Gallery Image
Gallery Image
Gallery Image
Infant Care

Infant Sleep 😴

By Dr. Ariana Raufi 9/29/2019 5 minutes

Infant sleep - doesn't that sound like an oxymoron!? The first few days, weeks, months of life with a new baby are beautiful, exciting, and totally exhausting. A new baby can be both the greatest gift and the biggest challenge. My hope for all new families is that they develop a strong support system that can help them during this transition. 

Sleep is complicated - but it doesn't always have to be. Part of our job as pediatricians is to help empower you and give you the confidence that you are made for this job. Over the first few weeks and months, I encourage parents to try to learn as much as they can about their baby.
  1. Recognize sleepy cues: when babies start to get tired they show subtle clues that they are ready for sleep. These include staring off, blinking slowly, holding ears or rubbing their head. It is important to try to pickup on these sometimes subtle cues before babies get overtired. It is much more challenging to get an overtired infant to sleep.
  2. Learn to swaddle safely. Swaddling is comforting for most babies - it helps them feel secure. Be sure to swaddle tightly just below the shoulders and have the hips/legs loose. There are so many pre-made swaddles on the market that help make this sometime-daunting sleep aid just a little easier!
  3. Initiate a bedtime routine early on - even if it's just for practice. Bedtime could start with a bath followed by moisturizing, reading a book and/or feeding. Aiming for 6pm and 8pm works for most infants older than a few months of age. 
Create a successful sleep environment. This is important regardless of age! It can include black out curtains, a sound machine, or just a quiet room. Experiment so you can figure out what works best for your family and your baby. 
 
It is important to say that some babies actually are easier sleepers than others. Please be kind to yourself through the process of sleep training. At the end of the day, a good night sleep goes a long way.


Ariana Raufi M.D.
East Bay Pediatrics


Enjoyed this blog? Receive our latest ones by signing up to receive our newsletter.
AuthorPicture

Dr. Ariana Raufi

Ariana Raufi, MD is a native of Rhode Island. She received both her undergraduate and medical degrees from the combined 8 year Program in Liberal Medical Education at Brown University. In college, she majored in Human Biology with a focus on chronic disease prevention. During medical school, she focused her efforts on pediatric advocacy and activism. She spent one year during medical school at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles working on research projects while always being on the lookout for famous celebs! Dr. Raufi completed her pediatric residency in Chicago at Northwestern / Lurie Children’s Hospital where she stayed as an attending physician in their emergency department. The bitter winters and lack of foliage, however, swept Dr. Raufi back to the Northeast and she couldn’t be more excited!

Dr. Raufi has received multiple grants for her work in pediatric advocacy and obesity prevention and presented at several conferences. Her research interests and publications include advocacy, childhood obesity prevention and lead poisoning prevention. She is licensed in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Illinois and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

0 comments
Discover

Made with in New England

Disclaimer

Company is not a healthcare provider and the Website and the Company Services do not constitute the practice of any medical, nursing or other professional health care service or the provision of any advice, diagnosis or treatment.