What is the sleep pattern of the newborn?
The average newborn sleeps most of the day and night, waking every few hours only to feed. It is often difficult for new parents to know how long and how often a newborn should sleep. Unfortunately, there is no set schedule at first, and many newbies confuse day and night. They think they are supposed to stay awake at night and sleep during the day.dailysmallnews.com

Generally, newborns sleep a total of about 8 to 9 hours during the day and about 8 hours at night. But because their stomach is small, they have to eat every few hours. Most babies don't start sleeping through the night (6 to 8 hours) until at least 3 months old. But it can change a lot. Some babies don't sleep through the night until they are about 1 year old. In most cases, your baby will wake up and be ready to eat at least every 3 hours. How often your baby eats depends on what he is being fed and his age. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider to determine if your baby needs to be woken for feedings.

Watch for changes in your baby's sleep patterns. If your baby sleeps regularly, and suddenly wakes up frequently, there may be a problem. Or your baby may go through growth spurts and need to eat more often. Some sleep disturbances are simply due to developmental changes or overexcitement.

What are the different warning stages of a newborn?
Children also vary in how alert they are while awake.

Quiet warning episode
When a newborn wakes at the end of a sleep cycle, there is usually a quiet alert phase. This is a time when the baby is very still, but alert and receptive to the environment. During quiet vigilance, infants may look or stare at objects and respond to sounds and motions. This stage usually progresses to the stage of active alertness. This is when the child is attentive to sounds and sights and actively moves.

crying episode
A crying phase followed by calm alertness. The baby's body moves erratically, and he may cry loudly. Babies can be easily overstimulated during the crying stage. It's usually best to find ways to calm the child and the environment. Holding your baby close or wrapping your baby in a blanket (dua) can help calm a crying baby.

It is usually best to feed babies before they reach the crying stage. During the crying stage, they may become so upset that they may refuse the breast or bottle. In newborns, crying is a late sign of hunger.

Caution on swaddling
Saddling means wrapping newborn babies in a blanket so that their arms and legs don't dangle. It can make a baby feel secure and help him fall asleep. You can buy a special swaddling blanket designed to make swaddling easier.

But don't use swaddling if your baby is 2 months or older, or if your baby can roll over on his own. Swaddling can increase the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) if the swaddled baby rolls onto his stomach.

When you swing, give your baby enough room to move his hips and legs. The legs should be able to bend up and out at the hips. Do not position your baby's legs so that they are together and straight. This increases the risk of the hip joints not growing and developing properly. This can lead to problems called hip dysplasia and dislocation.

Also be careful about rocking your baby when the weather is warm or hot. Using a thick blanket in warm weather can overheat your baby. Use a light blanket or sheet to swaddle the baby instead.

Helping your baby sleep
Babies may not be able to develop their own sleep and wake patterns, especially at bedtime. You can help your baby sleep by knowing the signs of sleep readiness, teaching him to fall asleep on his own, and providing the right environment for a comfortable and safe sleep.