Ah, newborn bliss—there’s truly nothing like it. Whether a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, you’ll receive advice from friends, family, and the ever-present Google. It can feel overwhelming, but take a deep breath—you’ve got this! To help cut through the noise, we’ll be debunking common newborn myths. If you’ve found this post, I hope it offers reassurance, helpful information, and guidance as you navigate your newborn journey.

Newborns cannot self-soothe, so they rely on caregivers for assistance. This means formal sleep training isn’t appropriate until your baby is older, with the earliest recommended age being 16 weeks. Before then, there’s no need for your little one to cry for extended periods without caregiver support at nap time or bedtime. A great tip to help your baby prepare for sleep is to guide them into a drowsy state using the 5 S’s:

● Swaddling

● Side/Stomach lying position (only while soothing, not for sleep)

● Shushing

● Swinging

● Sucking

Once you notice signs of drowsiness, such as slow blinks or staring off into space, place your baby in their safe sleep space. If they cry after being put down, try the pick-up, put-down method: pick them up to soothe them back to a drowsy state, then gently place them back in the crib or bassinet. Repeat as needed.

Remember, it’s okay to help your baby fall completely asleep if necessary. Even attempting to guide them into a drowsy state is a valuable part of sleep shaping and helps establish a solid foundation for healthy sleep habits.

 Sleep cues are beneficial, but finding a balance between the art and science of nap time is key. The science involves understanding wake windows—guidelines for how long your baby can comfortably stay awake before needing sleep. In the first few weeks, your baby will likely guide the process with their cues, as they’ll be very sleepy with short wake windows of 45-60 minutes.

Here’s a general breakdown of wake windows by age:

● Newborn: 45-60 minutes

● 3 to 5 months: 1.5-2 hours

● 5 to 8 months: 2-2.5 hours

● 6 to 9 months: 2.5-3.5 hours

● 9 to 15 months: 3-4 hours

As your baby grows, their wake windows will gradually extend, and you’ll rely more on the “art” of sleep—reading their cues and using your intuition. Familiar cues in younger babies include staring off, red eyebrows, yawning, or light fussiness. You might notice more apparent signs like ear tugging or shaking the head as they age. I encourage parents to blend both the art and science of sleep. By paying attention to wake windows and tuning into your baby’s unique signals, you’ll create a rhythm that works best for your little one—and see the best results.

Every baby is unique, but most tend to love being swaddled. Swaddling helps babies feel safe, secure, and warm while addressing their strong moro (startle) reflex. By keeping the startle reflex in check, swaddling can promote longer stretches of sleep. If your baby doesn’t seem to enjoy swaddling, try experimenting with different types of swaddles. Before buying one, consider borrowing from friends or family to see what works best for your little one.

Here are some tips for a proper swaddle:

● Ensure it’s snug enough to stay in place but not overly tight.

● Allow room for the hips to move freely.

● Use swaddling only during sleep times.

With the right approach, swaddling can become a comforting part of your baby’s sleep routine!

Newborns experience rapid growth during the first weeks of life; sleep is essential to support this development. On average, a newborn will sleep 5-7 hours daily and 14-17 hours total in 24 hours. Both daytime and nighttime sleep are essential for their growth and well-being.

One key goal for newborns is to prevent over tiredness. When a baby becomes overtired, it can result in increased crying, shorter or skipped naps, and other challenges. While following wake windows and cues can help, it doesn’t guarantee that naps will go smoothly daily. Some days might be filled with short cat naps or struggles to settle your little one.

This is entirely normal—hang in there! Remember, tomorrow is a fresh start!

Welcoming the sweetest new addition to your family is exciting, but their constant needs can also feel overwhelming. While a strict schedule might seem appealing, it’s unrealistic during the newborn stage. At this age, your little one will spend most of their time eating, pooping, and sleeping.

Newborns typically eat every 2-3 hours and have wake windows of up to 60 minutes, but every day will be different. Some days, they might cluster feed, while others may sleep more than usual. It’s perfectly fine—and encouraged—to follow their lead. After a few weeks, you may notice patterns in their feeding and napping times. That’s a great time to introduce a flexible routine based on their natural rhythms. As your baby grows, they’ll gradually be ready for more structure. A consistent clock-based schedule, where naps and feeds are based on the clock, usually becomes feasible around 7-8 months. For now, embrace the flexibility and enjoy these early moments!

I hope this post has clarified things for you and your family. I wish you all the best of luck on your parenting journey. You’ll do great!

This post is written by Melissa Bramwell, Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant, breastfeeding specialists, and birth and postpartum doula on our Chicago Family Doulas team. Learn more about Melissa here.