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During the first few weeks of
life, your baby will sleep a lot

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- usually about 16 to 17 hours a
day. Sleep helps their brain

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develop.But newborns sleep
lightly and eat often, so they

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may only sleep one to two hours
at a time. Your newborn does not

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yet know the difference between
night and day. As a result, your

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baby's sleeping pattern will be
unpredictable. It will be hard

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to make your baby sleep more,
less, or at certain times. Since

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your newborn is feeding every 2
to 3 hours, you both will be

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awakened often in the middle of
the night. But at around 2

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weeks, you can help your baby
start to recognize when it is

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time for sleep. You can create a
sleep routine. Here's how:

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During the day, play with your
baby more. Spend time talking,

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reading, and playing together.
Keep the lights on or open the

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curtains or blinds. You also do
not need to be completely quiet.

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Ordinary noises and activities
can encourage your baby to be

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more awake during the day. At
night, designate your baby's

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awake time for feeding only; no
playtime. Keep the lights low

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and calming even when feeding or
changing your baby. And although

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you are tired too, do not fall
asleep with your baby after a

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feeding. Put your baby back in a
crib or bassinet to sleep

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safely. To review, try not to
wake your baby when you feed or

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change them at night. Put your
baby to bed when they are

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sleepy. This will help them
learn to fall asleep on their

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own, in their own bed. If you
hold your baby or rock them to

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sleep, it may be hard for them
to go back to sleep if they wake

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up. The safest sleeping position
is on their back. Healthy babies

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should not sleep on their
stomachs. Do not buy a sleep

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positioner. Most are unsafe and
not needed. If your newborn has

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had problems with breathing or
other problems, check with your

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child's healthcare provider
about the safest sleeping

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position. Because your baby is
spending so much time lying in

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one position while sleeping, the
back or side of their head may

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look flat. Switch head positions
when putting your baby to bed

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and give them lots of "tummy
time" when being watched awake.

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This is good for the head and
also encourages upper body

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strength. When your baby lies
down to sleep, use this time to

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rest yourself. You deserve it.
It may seem never-ending, but

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this period of unpredictable
sleep patterns will soon fade

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away. As babies get older, they
begin to sleep for longer

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stretches of time. For now,
though, get rest when you can so

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you can enjoy the times when
your baby is awake.