So you just had your new baby. Everyone’s asking, “does the baby sleep through the night?” And everyone seems to have an opinion on your answer too!
We’re here to set the record straight: frequent night wakings in the first year are completely biologically normal, and not a problem to be solved. “Sleeping through the night” for a baby in the first year is considered a 5-6 hour stretch. Our human milk is low in fat content, as compared to other mammals, making our babies genetically programmed to want to feed often! Breastmilk digests quickly and as such, babies will want it frequently to continue growing and meeting their milestones. Other things that can affect their sleep is mom’s breast storage capacity and their stomach capacity for milk, both of which change as the baby grows.
Human biology suggests another reason for fragmented sleep, babies take time to learn self-soothing. Imagine being thrust from a warm, cozy womb to a bright, loud world, it’s a switch! When a baby wakes, they want the comfort of mom, her familiar voice, smell, touch from 9 months inside to calm them back down. As they grow older, the skill to self-soothe back to sleep develops.
Sleep journeys are unique for each baby and each family. Rest assured, you’re doing great!
Need more help? Book a visit with Wisco Lactation! We offer home & office visit in SE Wisconsin and NE Illinois. We also offer virtual visits worldwide.