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At this very moment there are parents around the world feeling similar issues to you in regards to sleep. They feel love for their newborn and they also feel tired, wishing their baby would go to sleep and sleep a little longer. No matter where you live in the world, new parents share common challenges. Here we bring together some common (and some not so common) sleep practices from around the world to help new parents find “their thing”.
Is My Baby Too Hot or Cold for Sleep
One of the reasons I created Bubbaroo Baby Sleeping Bags was to help babies sleep comfortably. I want to dispel the myth that many parents think that the only way for a baby to sleep is to overheat them. Overheating can lead to dehydration which means that babies may wake up more. Babies (and adults) experience better quality sleep when they are a little cooler and not too hot. You can read all about optimal sleeping temperatures in our blog “Is my baby too hot or cold for sleep?” I’d also like to share with you some ideas from around the world that may sway your thinking on sleep.
Nordics Sleep Their Babies Outside
Parents in Norway, Finland and other Nordic countries will often place their babies outside to sleep. They believe that the fresh, cool air helps babies to sleep better. It is a customary sleep practice for Nordic children to spend as much time outside as possible. Weather is not a problem because they are dressed appropriately. These countries also experience much more severe winter weather than we do here in Australia and so they need to make sure that the kids become accustomed to it and are not housebound due to the cold.
It is important to note that sleeping outside must be done safely and under close supervision. Babies do tend to drop their temperature a lot faster than an adult would and they have trouble regulating their temperature. Babies are usually placed in wool products when outside because wool is a natural insulator. Do not leave a child unattended or where they could get knocked out of their cot or pram. The safest way is to let baby sleep in the fresh air while you walk the pram. Always follow SIDS guidelines from RedNose or read our blog “A Guide to Safe Sleep” for more information.
Fresh Air
Many of us know that being cooped up inside doesn’t help your health or your sleep. Recently 
I’ve been sleeping with my windows open and I’ve been getting really good sleep. I haven’t really felt the need to put on my winter blanket just yet even though the temperature is dipping to around 5°C overnight. Did you know that cooler temperatures may promote longer sleep? Natalie Dautovich, Ph.D., an environmental scholar at the National Sleep Foundation, says that our brains prefer cooler climates. Spending time outdoors also increases exposure to germs, therefore improving baby’s immune system in the long term. Being outdoors when young, encourages kids to love getting out and exercising (as well as sleeping) in the fresh air.
Here are some other facts about fresh air:
- sleeping with the window open provides more oxygen CO2 balance
- sleep quality improves when CO2 is lower (according to an article in the National Center for Biotechnology information).
- CO2 is caused by respiration and poor ventilation
- Leaving the bedroom door open can help but having a window open is more beneficial.
Dressing Baby Appropriately for Sleep
Make sure baby is dressed appropriately for cooler weather but isn’t over-dressed so they sweat. In hotter months ensure that baby does not have too many covers on. Our Bubbaroo products are made from 100% natural fibres. Our merino wool padded Platinum Baby Sleeping Bags keep baby comfortably warm without overheating. Did you know that wool helps to wick away moisture which creates an even temperature for sleep. For more information about the benefits of wool, read our blog “Why Wool Helps Baby Sleep?”. It is normal for baby’s hands and feet to feel cool to the touch, even when they sleep indoors. check the chest, back or neck to make sure they are a comfortable temperature. Here are our Bubbaroo guides for “What to Wear”.
Joey Pouch Swaddle Wrap What To Wear Guide
Joey Pod Transitional Swaddle What To Wear Guide
Platinum Joey Swag Baby Sleeping Bags What To Wear Guide
We receive many queries about clothing such as bodysuits and Onesies. So just to be clear, we’ve included a few images below.
Short sleeve body suit
Onesie
Safe Sleep
There is a lot more literature to suggest putting babies to sleep on a flat sleep surface is the safest way for them to sleep. In Australia this has been well promoted by organisations such as Red Nose. They recommend a flat surface, free of pillows, cushions, blankets and bumpers. Red Nose also recommends sleeping baby in their own cot in your room for the first 12 months of life.
Co-sleeping is the norm in many countries but this contradicts a lot of advice we receive in Australia. Read our blog “Co-sleeping – is it safe or not?” to fully understand what co-sleeping means and different types of co-sleeping.
Routines
In Australia there is more pressure to follow stricter sleep routines with your baby compared to other cultures like Africa where routines do not overly concern them. But is it always the right way? A lot of our sleep practices are defined by other lifestyle influences such as returning to work. Australia and the US have shorter maternity leave arrangements than some European countries so it is important to the parents (and the eventual carer whether it be day care, nanny or a grandparent) that a sleep routine for baby is initiated. Some countries have a more relaxed and on-the-go attitude to napping and sleep that could be worth mimicking!
Going Dutch
In the Netherlands babies sleep a lot and strict bedtime routines are enforced. Sleep is a high priority and given the attention it deserves from a young age. The Dutch set strict bedtimes and follow through the routine as much as possible.
Late Nights
In European countries like Italy and Spain, their sleep practices revolve around the routine of the parents. Babies and children stay up later and sleep in more in the morning. This is because parents want to spend more time with their children after work and maybe culturally, there was an afternoon siesta period so that they could catch up on lost sleep with a nap during the afternoon.
French Pause
In France, when a baby sleeps through the night it’s called “doing their nights”. According to author of Bringing Up Bebe, Pamela Druckerman, French parents take a 5 minute “pause” when their baby becomes unsettled and starts crying. It might just be the end of a sleep cycle, so the French just wait and see if baby will self settle before they rush in to every peep. French babies may just sleep through the night faster than Australian babies!
Quality Sleep
The first few months are never easy with sleep. Having a newborn is tiring, regardless of whether they “sleep through” or not. Don’t compare yourself to others or your baby to other babies. Remember that you need good sleep yourself.
According to a survey conducted by Sleep Foundation.org, about six in ten participants rated the following bedroom elements as important to getting good sleep:
- Quiet room (74%)
- Dark room (73%)
- Cool room temperature (67%)
- Fresh air, free of allergens (63%) and/or
- Clean bedroom (62%).
The 4th Trimester
In China, South Korea and other Asian countries many new mums take 30-40 days to recover from the birth and focus on breastfeeding and resting. It’s common for a baby not to be taken out of the house for 100 days. I think this links in with the idea of the “4th Trimester” which is a relatively new concept in Western countries. You can read all about the concept of the 4th Trimester in our blog here.
Baby wearing also helps a newborn to adjust to life outside the womb, simulating the rocking motion from the womb. This is popular in India where babies are worn on the back or in a hammock like swing made from cloth. Baby wearing helps the baby bond with the mother and these babies often cry less because they feel comforted.
Cherry Picking
We’re not recommending that you follow all the sleep practices and customs mentioned here. There is no right way to do things. I will say that there is a “safe” way and so long as baby is safe, you can try all kinds of things to get your baby to bed.
It’s a good idea to explore what works for you and your baby at different stages of their growth. Remember parenting doesn’t come with a rule book and there is a lot of advice around. You can pick and choose the parts that suit your family.
What is important is that baby is getting enough sleep and that the sleep is good quality sleep. Why not try a few ideas from this blog today? We’d love to hear how you get on and whether your baby’s sleep improves? We’d also love to hear of any sleep practices that you know about that aren’t so common in Australia.
