Does Your Baby Sleep Well?

'Does he sleep well?' must be one of the questions most often heard by the mother of a new baby.

A baby who sleeps long and often is said to be a 'good' baby. Therefore he must have a 'good' mother. But what about the baby who does not sleep as well as expected, and what about his mother? Frustration, anger and guilt feelings can combine to make a mother feel resentful of anyone else, including her partner, who is able to have a good night's sleep.

Small babies need to wake in the night to feed. It is physiologically desirable for them to wake often to refuel. A newborn's stomach is about the size of a circle made by your thumb and forefinger or the size of your baby's clenched fist. How could this possibly last all night without a refill? It is also important that the breasts be emptied regularly to maintain the mother's milk supply. Some babies need night feeds throughout the first year.

Continue: The Importance of Baby Sleep