Calgary Baby Guide 2022-2023

Weeks 4-6
The maternal melatonin that was present
for the first three weeks of a newborn’s life
has worn off and babes are becoming
more alert. It is common to see crying peak
at 6 weeks. Babes are able to now stay
awake for 60-90 minutes at a time and
are starting to distinguish between day
and night. If you can, try to pay attention
to awake windows and offer sleep every
60-90 minutes (60 minutes for 4 week olds,
increasing to 90 minutes by the time they
are 6 weeks old). This will prevent babies
from getting into overtired states from
which it can be difficult to achieve sleep.
As newborns start to sleep more at night
and less during the day we can expect a
total daytime sleep of 4-5 hours, divided
into several naps, and total night time sleep
of 11-12 hours (with feedings). We also
begin to see the baby sleep cycle emerge.
Babies’ sleep cycles are 45-50 minute
long. They are in a light, or active, sleep
for the first half of their sleep cycle
(approximately 20 minutes) making it
common to see them wake within the first
20 minutes of sleep due to their own
movements, or happenings in their
environment. The second half of their sleep
cycle they are in a deep or quiet sleep;
their faces are restful, their limbs are
floppy and they don’t wake as easily.
Swaddling in the newborn period is a
great tool to use because it creates a
sensation of physical security and prevents
babes from being distracted by their own
uncoordinated limb movements. White
noise is another great tool for newborn
sleep (and beyond) because it replicates
the “whooshing” sound newborns heard
constantly in the womb and it blocks out
environmental sounds which may awaken
the babe when they are in a lighter stage
of sleep.
If you notice it’s been 90 minutes or so
since your baby’s last period of sleep see
if they need some help settling off to sleep
and begin to set the scene. Feeding,
cuddling, bouncing, rocking are all great
ways to encourage newborn sleep as they
may not always fall asleep on their own
accord.
10 • www.modernmama.com | CALGARY | A RESOURCE GUIDE | 2022/2023 Edition