overnight shift with a 7-week old😴
never been more grateful that i sleep trained my toddler bc i would not be surviving if he didn’t stay in bed til 7:30/8am every day😩love the newborn stage but did not miss the sleep deprivation #newbornsleep #postpartum #nightroutine #newborn #bedtimeroutine
Having a 7-week-old newborn means navigating a challenging sleep schedule with multiple night wakings. From experience, implementing a consistent nighttime routine like bath, feeding, and bedtime around 7:30-8:00 pm sets the stage for better sleep for the baby and parents. A key lifesaver is the 'dream feed' around midnight — feeding the baby while they’re still asleep helps extend sleep stretches for both baby and parents. Working toward moving the dream feed earlier to 11 pm gradually reduces nighttime awakenings. Nighttime feeds come with diaper changes and soothing, which can be exhausting. The feed around 5:40 am often feels the hardest, as fatigue peaks then, but staying calm and patient helps everyone get through it. Celebrating the early morning wake-up as a victory helps keep morale up. For parents with toddlers, sleep training them well in advance can seriously help by allowing them to sleep in until 7:30 or 8 am, which provides crucial rest time. This balance between a toddler's stable sleep and newborn care can make the postpartum period more manageable. Sharing this realistic nighttime journey highlights the blend of planned routines and go-with-the-flow parenting needed in the newborn stage. Supporting parents to develop personalized night routines and gentle sleep training can dramatically improve postpartum wellbeing and family harmony.
