Baby Sleeping Situation

[melancholyblue]

Hello, my daughter is a week old and my partner and I aren’t like quite sure what to do when our baby is sleeping, we’ve been taking in turns staying awake with her in intervals and so on but loads of people have told us to both sleep when baby is sleeping but shouldn’t someone be awake at all times especially while she’s this young? I know it sounds stupid but just wanted to get other parents advice and what are your guys’ routines with a newborn? Thanks!

No you don’t need to be awake when she is. As long as she’s sleeping in the same room as you and not on her own. You should also make sure you follow the lullaby trust safe sleep guidance ie lay on her back, no toys n cot, no loose covers etc.
Get some sleep!!

We both slept when we could- had an awful sleeper though.
She should be in the same room as one or both of you, though.

Also if you are worried about not hearing her etc then just make sure you don’t drink so you don’t go into a really deep sleep

Why would someone always need to be awake?? We'd all die if that was how babies worked! Of course you can both sleep!

You both sleep as well

As long as you’re following safe sleep advice (empty cot, sleeping in the same room, baby sleeping on back etc.) then of course you can both sleep

Yeah she’s in a Moses basket right next to the bed :) it’s really warm in our room so she literally is only in a vest and onesie at the moment no blanket or sleeping bag!
So it would be okay for us to both sleep throughout the night while she does and wake up when she does a for a feed of set an alarm for a feed just incase she doesn’t?
Because we genuinely thought someone had to stay awake at all times with her so taking it in turns throughout the night but it’s making us both exhausted the next day 😩

Also we’re both just a bit worried too being first time parents and all! This is so completely new and a bit scary!

Yea of course you can both sleep!
Is she bottle or breastfed?
Either way though at such a young age she will probably wake up for a feed by herself after a few hours. But if you have one of those unicorn babies who sleeps through the night from the get go then I would say it is worth making sure she doesn’t go more than 4-5 hours between feeds overnight. Once she’s regained her birth weight (if she hasn’t already) then you can be a bit more relaxed about this.

And yes I totally get the scary feeling especially at night. They’re so tiny and you come home from the hospital with them and you’re like “well now what do we do?!”

Has baby regained her birth weight? If so you can let her wake you

Never wake a sleeping baby! She’ll wake when she’s hungry.

So yeah sorry if I wasn’t clear but if she is not naturally waking for feeds in the night then I would maybe set an alarm for 4-5 hours after her last feed.

Have you no family or friends with kids? It would be insanity to stay awake needlessly when you're already going to be having broken sleep with a newborn. You all sleep, you wake when she stirs or makes noise for a feed, that's normal.

She’s bottle fed :) she does wake up for a feed and usually does a bit of a cry but there’s been a couple of nights so far where we’ve had to wake her up for a feed, she loves to sleep haha
She was weighed on Wednesday and only lost 3oz from birth weight which is really good! She does love her bottle haha
Brill okay we’ll try to both sleep tonight instead of taking turns and just take turns to feed instead, feels weird to sleep and not be watching her and making sure she’s okay! Haha
Oh god yeah that’s the feeling we’re both still having a week later! Haha

Umm of course we have family and friends with kids but everyone is different so I thought I’d ask here too, no harm in asking I guess!!

@melancholyblue

She’s bottle fed :) she does wake up for a feed and usually does a bit of a cry but there’s been a couple of nights so far where we’ve had to wake her up for a feed, she loves to sleep haha She was weighed on Wednesday and only lost 3oz from birth weight which is really good! She does love her bottle haha Brill okay we’ll try to both sleep tonight instead of taking turns and just take turns to feed instead, feels weird to sleep and not be watching her and making sure she’s okay! Haha Oh god yeah that’s the feeling we’re both still having a week later! Haha

Sleep well!

Always best to ask! There are no silly questions in parenting

If baby hasn’t regained her birthweight yet I’d put an alarm on for every 4 hours. Once she’s regained it you don’t need to put an alarm on anymore.

Brill thanks everyone! She only lost 3oz from her birth weight so she’s not far off so I’ll definitely put an alarm on incase she’s doesn’t wake herself, excited to actually have some proper sleep fingers crossed haha

Yes get the sleep while you can! At that age our little girl wouldn’t sleep on her own 😂

Go ahead and sleep :) your DD is very lucky to have you both congratulations OP.

Bless you both. Get your swedes down whenever you can! Best of luck and enjoy the snuggles!

You are doing a fab job
We used to set our alarms to every 3 hours, to vibrate, to go grab a bottle ready for our little one waking when she was on night feeds
Rest when you can. Enjoy your sleep! Xx

Wow no, what do you think single parents do?

Thank you every one for the really kind words and advice you’ve all been so helpful and made me feel so much better about sleeping through the night! Was feeling a bit guilty too that if she just wakes up and nothings wrong but just awake and my partner and I are still sleeping haha! But thank you very much been really helpful.

Also I’m not sure what single parents do but thanks for the comment!

They certainly don’t stay up all night, never heard of anyone doing that 😐