Night Routine
NHS Direct  nhs.uk
When babies are first born, they haven’t a clue about the difference between night and day, unfortunately! Your baby will wake at night, she has to as she is growing and developing rapidly. The levels of the hormone prolactin (responsible for milk production) are much higher in the evening and at night. So you can see why the night shift is important in maintaining a good supply of milk. Knowing how vital the night feeds are to successful breastfeeding may not be too comforting in the dead of night but seeing your baby thriving on your good work will be. Here are a few tricks you can use to make the night times easier:

A bath in the evening, a massage and quiet games to relax baby in preparation for bedtime.

When the time comes to feed baby at night, BUSINESS ONLY. No cooing or playing with baby: feed, wind then cot.

Avoid nappy changes at night if possible. These days nappies are very good at retaining urine and keeping it away from the skin. Especially at night, invest in a good quality nappy.

Minimal lighting. You’ll get used to it. Fumbling around in the dark initially is difficult but the benefits out way the disadvantages by a mile. Buy a night-light that will provide just enough light without waking baby too much. Be careful not to trip over anything, though!

Keep baby in the bedroom with you if possible. It is easier to keep an eye on baby in the first few months and if the cot is close to the bed all you need to do is lean over and lift baby out for a feed. (Keeping the baby in the bedroom at night is recommended by CESDI, FSID and the Dept of Health, 2000).

Bringing baby into bed can help settle her if she won’t settle back down to sleep. There are, however, a few very important things to consider. Over heating is a real danger to very small babies. Make sure that any extra clothes on baby are removed and that there is no risk that she will disappear under the duvet. If you consider the heat of two adults contained within a duvet, you can imagine that within a short space of time you could "overheat" your baby. Another thing is to make certain that baby can’t fall out of bed or roll into something that might smother her i.e. a pillow or duvet. Don’t sleep on the sofa with baby as this increases the risk of cot death by almost 50 times. (CESDI, FSID, and the Dept. of Health. 2000). Check that your partner has not drunk any alcohol or taken any sedatives- that goes for you too. If you are drowsy and not quite with it, lying on the baby is all too easy.

Now seems like a good time to mention some other safety measures recommended by CESDI, FSID and the Dept. of Health:

  • Put baby on her back to sleep and remember "feet to foot". Baby should be laid in the lower part of the cot with her feet at the foot of the cot. This lessens the chances of baby being smothered by blankets (babies can wriggle around at a surprisingly young age) and from becoming overheated.
  • If you are pregnant and smoke try to give up or at least cut down. Avoid smoking around the baby. Smoking in one form or another is believed to significantly increase the likelihood of cot death.
  • If you feel that baby is unwell seek medical advice sooner rather than later. It is a good idea to keep a thermometer in the house just in case.

Talking about cot death (or sudden infant death syndrome) isn’t easy but it is necessary so if you have any further questions on how to keep your baby safe have a word with your midwife or health visitor.

Getting back to the nighttime thing, try to be philosophical about tiredness. You will feel shattered. Everyone with small children knows that feeling, but it passes. Your baby will be small for such a short time- try to enjoy it.

 

Reference:

CESDI, FSID, Dept of Health. 2000. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. New guidelines for health professionals and parents. The Practising Midwife. 2000. 3(3) .25-27.

C.E.S.D.I. stands for the Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy.
F.S.I.D. stands for the Foundation for the Study of infant Deaths.