Awake times - the good, the bad & when to stop using them

As soon as your baby is born you are bombarded with a whole load of new information, awake windows being one of them and a HOT topic in most mothers groups.

So, what are awake windows.? Awake windows are the period of time your baby is awake between naps. The rough guidelines for awake windows in a newborn are:

• 6 weeks old - 70 - 90 minutes

• 12 weeks old - 90 - 115 minutes

As you can see, there is a huge variation between awake windows and getting to know your babies sleep cues are essential in knowing what awake time best suits them.

HOT TIP - Go into your newborns sleep space 10-15 minutes before the end of their awake window to ensure they are not becoming overstimulated or overtired.

What's the issue with using awake windows you say.?

Awake windows are an excellent tool for parents to use with newborns (0-12 weeks old), but when used alone they can cause some anxiety. The downside of using awake windows are:

• The day is usually unpredictable with no set routine

• Parents can follow the clock instead of following sleep cues

• Awake windows need to be adjusted according to when and how long baby sleeps for

When to stop using awake windows.?

From 3 or 4 months onwards I highly recommend following an age-based routine. This means waking up at the same time everyday, having naps at the same time everyday and going to bed at the same time everyday. Following a routine will give you and your baby predictability which means you can better plan your day.

Still having anxiety around how to start following an age-based routine.? Book in a sleep package and we can work together to reach your sleep goals.

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