0-3 months old

Newborns (0-3 months) need so much sleep because their brains and bodies are growing rapidly. Although, these sleep hours are usually in fragments, rather than in long consolidated stretches.

If you’re looking for your days to be more predictable and consistent, we hear you! However, in these first few months, you'll need to prepare to embrace flexibility and enjoy the moments. It might be tough, but it will go by so fast that you might miss it looking back.

Rest assured, our strategies and recommendations provided are backed by solid research and evidence, tailored to meet the biological needs and natural sleep rhythms of your little one.

This Mini Guide includes:

• What to expect at 3 months
• Guidelines for better sleep
• Developmental Milestones
• Playtime activities
• Recommended readings
  
  

What to expect in the first few months

• Sleep patterns: Newborns don't yet have a circadian rhythm - the internal clock that aligns with the 24-hour day. This develops over the first few months of life. Their sleep cycles are shorter, with each cycle lasting about 50 minutes. Some babies might need more help than others after waking up from a sleep cycle to settle back to sleep. Total sleep is about 14-17 hours in 24 hours - these hours are usually in fragments.

• Nighttime sleep: Expect your newborn to wake often at night for feeding.  If your baby is healthy and on track with growth, most pediatricians will agree that you can allow one extended sleep stretch at night. This shouldn't exceed their age in weeks plus one hour. For example, a 5-week-old can sleep up to 6 hours from the last feeding. Some babies will continue to wake up to eat every 3 hours and may just not be developmentally ready for longer stretches. 

• Short naps are common for newborns, you can use gentle strategies to help lengthen naps.

• Day-night confusion is common, they may sleep most of the day and wake frequently at night.

• Active sleep. It may look like they’re awake when they’re actually sleeping! Pause and observe before interfering.

• Around the 3-4 month milestone, major developmental strides can affect sleep due to a significant biological shift in sleep patterns. Babies transition from newborn sleep phases to more adult-like sleep stages, which may disrupt the sleep of even previously good sleepers, causing multiple awakenings at night. Check out our guide about the 4-month sleep regression.

Guidelines for better sleep

At this stage, sleep is not something you can control; instead, focus on the things you can control:

• From as early as 8-12 weeks old, babies can recognize routines. Establishing a bedtime routine with your newborn can pave the way for future sleep success.
• Limiting daytime naps to 2 hours can prevent disruptions to daytime feeding, total time awake, and nighttime sleep. It's ok to wake baby up when you need to, to ensure they get enough calories and awake time.
• Aim for wake windows around 35-60 mins when under 4 weeks old, or around 60-90 mins when over 4 weeks old. Watch for sleepy cues to guide you here. 
• For most babies, falling asleep for naps and nights can take between 5-20 minutes. If it takes less than 5 minutes, they might be overtired. If it takes more than 20 minutes, they might be undertired. Complement this with sleepy cues to find your baby's rhythm.
  
• Offer daytime feedings every 2-3 hours, according to hunger cues. 
  
• Try to offer daytime feedings when they wake up from sleep, and not closer to naptime - this can encourage full feedings and prevent them from falling asleep during the feed.
• Consider starting your day at a consistent time every morning (say 8:00 am, no more than 12-12.5 hours after bedtime). This sets a consistent time to help regulate their rhythm, improves their chance of exposure to daylight, and encourages daytime activity & longer night sleep stretches. 
• For night feedings, please talk to your doctor to know when it’s okay to stop waking your baby up for feedings.

Recommended readings

Newborn sleepy cues to avoid melting downs
The Magic of White Noise: Enhancing Baby Sleep with Sound Machines
Safe sleep for newborns
Safe sleep: baby's room temperature and sleepwear
Swaddling Your Baby: A Guide to Comfort and Safety
What to Do if Your Baby Hates Swaddling

Common development milestones

Month 0-1:

• Reflex movements: Sucking and grasping.

• Focus on objects 10-30 cm (8-12 inches) away, especially faces.

• Reacts to loud sounds.

• Can lift the head briefly during tummy time.

Month 1-2:

• Begins to coo and make gurgling sounds.

• Smiles at familiar faces.

• Follows moving objects with eyes.

• Stronger neck control during tummy time.

Month 2-3:

• Recognizes familiar voices and starts turning head towards them.

• Smiles more often and begins to laugh softly.

• Swipes at dangling objects.

• Holds head steady when upright.
  
  

*Remember, these milestones are general guidelines, and every child develops at their own pace.

Activities & playtime

Engaging your baby in various activities from birth to three months helps stimulate their senses and supports their early development. Here are some activities to consider for each month:

Activities for Newborns (0-1 Month)

1. Tummy Time: Begin with short tummy time sessions to help strengthen your baby's neck and shoulder muscles. Use a rolled-up blanket under their chest for added support.
2. Skin-to-Skin Contact: Hold your baby close with skin-to-skin contact to promote bonding and regulate their body temperature.
3. Gentle Touch: Gently stroke your baby’s hands, feet, and face to help them become aware of their body.
4. Soft Sounds: Talk or sing softly to your baby, as they enjoy hearing your voice and it helps with their auditory development.
5. Black and White Images: Show high-contrast black and white images to stimulate your newborn’s vision.

Activities for 1-Month-Olds

1. Extended Tummy Time: Increase tummy time sessions as your baby gains strength. Use a colorful mat to make it more engaging.
2. Face-to-Face Interaction: Hold your baby close, make eye contact, and smile or talk to them. This helps with bonding and social development.
3. Tracking Objects: Slowly move a brightly colored toy or object across your baby’s field of vision to help them practice following with their eyes.
4. Music and Singing: Sing lullabies and play soft music to soothe your baby and support their auditory development.
5. Mirror Play: Hold a baby-safe mirror in front of your baby. They will enjoy looking at their reflection and it aids in visual development.

Activities for 2-Month-Olds

1. Tummy Time on Different Surfaces: Continue tummy time on different surfaces like a couch cushion to help build neck and shoulder strength.
2. Interactive Play: Use rattles or soft toys to encourage your baby to reach and grasp.
3. Singing and Movements: Sing songs like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and help your baby move their arms and legs to the rhythm.
4. Exploring Hands and Feet: Gently clap your baby’s hands together or tickle their feet to help them become aware of their body parts.
5. High-Contrast Books: Introduce high-contrast picture books to stimulate your baby’s developing vision.

Activities for 3-Month-Olds

1. Playmats and Play Gyms: Use playmats or play gyms with hanging toys to encourage reaching, grasping, and batting.
2. Tummy Time with Interaction: Lay your baby on their tummy on a couch cushion while you sit on the floor in front of them. This helps them practice lifting their head to interact with you. Always stay close by for safety.
3. Songs with Actions: Sing interactive songs like "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" and guide your baby’s movements to the lyrics.
4. Tracking and Grasping: Slowly move toys within your baby’s reach to encourage them to track with their eyes and try to grasp the objects.
5. Exploring Textures: Provide toys with different textures for your baby to touch and explore, aiding sensory development.
6. Mirror Time: Let your baby look into a mirror to explore their reflection, which helps in developing self-awareness.

These activities are designed to support your baby’s physical, cognitive, and social development during their first three months. Engaging in these activities will also strengthen the bond between you and your baby.

👉🏻 If you need personalized advice, please email us at hello@mellow.kids. We are always happy to offer further guidance.