Gina Johnson
Putting your newborn down to sleep after feeding can be challenging, and it's important to ensure that your baby is getting enough sleep and food each day. The ideal scenario is to have your baby fully topped off before putting them down to sleep for the night. However, feeding too close to a nap window can cause issues, and waiting too long to put them down after a feed can negatively impact their sleep quality and quantity. Newborns have their own schedules, and it may take a few weeks for them to differentiate between night and day. During this time, it's crucial to keep things quiet and calm during middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, letting your baby fall asleep in their crib to associate it with sleep time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How long to wait after feeding | 30 minutes |
| Room | Dark, quiet room with white noise |
| Sleep position | On their back on a firm, flat surface |
| Sleep surface | Crib, bassinet, or mattress |
| Bedding | No blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals |
| Clothing | Swaddle with a blanket |
| Feeding | Fully topped off |
| Reflux | Keep upright for a period of time |
| Other medical concerns | Consult a pediatrician |
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What You'll Learn
The ideal sleep environment for newborns
Creating an ideal sleep environment for your newborn can help your baby sleep better and longer. Here are some tips to achieve this:
Darkness
Keep the nursery dark when your baby sleeps. Newborns do not produce melatonin until they are around three to four months old, and darkness helps them sleep better. It also helps prevent day and night confusion, as newborns take a few weeks to understand the difference between night and day. Blackout window covers are a good option to achieve total darkness.
Temperature
The ideal temperature for optimal sleep is 68–72°F (19–21°C). If the room temperature is difficult to control, dress your baby appropriately for the temperature. Keeping your baby too hot or too cold can disturb their sleep and make it harder for them to fall and stay asleep.
Room-sharing
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing for at least the first six months. This means your baby should sleep in the same room as you but on a separate sleeping surface, such as their crib or bassinet. Room-sharing makes it easier for feeding, comforting, and monitoring your baby at night.
Safe sleep surface
Always place your baby to sleep on their back, not on their stomach or side. Use a firm, flat sleep surface with a snug-fitting sheet. Make sure all sleep surfaces and products are approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards. Do not use products that claim to lower the risk of SIDS, such as sleep positioners or monitors, as there are no known products that can do this.
Feeding routine
Establish a nightly routine that includes feeding your baby before putting them down to sleep. Avoid feeding your baby right before sleep to prevent them from associating feeding with falling asleep. However, make sure your baby's belly is full before going down for the night. A routine that includes white noise, a darkened room, and a bath can help your baby relax and prepare for sleep.
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How to burp your baby
As a new parent, you will have to manage several spinning plates outside of caring for your newborn. One of the primary occupations of your infant is sleeping, and eating. To optimize the benefit of both, it is important to time everything out correctly.
Burping your baby will help them get rid of the air they swallow while drinking milk. There are no rules on when to burp your baby. Some babies need to be burped during their feed, while others need to be burped after. If your baby seems uncomfortable while feeding, take a little burping break. If they seem fine while feeding, wait until they've finished. Your baby will let you know!
- Over the shoulder: Hold your baby upright with their head resting on your shoulder. Pat their back with your other hand. Cupping your hand slightly is gentler than a flattened palm.
- Sitting on your lap: Sit your baby on your lap, supporting their chin and chest with one hand. Rub or pat their back with your other hand. Use repeated, gentle pats on your baby's back.
- Lying across your lap: Rest your baby facedown on your lap and gently rub or pat their back. Keep a cloth nearby in case your baby spits up.
- Lying on their back: Try lying your baby on their back and gently massage their tummy. Try moving your baby's legs back and forth, like riding a bicycle.
- On your forearm: Place your baby face down on your forearm so they are looking sideways. Support their head and neck with your fingers and rub their back gently with your other hand.
You don't need to spend ages burping your baby, a couple of minutes should be enough. Your baby might bring up some milk while burping, so have a cloth or muslin square ready. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.
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How to create a bedtime routine
Creating a bedtime routine for your newborn can be a challenging task, but it is important to help them develop good sleeping habits. Here is a guide on how to create a bedtime routine for your newborn:
Timing is key: Try to establish a bedtime routine that you can consistently follow. Newborns sleep more than they are awake, and their total daily sleep can be around 18 hours, including daytime naps. During the first few weeks, your newborn's brain is still learning to differentiate between night and day. It is important to keep the middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes quiet and calm. Keep the lights low, and avoid playing or talking too much with your baby. This helps them understand that nighttime is for sleeping.
Room-sharing: For the first 6 months, it is recommended that your baby sleeps in the same room as you, both during the day and at night. This arrangement, known as room-sharing, facilitates feeding, comforting, and monitoring your baby at night. Place your baby's crib, portable crib, play yard, or bassinet in your bedroom, ensuring it meets safety standards.
Safe sleep environment: Always place your baby on their back to sleep on a firm, flat surface, such as a crib mattress or bassinet. Do not use soft mattresses, pillows, or blankets, as they can increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and obstruct breathing. Make sure any products you use for your baby's sleep have been approved by the relevant safety authorities and meet federal safety standards.
Wind-down activities: Incorporate calming activities into your bedtime routine. This can include bathing your baby, reading to them, or singing softly. Swaddling your baby, or wrapping them snugly in a light blanket, can be soothing and help them feel secure, mimicking the comfort of the womb. You can also try shushing, which resembles white noise and is reminiscent of the womb environment.
Feeding and burping: Feeding your baby is often part of the bedtime routine. It is generally recommended to feed your baby before putting them down for the night to ensure they are full and content. However, avoid feeding your baby right before sleep if they have significant reflux, as they may need to be upright for a period afterward. Burp your baby after feeding to prevent discomfort from gas bubbles. Keep your baby upright for at least 30 minutes after feeding to minimize the chances of spitting up.
Putting your baby down: Ideally, you want your baby to learn to fall asleep on their own. Put your baby in their crib when they are drowsy but still awake. They may fuss, whine, or cry a little before falling asleep, but it is important to let them learn to self-soothe. If you consistently rock or feed your baby to sleep, they may come to depend on these actions to fall asleep.
Remember, every baby is unique, and you will need to adjust the routine to suit your baby's needs. Consult your paediatrician or healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your baby's sleep or feeding habits.
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How to soothe a newborn to sleep
Putting a newborn baby to sleep can be challenging, but there are several techniques to soothe them to sleep. Here are some tips to help you lay your newborn down to sleep after feeding:
Create a bedtime routine
A consistent bedtime routine can help signal to your baby that it's time to wind down and prepare for sleep. This routine can include calming activities such as bathing, reading, or singing softly. Try to include feeding as part of this routine, ensuring that it happens before other bedtime activities. A nightly routine can help your baby relax and make it easier for them to drift off to sleep.
Optimize the sleep environment
Create a soothing sleep environment by keeping the lights dim or using a night light. A dark room mimics the womb environment and can help your baby fall asleep. You can also use a source of white noise, such as a fan or a specialized device, to create a calming atmosphere. Additionally, make sure the room temperature is comfortable, as being too hot or too cold can disturb your baby's sleep.
Burp your baby
After feeding, gently pat your baby's back to help them burp. Finding the right burping position and technique can aid in releasing trapped gas, preventing discomfort during sleep. You can lay your baby across your lap on their tummy or hold them facing forward while patting their back gently.
Swaddle your baby
Swaddling involves wrapping your baby snugly in a light blanket, creating a cozy and secure feeling similar to the womb. It helps soothe crying or fussy babies and can encourage sleep. You can use a regular blanket or specialized swaddle blankets with Velcro for easier swaddling. Just be sure to stop swaddling once your baby is old enough to roll over, usually around three months.
Put your baby down drowsy but awake
The goal is to put your baby down when they are drowsy but not yet asleep. This way, they can learn to fall asleep independently. It may take patience and multiple attempts, as newborns tend to be light sleepers. If your baby wakes up during their sleep period, keep activities to a minimum. Change or feed them, and then return them to their crib or bassinet.
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How to prevent your baby from associating feeding with falling asleep
It is normal for babies to naturally fall asleep while feeding, especially when breastfeeding, as the hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) is released in the baby, making them sleepy. However, if you want to prevent your baby from associating feeding with falling asleep, there are several things you can do.
Firstly, try to implement a sleep-eat-wake cycle. This means feeding your baby as soon as they wake up in the morning or after a nap, instead of nursing them right before sleep. By doing this, your baby will no longer associate nursing with sleep. It is important to pay attention to your baby's sleepiness cues, such as eye rubbing, yawning, clinginess, and fussiness, and put them down for a nap when you notice these signs.
Secondly, while it is convenient to feed your baby to sleep, especially in the middle of the night, it is best to avoid making it a habit. Instead, try to feed your baby 10-30 minutes before putting them down to sleep, so that there is a clear separation between feeding and sleeping. If your baby is prone to reflux, you may need to keep them upright for a period of time before putting them down on their back after feeding.
Thirdly, when your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, try to wait a bit to see if they will resettle without your help. If they don't, you can still feed them, but try to do it without picking them up, so they don't associate being held and fed with falling asleep.
Lastly, if you are breastfeeding, you can try standing up and rocking your baby while feeding, so that they don't fall asleep in your arms. After feeding, you can then rock them in your arms and sing to them as you carry them to their crib, and put them down drowsy but awake, so that they can learn to fall asleep independently.
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Frequently asked questions
It is recommended that you wait at least half an hour after feeding your baby before putting them down to sleep. This will help to minimise any discomfort from gas bubbles and reduce the chances of your baby spitting up.
It is important to always put your newborn to sleep on their back on a firm, flat surface such as a crib mattress or bassinet. The sleep area should be clear of any blankets, pillows, stuffed animals, or loose sheets that could pose a risk of suffocation.
A consistent bedtime routine can help your newborn settle into a sleep schedule. This may include activities such as bathing, reading, or singing softly to soothe your baby and signal that it is time for sleep. Keeping the lights low and minimising stimulation before bedtime can also help set the mood for sleep.
If your baby has reflux, it is important to keep them upright for a period of time after feeding before putting them down on their back to sleep. The timing will depend on their reflux levels, so pay close attention to their needs. For more specific advice, consult your paediatrician.
To encourage independent sleep, put your baby down when they are drowsy but still awake. This will help them learn to fall asleep on their own. You can also try using a pacifier, as sucking is soothing for newborns, but be aware that they may not be able to put it back in if it falls out.
