Night-Time Parenting and the Newborn Baby

Recently I had the pleasure of being introduced to Allison Coleman of Austin Baby Guru. Allison is a phenominal labor and postpartum doula who helps new parents learn how to night-time parent their newborn. She blogs about babies and sleep, among other important newborn topics on her blog BabyFace.

Allison Coleman is a labor doula, postpartum doula, breastfeeding educator, and midwife's assistant. She writes about birth and postpartum issues that are important to new parents. This past week Allison shared facts about newborn sleep habits, and finding them beneficial for new parents I wanted to share them with Childbirth and... readers. The following is a bit of what she has posted to her blog, you can read the full article by clicking here: BabyFace.

Baby Sleep
By Allison Coleman

• A full night’s sleep for a newborn is a six hour stretch.
• Night waking might be one way of baby’s protecting itself from an immature respiratory system.
• A newborn will pace its breathing to an adult in the same room. Having your baby sleep within 5 feet of an adult for the first few months may lower its risk of SIDS.
• Babies are safest sleeping on their backs.
• Swaddling a baby shuts off the Moro reflex, this often helps a baby to sleep longer stretches. If you are co-sleeping, do not sleep with a baby swaddled, baby needs his/her arms free.

This is an exceptional and extensive list so make sure you follow the links!

Michelle