002: Establishing Good Sleep and Routines for Your Newborn (Weeks 1 to 6) with Pam Diamond

Are you a new parent struggling with establishing good sleep routines for your newborn? Look no further because We’ve got you covered! In this episode, we're diving into the world of newborn sleep with expert insights from Pam Diamond.

Pam Diamond is a baby whisperer and parent coach in North Carolina. She’s passionate about helping families navigate parenthood with more sleep and less stress. For more than 30 years she’s guided parents (and grandparents) to fix what's not working and enjoy what is.

Pam founded and operated First Daze & Nightzzz, a postpartum doula and sleep consulting service, for 21 years before passing the baton to Elise Silver. She was one of the first 50 to be trained as a sleep coach by Kim West in 2011. She was one of the first five trained as a Hug Your Baby instructor in 2010. She’s shared her expertise around parenting and caring for infants and young children writing for websites and newspapers. 

In the whirlwind of the first six weeks with a newborn, sleep can feel like a distant dream. One key takeaway is the importance of creating a conducive sleep environment for your baby. From minimizing stimuli to incorporating white noise, small adjustments can make a big difference in helping your little one drift off to dreamland.

Pam emphasizes the significance of starting healthy sleep routines from day one. By establishing positive associations with sleep early on, you can set the foundation for long-term sleep habits. Remember, good sleep hygiene isn't just for babies – parents need to prioritize their sleep routines too.

Newborns have unique sleep patterns characterized by frequent cycles of light and deep sleep. Pam sheds light on the intricacies of these sleep cycles, helping parents differentiate between true wake-ups and transitional moments. By recognizing the signs of tiredness and responding appropriately, you can support your baby's natural sleep rhythms.

Swaddling is a time-honored practice that provides comfort and security to newborns. Pam explains how swaddling can help calm the startle reflex and promote better sleep. While swaddling is a useful tool in the early weeks, it's essential to transition out of it as your baby grows and develops.

As we wrap up our journey into the world of newborn sleep, remember that every baby is unique. By observing your little one's cues and responding with care and attention, you can create a nurturing sleep environment that promotes restful nights for the whole family.

We talk about:

• 00:00 Intro
• 03:00 Basic steps parents can start out with to begin good sleep hygiene
• 08:09 Advice for families who are resistant to put their baby in a different space if they're already sleeping 
• 10:20 Why use white noise
• 16:06 Not letting baby stay awake too long
• 20:14 Motion sleep
• 23:07 Signs your baby might be sleepy
• 24:52 Swaddling
• 29:25 Knowing true wake up versus baby going through sleep cycles
• 31:24 What a sleep cycle looks like for an infant

Connect with Pam

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firstdazenightzzz
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pamdiamond
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pameladiamond/
• www.pamdiamond.com   

Connect with me

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholebundle/
• https://thewholebundle.com/

Chapters

• 0:00 TWB 2 - Establishing good sleep and routines for your newborn, weeks 1-6 with Pam Diamond
• 0:52 Intro
• 1:11 Guest Bio
• 2:17 Interview Start
• 3:52 What are some of the basic things parents can start out with to begin good sleep hygiene
• 9:02 what do you tell families who might be resistent to put their baby in a different space if they're already sleeping and don't see what is wrong keeping them in a less than ideal sleep enviornment
• 11:13 why use white noise then?
• 16:59 Not letting babt stay awake too long
• 21:06 Motion sleep
• 23:46 Tells your baby might be sleepy
• 25:31 Swaddling
• 30:04 Knowing true wake up versus baby going through sleep cycles
• 31:59 What a sleep cycle looks like for an infant
• 32:16 wrap up