The first night with a baby primarily involves adjusting to their sleep patterns and the reality of sleeplessness.
Bringing a new baby home is a significant transition, and the first night is often characterized by adapting to your baby's natural rhythms. According to one perspective, the first night is going to involve adjusting to your child's sleep rhythms as your body gets used to the inevitable sleepless nights.
Here's what this typically means for sleep:
- Baby's Sleep Schedule: Because your baby doesn't have a sleep schedule yet, they tend to sleep for short periods.
- Sleep Duration: These short periods often last between 1-3 hours at a time.
For parents, this translates into a night focused on responding to the baby's needs during these short wake periods and beginning the adjustment to fragmented sleep. It's a foundational experience in understanding your baby's immediate needs and starting the journey of parental sleeplessness.
