body will adapt accordingly.