May 06, 2024

Episode 7: Newborn Sleep Insights

1 hour 1 minute

Today, Craig and Arielle unpack the often mystifying world of newborn sleep—those crucial first three months. The inspiration for this episode was Craig's new niece, who was 2 weeks old at the time of recording. Whether you're navigating the unpredictable waters of infant sleep or just curious about what's normal, this episode promises to arm you with the insights you need to feel a bit more in control—or at least to understand that sometimes, chaos is just part of the parenting package.

[00:00:00] Introduction and disclaimer

[00:01:09] Welcoming listeners back and introducing the episode's focus on newborn sleep

[00:02:12] Discussion on the erratic nature of newborn sleep

[00:03:22] Personal story about sleep expectations with a newborn

[00:08:21] Explanation of active sleep in newborns and advice for parents

[00:10:41] Impact of external factors like maternity and paternity leave on sleep

[00:14:26] Transition to detailed discussion on sleep cues and signs of tiredness in newborns

[00:21:08] Exploring the science of sleep cycles and the development of circadian rhythms

[00:26:35] Discussion on the "witching hour" and strategies to cope with it

[00:32:23] Month-by-month sleep development and expectations

[00:37:38] Review of sleep tools and technologies affecting newborn sleep

[00:42:35] Closing remarks and where to find more resources

Notable Quotes:

Craig Canapari MD: "Things will get better with time, even if you're really struggling. It's funny, my older son was one of those babies that we took him home from the hospital. My wife had a c-section the first night. And he slept six hours overnight."

Arielle Greenleaf: "I think one of the biggest things I wish I had known back in the day was I didn't know really about active sleep. And so I think when she was coming, she's going through that, what did you call it?"

Arielle Greenleaf: "I always tell newborn parents, don't rush. They will tell you if they need you. They will, they have lungs and they can scream."

Craig Canapari MD: "A newborn, that could be anywhere from 13 to 14 hours per or 20 hours within a 24 hour period. So if you have a baby who's natural sleep needs at that point is 20 hours a day, you are gonna feel like a parenting genius."

Links and Resources:

Sleep and Wakefulness by Nathaniel Kleitman

Why room sharing is important for safe sleep

AAP Safe Sleep Guidelines

Period of purple crying

How many wet diapers per day

Happiest Baby on the Block

Bringing up Bebe- and Le Pause

Wirecutter article on the SNOO

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By Craig Canapari, MD and Arielle Greenleaf

1616 ratings