There’s nothing quite like the feeling parents get when they bring their newborn baby home. While this is a wonderful and exciting time, it can also make many parents nervous, especially when they’re dealing with sleep deprivation.

Here are some tips to help you bring your baby home and help your newborn (and yourself) sleep better.

First, Set Some Expectations

You’re much more likely to be at ease with your newborn if you set yourself up with realistic expectations.

Yes, adults aged between 18 and 60 need at least 7 hours of sleep each night to promote well-being and health. But for most parents of newborns, getting 7 hours of sleep isn’t feasible.

Newborns sleep between 14 and 17 hours every 24 hours, but they do so in short bursts of 2 to 3 hours. They also need help settling down to sleep.

With that in mind, you can still prioritize self-care while bringing your newborn home. If you’re a single parent, consider reaching out for support to other family members so that you can catch up on sleep from time to time.

Use Soothing Sounds to Help Your Baby Fall Asleep

Many newborns find it easier to fall asleep with some background noise. Remember that up until birth, babies constantly hear several sounds from within the womb, including their mother’s heartbeat.

You can use the BetterSleep app to create a custom mix of soothing sounds. For instance, you can combine water sounds with shushing.

Test out different sound combinations to see what works best with your newborn. Keep in mind that every baby is unique. Not all babies will like the same sounds, while some newborns will struggle to fall asleep with any background noise.

Take a Moment to Meditate

Those first few weeks with your newborn will sometimes feel like a fever dream! Come back to yourself and take care of your own well-being by taking a moment from time to time to meditate.

You don’t have to carve out an entire hour for meditation. Just 10 minutes of meditation can do wonders for your mental health.

You can find meditations specifically for parents on the BetterSleep app!

Remembering to take a moment for yourself from time to time is crucial as a new parent. It’s difficult to care for an entire human being when your own needs aren’t being met.

Use Calming Music To Help Your Newborn Settle Down

As your newborn gets older, they’ll develop their own sleeping habits. You can start making sleeping associations early on by using relaxing music right before it’s time for them to go back to sleep.

Just pick one of the many relaxing soundtracks in the BetterSleep app to play in the background as you help your newborn drift back to sleep. As they get older, you can incorporate soothing music into their bedtime routine.

Try the BetterSleep App today to help the entire family relax and get a good night’s rest.