9. How can parents manage sleep cues when their baby is developing a growth spurt or developmental leap?
Parents may need to adjust their approach to managing sleep cues when their baby develops a growth spurt or developmental leap. This can include providing extra comfort, doing more skin-to-skin contact, offering more frequent feedings, and allowing for an additional nap or sleep time. Being responsive to the baby’s changing needs and providing a calm and soothing environment can help support their sleep during these periods of growth and development.
10. How can parents differentiate between newborns’ sleep and hunger cues?
Differentiating between sleep cues and hunger cues in newborns can be challenging. However, some general cues can help parents distinguish between the two. Signs of sleepiness may include eye rubbing, yawning, fussiness, or decreased activity. Hunger cues can manifest as rooting, sucking motions, lip smacking, or increased alertness. It’s important for parents to observe their baby’s overall behavior, consider the timing since the last feeding, and respond to their needs accordingly, whether it be offering comfort for sleep or providing feeding for hunger.